Motor vehicle and method for operating an illumination device of a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12097797-B2
Application number	US-202118248352-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 15, 2021
Priority date	Oct 7, 2020
Publication date	Sep 24, 2024
Grant date	Sep 24, 2024

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a motor vehicle, comprising an illumination device, which comprises a plurality of light sources and a control device for illuminating an illumination region which can be simultaneously illuminated and which completely covers the surroundings of the motor vehicle in the circumferential direction. The illumination region is divided by the control device into illumination segments, which are controllable independently for illumination as part of at least one light function, in particular an assisting light function, of a vehicle system, wherein the illumination region of the illumination device has at least two illumination segments, one following the other in a spacing direction from the motor vehicle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A motor vehicle comprising:
an illumination device, wherein the illumination device comprises a plurality of light sources for illuminating an illumination region, the light sources being able to be simultaneously illuminated; and
a control device,
wherein the illumination region completely covers surroundings of the motor vehicle in a circumferential direction,
wherein the illumination region includes at least two illumination segments, the at least two illumination segments following one another in a spacing direction from the motor vehicle, and the at least two illumination segments being controllable independently by the control device for illumination as part of at least one light function,
wherein the illumination region is divided in a matrix-like manner by the at least two illumination segments in the circumferential direction and the spacing direction, and
wherein each illumination segment covers a predefined circumferential and spacing region, and
wherein the control device is configured to:
evaluate input information of the at least one light function, wherein the input information comprises sensor data of at least one environment sensor of the motor vehicle;
determine illumination information, wherein the illumination information describes at least one of an environment object to be illuminated, an environment object to be highlighted, an environment direction to be indicated, or an additional information to be indicated by illuminated intervals of the illumination region in a distance direction; and
control the illumination device in accordance with the illumination information, wherein controlling the illumination device includes at least one of illuminating the environment object, highlighting the environment object, displaying the environment direction, or displaying the additional information, and
wherein the control device is further configured to control the illumination device by:
implementing an orientation light function, the orientation light function being used after arrival or before departure, and/or illuminating a door region; or
providing a maneuvering light function, the maneuvering light function being used as a reversing light and/or a cornering light when the motor vehicle is reversing.

2. The motor vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the illumination region comprises a distance from the motor vehicle, the distance starting at 0 to 0.2 m and/or ending at 2.5 to 3.5 m in the spacing direction.

3. The motor vehicle according to claim 1 ,
wherein the light sources comprise at least one of an LED, a laser light source, or a projector;
wherein the light sources are at least partially installed in at least one of a sill, a front apron, a rear apron, an underbody, a bumper, a wheel arch, a spoiler, a radiator grill, an exterior mirror, a door, or a tailgate; or
wherein the illumination device is configured to illuminate at least a portion of the at least two illumination segments in at least one of different light intensities or light colors.

4. The motor vehicle according to claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one light function includes at least one of distance-related illumination of an environment object or highlighting of an environment object,
wherein the at least one light function includes dynamic display of an environment direction that is directed away from the motor vehicle or towards the motor vehicle, the control device supporting the at least one light function by being configured to provide different control of at least two illumination segments offset from one another in the spacing direction, or
wherein the at least one light function includes display of an additional information by illuminated intervals of the illumination region in the spacing direction.

5. A method for operating an illumination device of a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle comprises:
the illumination device, wherein the illumination device comprises a plurality of light sources for illuminating an illumination region, the light sources being able to be simultaneously illuminated; and
a control device,
wherein the illumination region completely covers surroundings of the motor vehicle in a circumferential direction,
wherein the illumination region includes at least two illumination segments, the at least two illumination segments following one another in a spacing direction from the motor vehicle, and the at least two illumination segments being controllable independently by the control device for illumination as part of at least one light function,
wherein the illumination region is divided in a matrix-like manner by the illumination segments in the circumferential direction and the spacing direction, and
wherein each illumination segment covers a predefined circumferential and spacing region, the method comprising:
evaluating input information of the at least one light function, wherein the input information comprises sensor data of at least one environment sensor of the motor vehicle;
determining illumination information, wherein the illumination information describes at least one of an environment object to be illuminated, an environment object to be highlighted, an environment direction to be indicated, or an additional information to be indicated by illuminated intervals of the illumination region in a distance direction; and
controlling the illumination device in accordance with the illumination information, wherein controlling the illumination device includes at least one of illuminating the environment object, highlighting the environment object, displaying the environment direction, or displaying the additional information, wherein the controlling the illumination device further comprises:
implementing an orientation light function, the orientation light function being used after arrival or before departure, and/or illuminating a door region; or
providing a maneuvering light function, the maneuvering light function being used as a reversing light and/or a cornering light when the motor vehicle is reversing.

6. A method for operating an illumination device of a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle comprises:
the illumination device, wherein the illumination device comprises a plurality of light sources for illuminating an illumination region, the light sources being able to be simultaneously illuminated; and
a control device,
wherein the illumination region completely covers surroundings of the motor vehicle in a circumferential direction,
wherein the illumination region includes at least two illumination segments, the at least two illumination segments following one another in a spacing direction from the motor vehicle, and the at least two illumination segments being controllable independently by the control device for illumination as part of at least one light function,
wherein the illumination region is divided in a matrix-like manner by the at least two illumination segments in the circumferential direction and the spacing direction, and
wherein each illumination segment covers a predefined circumferential and spacing region,
the method comprising:
evaluating input information of the at least one light function, wherein the input information comprises sensor data of at least one environment sensor of the motor vehicle;
determining illumination information, wherein the illumination information describes at least one of an environment object to be illuminated, an environment object to be highlighted, an environment direction to be indicated, or an additional information to be indicated by illuminated intervals of the illumination region in a distance direction; and
controlling the illumination device in accordance with the illumination information, wherein controlling the illumination devi

Assignees

• Audi Ag

Inventors

• Schmidt Valentin
• Flachhuber Michael

Classifications

• B60Q2400/40

  Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle · CPC title

• B60Q2400/20

  Multi-color single source or LED matrix, e.g. yellow blinker and red brake lamp generated by single lamp · CPC title

• B60Q9/007

  providing information about the distance to an obstacle, e.g. varying sound · CPC title

• B60Q1/2603

  Attenuation of the light according to ambient luminiosity, e.g. for braking or direction indicating lamps · CPC title

• B60Q1/22

  for reverse drive · CPC title