Abstract: A method for providing visual information about at least part of an environment on a display device is disclosed. The method involves detecting a first vehicle travelling ahead by a sensor device, requesting and receiving the visual information about the environment, a view onto which is concealed partly by the first vehicle, capturing an image of a certain part of the environment including at least part of the first vehicle, and displaying the image of the certain part of the environment and the received visual information as a video stream embedded in the image on the display device. When it is determined that an object different from the first vehicle is present in the certain part of the environment and that the object cannot be driven over, the displaying of the visual information is modified so that the at least one object is clearly visible for a driver.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for providing visual information (29) about at least part of an environment (16), the view onto which is at least in part concealed by a first vehicle (4) travelling ahead, wherein the first vehicle (4) is detected, the visual information (29) is requested, and in case of an availability the visual information (29) is received. Further, at least one image (25a) of a certain part of the environment (16) including at least part of the first vehicle (4) is captured and displayed together with the visual information (29) embedded in the at least one image (25a). Moreover, in case at least one object (O) is present in the certain part of the environment (16), the displaying of the visual information (29) is modified such that image parts representing the at least one object (O) are not covered by the visual information (29).

Abstract: The invention provides a method for assisting in a parking operation for a motor vehicle (1) using a driver assistance system (2). The driver assistance system (2) determines a parking path along which the motor vehicle (1) can be parked into a parking space (21) or driven out of the parking space (21). Image data about surroundings (10 to 13) of the motor vehicle (1) are captured by at least one optical capture device (5a to 5d) of the driver assistance system (2). The image data are processed to produce an image (19) which shows a perspective view of at least one surrounding area (20) next to the motor vehicle (1). The image (19) is displayed on a display device (3). The image (19) is produced by taking account of a current position of the motor vehicle (1) on the calculated parking path. By way of example, a direction of view (14) and/or a field of view (15) from which the perspective view is shown can be set on the basis of the current position of the motor vehicle (1) on the parking path.

Abstract: A method for operating a motor vehicle, which is switched between a manual driving mode and an automatic driving mode is disclosed. At least in the manual driving mode, a vehicle-specific display device of the motor vehicle is operated using an input device arranged on a steering wheel of the motor vehicle. A communication connection is established between a communication device of the motor vehicle and a portable communication terminal separate from the motor vehicle. An entertainment mode is activated in the automatic driving mode of the motor vehicle. In the entertainment mode, the input device of the steering wheel is used for performing inputs at the communication terminal and/or the display device is used for displaying image data of the communication terminal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle (1), which is switched between a manual driving mode, in which the motor vehicle (1) is guided by a driver, and an automatic driving mode, in which longitudinal guidance and transverse guidance of the motor vehicle (1) are carried out automatically by means of a control device (3) of the motor vehicle (1), wherein, at least in the manual driving mode, a vehicle-specific display device (4) of the motor vehicle (1) is operated by means of an input device (27) arranged on a steering wheel (7) of the motor vehicle (1), wherein a communication connection (15) is established between a communication device (13) of the motor vehicle (1), on the one hand, and a portable communication terminal (14) separate from the motor vehicle (1) and an entertainment mode is activated in the automatic driving mode of the motor vehicle (1), in which entertainment mode, the input device of the steering wheel (7) is used for performing inputs at the communication terminal

Abstract: The field of use of a portable communication appliance (2)—for example a mobile telephone—is intended to be extended for assisting a driver in driving a motor vehicle (1). An upgrade system (10) for a motor vehicle (1) is provided, having a portable communication appliance (2) for providing at least one functionality which assists a driver in driving the motor vehicle (1). The portable communication appliance (2) can use image data from a camera (9) to infer a state of movement of a windscreen wiper (16, 17) on the motor vehicle (1). The portable communication appliance (2) then factors in this state of movement when providing the at least one functionality for driver assistance. An appropriate method is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a driver assistance system for a vehicle (1), wherein the driver assistance system has at least one controller (2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 14) installed in the vehicle (1) and/or at least one sensor device (16, 17, 18, 19) installed in the vehicle (1), wherein the at least one controller (2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 14) and/or the at least one sensor device (16, 17, 18, 19) has a communication interface (21) which can be used to transmit data directly between the controller (2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 14) and/or the sensor device (16, 17, 18, 19) and a portable communication appliance (22) at least in one direction by bypassing a data transmission system (20) inside the vehicle, wherein the data transmission causes the portable communication appliance (22) and the controller (2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 14) and/or the sensor device (16, 17, 18, 19) to interact such that at least one function can be performed which assists a driver in driving the vehicle (1).

