Motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12227130-B2
Application number	US-202218708505-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 11, 2022
Priority date	Nov 9, 2021
Publication date	Feb 18, 2025
Grant date	Feb 18, 2025

Abstract

A motor vehicle has projection unit that includes comprises a projection surface and a projector and is designed in such a way that in a normal situation, a light signal can be projected onto an illumination area of the projection surface by the projector. The illumination area of the projection surface is at least partially represented by a light-reflecting roof area of the motor vehicle. The projection surface has a transparent glass area. The projection unit is designed in such a way that in an emergency situation, the light signal can be projected towards the outside through the glass area by the projector and the motor vehicle can be recognized from the outside.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A motor vehicle comprising:
an interior;
a projection unit arranged in the interior and having a projection surface and at least one projector,
wherein the projection unit is configured such that in a normal situation, a light signal is projected onto a light-reflecting illumination area of the projection surface by the at least one projector,
wherein the illumination area of the projection surface at least includes a light-reflecting roof surface of the motor vehicle facing towards the interior,
wherein the projection surface has an outwardly transparent glass area,
wherein the projection unit is configured such that in an emergency situation, the light signal is projected towards an outside of the vehicle through the outwardly transparent glass area by the at least one projector, and the motor vehicle is recognizable from the outside,
wherein, in the emergency situation, the light signal is formed by projecting at least one static or temporally changing pattern or at least one static or temporally changing graphic onto the outwardly transparent glass area of the projection surface.

2. The motor vehicle of claim 1 , wherein
the roof surface is formed at least partially by a transparent panoramic area or by a transparent glass sunroof and a shade closing the panoramic area or the transparent glass sunroof,
the panoramic area or the transparent glass sunroof of the roof surface are the outwardly transparent glass area of the projection surface and the shade at least partially represents the illumination area of the projection surface, and
in the emergency situation, the shade is automatically opened, and the light signal is projected towards the outside through the panoramic area or the transparent glass sunroof by the at least one projector.

3. The motor vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one side window, wherein the at least one side window of the motor vehicle is the outwardly transparent glass area of the projection surface, and
wherein, in the emergency situation, the light signal is projected towards the outside through the side window by the at least one projector.

4. The motor vehicle of claim 3 , wherein the at least one projector is arranged in the motor vehicle so as to be moveable, and wherein, in the emergency situation the at least one projector is moveable to the side window of the motor vehicle.

5. The motor vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the projection unit has
a sensor unit with at least one pre-crash sensor or at least one crash sensor configured to recognize the emergency situation, or
an emergency call switch configured to manually flag the emergency situation.

6. The motor vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one front seat, wherein the at least one projector is installed in the at least one front seat in a head support or in a region of a head support of the at least one front seat.

7. The motor vehicle of claim 1 , wherein, in the normal situation, the light signal is formed by
illuminating the illumination area of the projection surface with a static colored light or with a static white light, or
projecting at least one static or temporally changing pattern or at least one static or temporally changing graphic onto the illumination area of the projection surface.

8. A method for controlling a projection unit of a motor vehicle arranged in an interior of the motor vehicle, the method comprising:
projecting, by the projection unit in a normal situation, a light signal onto a light-reflecting illumination area of a projection surface of the projection unit by at least one projector of the projection unit, wherein the illumination area of the projection surface at least includes a light-reflecting roof surface of the motor vehicle facing towards the interior, wherein the projection surface has an outwardly transparent glass area; and
projecting, by the projection unit in an emergency situation, the light signal towards an outside of the vehicle through the outwardly transparent glass area by the at least one projector, and the motor vehicle is recognizable from the outside,
wherein, in the emergency situation, the light signal is formed by projecting at least one static or temporally changing pattern or at least one static or temporally changing graphic onto the outwardly transparent glass area of the projection surface.

9. A projection unit for the motor vehicle, the projection unit comprising:
a projection surface; and
at least one projector,
wherein the projection unit is configured such that in a normal situation, a light signal is projected onto a light-reflecting illumination area of the projection surface by the at least one projector,
wherein the illumination area of the projection surface at least includes a light-reflecting roof surface of the motor vehicle facing towards the interior,
wherein the projection surface has an outwardly transparent glass area,
wherein the projection unit is configured such that in an emergency situation, the light signal is projected towards an outside of the vehicle through the outwardly transparent glass area by the at least one projector, and the motor vehicle is recognizable from the outside,
wherein, in the emergency situation, the light signal is formed by projecting at least one static or temporally changing pattern or at least one static or temporally changing graphic onto the outwardly transparent glass area of the projection surface.

Assignees

• Mercedes Benz Group Ag

Inventors

• La Placa Giovanni

Classifications

• B60Q3/60

  characterised by optical aspects · CPC title

• B60Q3/50

  Mounting arrangements (for compartments other than passenger or driving compartments B60Q3/30; specially adapted for specific vehicle types B60Q3/40) · CPC title

• B60Q3/57

  Retractable or concealable lighting devices · CPC title

• B60Q3/74

  for overall compartment lighting; for overall compartment lighting in combination with specific lighting, e.g. room lamps with reading lamps (general lighting mounted on specific fittings B60Q3/20; general lighting for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/43) · CPC title

• B60Q3/80

  Circuits; Control arrangements (for dashboards B60Q3/16; for mass transit vehicles B60Q3/47) · CPC title