IP Library Granted Patent US 12673643
Granted Patent B2
US 12673643 · App. 18/695,070 · Granted Jul 7, 2026

Vehicle guidance system and method for controlling an emergency stop assistance function of a motor vehicle

Inventors: Walter Kagerer (Munich, DE); Sabine Amler (Munich, DE); Sirin Toprak Guerses (Munich, DE)
Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
B60T7/12B60T7/14B60T2210/20B60T2210/30B60T2210/32B60T2220/00B60T2220/04B60T2250/00B60T2250/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12673643
App. No.
18/695,070
Granted
Jul 7, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle guidance system for a motor vehicle is configured to determine a complexity indicator in relation to the complexity of a driving situation of the motor vehicle and to determine one or more trigger conditions as a function of the complexity indicator. The vehicle guidance system is further configured to cause an automated emergency stop of the motor vehicle if one or more trigger conditions occur.

Claims (62)

1 . A system for a motor vehicle, the system comprising:

a vehicle guidance system operatively configured to:

ascertain a complexity indicator with respect to a complexity of a driving situation of the motor vehicle for a driver of the motor vehicle based on an item of information with respect to one or more activated driver-assistance functions of the motor vehicle;

determine one or more triggering conditions for an automated emergency stop of the motor vehicle as a function of the complexity indicator, the one or more triggering conditions being based on a physical condition and/or behavior of the driver; and

bring about the automated emergency stop of the motor vehicle when one or more triggering conditions occur.

2 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein

the one or more triggering conditions have at least one triggering period which depends on a maximally permissible period of time for an existence of a particular driver-related behavior and/or condition; and

the vehicle guidance system is further configured to:

adapt the at least one triggering period as a function of the complexity indicator, such that:

(i) the triggering period increases when the complexity of the driving situation indicated by the complexity indicator diminishes; and/or

(ii) the triggering period diminishes when the complexity of the driving situation indicated by the complexity indicator increases.

3 . The system according to claim 2 , wherein the one or more triggering conditions comprise:

a first triggering condition, to the effect that a driver of the vehicle has closed his/her eyes continuously for at least a first triggering period; and/or

a second triggering condition, to the effect that a head of the driver is oriented away from a straight-ahead position for at least a second triggering period.

4 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein

the vehicle guidance system is further configured to:

ascertain the complexity indicator with respect to the complexity of the driving situation based on ambient-field data from one or more ambient-field sensors of the motor vehicle.

5 . The system according to claim 4 , wherein

the vehicle guidance system is further configured to:

ascertain the complexity indicator based on or more of the following items of information:

an item of information with respect to a traffic density of traffic in an ambient field of the vehicle; and/or

an item of information with respect to an existence of a traffic-jam journey of the vehicle.

6 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein

the vehicle guidance system is further configured to:

ascertain the complexity indicator with respect to the complexity of the driving situation based on map data for a digital map with respect to a road network being driven along by the motor vehicle.

7 . The system according to claim 6 , wherein

the vehicle guidance system is further configured to:

ascertain the complexity indicator based on information with respect to a type of a roadway being driven along by the vehicle.

8 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein

the vehicle guidance system is further configured to:

ascertain the complexity indicator with respect to the complexity of the driving situation based on condition data with respect to a condition of the vehicle.

9 . The system according to claim 8 , wherein

the vehicle guidance system is further configured to:

ascertain the complexity indicator based on

an item of information with respect to a driving speed of the vehicle.

10 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein

the vehicle guidance system is further configured to:

ascertain, based on the complexity indicator, whether a driving situation pertaining to a first category or to a second category occurs, driving situations pertaining to the first category and to the second category each exhibiting a differing complexity;

use one or more first triggering conditions for the triggering of an automated emergency stop of the vehicle when a driving situation pertaining to the first category occurs; and

use one or more second triggering conditions for the triggering of an automated emergency stop of the vehicle when a driving situation pertaining to the second category occurs, the one or more second triggering conditions differing from the one or more first triggering conditions.

11 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein

the vehicle guidance system is further configured to:

ascertain driver data with respect to a driver;

determine, based on the driver data, whether or not the one or more triggering conditions for the triggering of an automated emergency stop of the vehicle have been satisfied; and

bring about an automated emergency stop of the vehicle when it has been determined that the one or more triggering conditions have been satisfied.

12 . The system according to claim 11 , wherein the driver data comprises image data of a camera directed toward the driver.

13 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein

the vehicle guidance system is further configured to:

detect one or more indications of activity with respect to an activity of a driver of the vehicle, the one or more indications of activity including an actuation of a control element of the vehicle by the driver; and

adapt the one or more triggering conditions also as a function of the one or more detected indications of activity.

14 . The system according to claim 13 , wherein the control element is a button, a gas pedal and/or a brake pedal.

15 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein

the vehicle guidance system is further configured to ascertain a complexity indicator which indicates:

how complex the driving situation is for a driver; and/or

what degree of attentiveness the driving situation requires from a driver.

16 . The system according to claim 1 , wherein

the vehicle guidance system is further configured to adapt the one or more triggering conditions as a function of the complexity indicator such that:

a probability that an automated emergency stop of the motor vehicle will be brought about diminishes when the complexity of the driving situation indicated by the complexity indicator diminishes; and/or

the probability that an automated emergency stop of the motor vehicle will be brought about increases when the complexity of the driving situation indicated by the complexity indicator increases.

17 . A method for controlling an emergency-stop assistance function of a motor vehicle, which has been configured to bring about an automated emergency stop of the motor vehicle when one or more triggering conditions occur, the method comprising:

ascertaining a complexity indicator with respect to a complexity of a driving situation of the motor vehicle for a driver of the motor vehicle based on an item of information with respect to one or more activated driver-assistance functions of the motor vehicle; and

determining the one or more triggering conditions as a function of the complexity indicator, the one or more triggering conditions being based on a physical condition and/or behavior of the driver.