Abstract: The intention is to indicate a way in which a driver of a motor vehicle (1) can be warned particularly reliably, when he is removing his vehicle from a parking space (18), of the presence of a moving object (24) which is external to the vehicle, on a carriageway (23) adjoining the parking space (18). The object (24) is detected with the aid of sensor means (5 to 9), and by using sensor data of the sensor means (5 to 9) a current distance (26) of the object (24) from the motor vehicle (1) is determined. An image representation (27, 43, 64) is generated which shows a plan view of at least one area of the motor vehicle (1?) and in which the distance (26) of the object (24) from the motor vehicle (1) is visually indicated. The image representation (27, 43, 64) is displayed on a visual display device (3).

Abstract: A method for displaying images (15, 18, 21) on a display device (3) of a driver assistance system (2) in a motor vehicle (1) is made available. Navigation data is received by the driver assistance system (2), and sensor data relating to the surroundings (10 to 13) of the motor vehicle (1) is acquired by at least one sensor (5a to 5d) of the driver assistance system (2). A control device (4) processes the sensor data to form a surroundings image (15, 18) which shows at least a surrounding area (16, 19) next to the motor vehicle (1?). A map image (21) which is generated while taking into account the navigation data on stored map data is displayed on the display device (3). Enlargement and/or zooming in of the map image (21) take/takes place on the display device (3). After a predetermined mapping scale (zoom factor) of the map image (21) has been reached, there is a change from the map image (21) to the surroundings image (15, 18).

Abstract: The invention discloses a method of determining the ability of a vehicle to pass through a restricted gap in the roadway, including the steps of: detecting a restricted gap in the roadway, defining an image of the vehicle, and comparing the vehicle image with the restricted gap.

Abstract: The intention is to indicate a way in which a driver of a motor vehicle (1) can be warned particularly reliably, when he is removing his vehicle from a parking space (18), of the presence of a moving object (24) which is external to the vehicle, on a carriageway (23) adjoining the parking space (18). The object (24) is detected with the aid of sensor means (5 to 9), and by using sensor data of the sensor means (5 to 9) a current distance (26) of the object (24) from the motor vehicle (1) is determined. An image representation (27, 43, 64) is generated which shows a plan view of at least one area of the motor vehicle (1?) and in which the distance (26) of the object (24) from the motor vehicle (1) is visually indicated. The image representation (27, 43, 64) is displayed on a visual display device (3).

Abstract: A method for displaying images (15, 18, 21) on a display device (3) of a driver assistance system (2) in a motor vehicle (1) is made available. Navigation data is received by the driver assistance system (2), and sensor data relating to the surroundings (10 to 13) of the motor vehicle (1) is acquired by at least one sensor (5a to 5d) of the driver assistance system (2). A control device (4) processes the sensor data to form a surroundings image (15, 18) which shows at least a surrounding area (16, 19) next to the motor vehicle (1?). A map image (21) which is generated while taking into account the navigation data on stored map data is displayed on the display device (3). Enlargement and/or zooming in of the map image (21) take/takes place on the display device (3). After a predetermined mapping scale (zoom factor) of the map image (21) has been reached, there is a change from the map image (21) to the surroundings image (15, 18).

Abstract: The invention provides a method for assisting in a parking operation for a motor vehicle (1) using a driver assistance system (2). The driver assistance system (2) determines a parking path along which the motor vehicle (1) can be parked into a parking space (21) or driven out of the parking space (21). Image data about surroundings (10 to 13) of the motor vehicle (1) are captured by at least one optical capture device (5a to 5d) of the driver assistance system (2). The image data are processed to produce an image (19) which shows a perspective view of at least one surrounding area (20) next to the motor vehicle (1). The image (19) is displayed on a display device (3). The image (19) is produced by taking account of a current position of the motor vehicle (1) on the calculated parking path. By way of example, a direction of view (14) and/or a field of view (15) from which the perspective view is shown can be set on the basis of the current position of the motor vehicle (1) on the parking path.

Abstract: An automatic headlight switching procedure for motor vehicles, designed to emit a beam of light from one lighting mode to another lighting mode. The process features the steps of when the headlights are in a first lighting mode, detecting the backscatter of the headlight beam onto a phenomenon of visibility disturbance; increasing the lighting range of the headlight beam in relation to a maximum authorized range in accordance with the detected backscatter; and switching the headlights to a second lighting mode when the backscatter is below a first determined threshold.

Abstract: The field of use of a portable communication appliance (2)—for example a mobile telephone—is intended to be extended for assisting a driver in driving a motor vehicle (1). An upgrade system (10) for a motor vehicle (1) is provided, having a portable communication appliance (2) for providing at least one functionality which assists a driver in driving the motor vehicle (1). The portable communication appliance (2) can use image data from a camera (9) to infer a state of movement of a windscreen wiper (16, 17) on the motor vehicle (1). The portable communication appliance (2) then factors in this state of movement when providing the at least one functionality for driver assistance. An appropriate method is also provided.

Abstract: An obstacle detection procedure within the area surrounding a motor vehicle comprising the following stages: carrying out a first obstacle detection by image processing resulting in a definition of at least one region of interest, classifying the detected obstacle with an index of confidence applied to the region of interest in relation to given characteristics, carrying out a second obstacle detection by sensor/s with detection range below a first threshold resulting in a determined position, projecting the determined position into a reference marker, projecting the region of interest into this reference marker and aligning the two projections obtained and attributing a determined position to the obstacle classified in accordance with the alignment.

Abstract: An obstacle detection procedure and detection device within the area surrounding a motor vehicle featuring the following: to define at least one first region of interest by carrying out a first detection of an obstacle by shape recognition in an acquired image of this environment; to define at least one second region of interest by carrying out a second detection of an obstacle by movement detection in relation to the vehicle on a sequence of acquired images of this environment; to classify the detected obstacle with, respectively, a first and second index of confidence applied to the first and second regions of interest in relation to given characteristics; and to validate the classification of the object detected in relation to these indices of confidence and in relation to these regions of interest resulting in validated regions of interest.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for generating and supplying traffic-relevant information, wherein each of a plurality of road users (10.1, 10.2) is provided with a mobile communications unit with which individual movement data (10.5) is wirelessly transmitted to a central processing system (20). The individual movement data (10.5) of the plurality of road users (10.1, 10.2) is collected and processed to location-specific and/or route-specific traffic-relevant information (30.1, 30.2), which relates to individual route sections or a road network (5). Upon request (10.7), the location-specific and/or route-specific traffic-relevant information (30.1, 30.2) is transmitted from the central processing system (20) to the mobile communications units. In order to increase and improve the information content of the traffic-relevant information that has been generated and supplied, the individual movement data (10.

Abstract: The invention relates to a driver assistance system for a vehicle (1), wherein the driver assistance system has at least one controller (2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 14) installed in the vehicle (1) and/or at least one sensor device (16, 17, 18, 19) installed in the vehicle (1), wherein the at least one controller (2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 14) and/or the at least one sensor device (16, 17, 18, 19) has a communication interface (21) which can be used to transmit data directly between the controller (2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 14) and/or the sensor device (16, 17, 18, 19) and a portable communication appliance (22) at least in one direction by bypassing a data transmission system (20) inside the vehicle, wherein the data transmission causes the portable communication appliance (22) and the controller (2, 4, 6, 9, 11, 14) and/or the sensor device (16, 17, 18, 19) to interact such that at least one function can be performed which assists a driver in driving the vehicle (1).

Abstract: The present invention concerns an obstacle detection procedure within the area surrounding a motor vehicle. It features the fact that the procedure involves the following stages: To define at least one first region of interest by carrying out a first detection of an obstacle by shape recognition in an acquired image of this environment; To define at least one second region of interest by carrying out a second detection of an obstacle by movement detection in relation to the vehicle on a sequence of acquired images of this environment; To classify the detected obstacle with, respectively, a first and second index of confidence applied to the first and second regions of interest in relation to given characteristics; and To validate the classification of the object detected in relation to these indices of confidence and in relation to these regions of interest resulting in validated regions of interest.