DE102016001206A1 - motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Motor vehicle, comprising at least one line-shaped lighting means (2-10) for direct and / or indirect illumination of a vehicle interior, which extends at least partially horizontally along at least one component of the motor vehicle (1) and a position detection unit (18) for detecting an orientation of the motor vehicle (1) descriptive Egoinformation, wherein the lighting means (2-10) is divided horizontally into a plurality of light segments (14), each having a fixed predetermined radiation profile, the motor vehicle having a control device (15) which is adapted to - the sun position information describing the current position of the sun (21) and the direction information to determine a direction information describing a direction of the instantaneous position of the sun (21) with respect to the motor vehicle (1); - subgroup (2) comprising at least one light segment (14) to be controlled depending on the direction information 3) to select luminous segments (14), and - to control the respective luminous segment (14) associated with the subgroup (23) in accordance with a configuration predisposing its luminous intensity and / or luminous color for visualizing the instantaneous position of the sun (21).

Description

The invention relates to a motor vehicle, comprising at least one line-shaped lighting means for direct and / or indirect illumination of a vehicle interior, which extends at least partially horizontally along at least one component of the motor vehicle and a position detection unit for detecting an alignment information of the motor vehicle descriptive Egoinformation.

Motor vehicles with linear bulbs are known. These illuminants typically serve ambient lighting, which primarily serves the aesthetic enhancement of the vehicle interior and the highlighting of contours of the at least one component in the context of a special design concept.

As is known, inmates of motor vehicles often orient themselves on natural reference objects during a journey. This orientation is usually unconscious and gives the occupant an estimate of the orientation of the motor vehicle, for example with respect to a direction. In many driving situations, however, this is not possible because, for example, due to fog or smog or a drive through street canyons or a tunnel such reference objects are not visible.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a motor vehicle that offers its occupants, in particular the driver, an improved orientation option.

• – aus einer den momentanen Sonnenstand beschreibenden Sonnenstandsinformation und der Egoinformation eine eine Richtung des momentanen Sonnenstands bezüglich des Kraftfahrzeugs beschreibende Richtungsinformation zu ermitteln,
• – in Abhängigkeit der Richtungsinformation eine wenigstens ein anzusteuerndes Leuchtsegment umfassende Untergruppe von Leuchtsegmenten auszuwählen, und
• – das jeweilige der Untergruppe zugehörige Leuchtsegment gemäß einer seine Leuchthelligkeit und/oder seine Leuchtfarbe vorgebenden Konfiguration zum Visualisieren des momentanen Sonnenstands anzusteuern.

This object is achieved by a motor vehicle of the type mentioned, wherein the light source is divided horizontally into a plurality of light segments, each having a fixed predetermined radiation profile, the motor vehicle having a control device which is adapted to

• To derive a direction information describing a direction of the instantaneous position of the sun with respect to the motor vehicle from a position of the sun position describing the instantaneous position of the sun and the information of the ego
• To select a subgroup of luminous segments comprising at least one luminous segment to be activated, depending on the direction information, and
• - to control the respective lighting segment belonging to the subgroup in accordance with a configuration predisposing its luminous brightness and / or its luminous color to visualize the instantaneous position of the sun.

The invention is based on the idea of forming the line-shaped luminous means from a plurality of luminous segments and activating at least one of these luminous segments in such a way that an occupant of the motor vehicle, in particular the driver, thereby receives a visual indication of the instantaneous position of the sun. The control device firstly determines the direction information describing the direction of the instantaneous position of the sun with respect to the motor vehicle as a function of the orientation of the motor vehicle described by the information about the position and the instantaneous position of the sun described by the position information. The sun position information is preferably present as the azimuth angle at the current position of the motor vehicle. In order to provide the sun position information, it can be provided that the motor vehicle retrieves it from a vehicle-external computing device, for example via the Internet, by means of a communication device.

It is likewise conceivable for the control device to calculate the position of the sunshade independently from a current date, a current time and a position of the motor vehicle, wherein the position can additionally be described by the desired information and detected by the position detection unit. If the instantaneous position of the motor vehicle, for example when driving through a tunnel, can not be determined and / or the sun position information can not be called up with the communication device, a last detected position of the motor vehicle can be used to determine the position of the sun. The direction information can be determined, for example, as an azimuth angle, in particular with respect to the vehicle longitudinal axis.

From this direction information, the control device then determines a subgroup of at least one luminous segment with which the position of the sun can be visualized. Such a subset may include one or more of the light segments. The control device is designed to control at least one luminous segment of this subgroup in accordance with a configuration specifying its luminous brightness and / or its luminous color. This can be distinguishable for an occupant of the motor vehicle from the luminous color and / or the luminous brightness and / or the configuration of further luminous segments and thus provide an indication of the position of the sun, ie its visualization.

The line-shaped illuminant preferably extends substantially horizontally, for example, at least 70 percent or at least 90 percent of its line length may be horizontal. The course of the lighting means may differ from the horizontal by a slight curvature whose radius is in particular greater than the vehicle width, for example one Contour of the component to follow. The individual luminous segments can each have a luminous element or consist of a group of jointly controlled luminous elements. It is also possible that the motor vehicle comprises a plurality of the line-shaped bulbs, which extend horizontally in the circumferential direction of the vehicle interior adjacent to each other or spaced apart. As a luminous element, for example, an RGB LED can be used, for which, in particular by pulse width modulation, the luminous color and / or the luminous brightness can be specified. The control of the luminous brightness and / or the luminous color can be effected by a control device which is associated with the lighting means, but also by a central control device which controls a plurality of lighting means. For example, the specification of the individual pulse widths or the specification of a control signal for pulse width modulation can take place via a vehicle bus.

It is also conceivable that at least one brightness sensor for detecting the ambient brightness is provided in or on the motor vehicle, wherein the brightness of the light segments is additionally controllable in dependence on the ambient brightness.

The control device can be designed as a navigation device in the motor vehicle or be part of such. The position detection unit is expediently based on a satellite-supported position detection, for example GPS or Galileo. A determination of the current orientation of the motor vehicle, if no satellite signal is present, can be done for example by continuous evaluation of a wheel speed and / or a steering angle and / or a yaw rate of the motor vehicle, whereby a last detected position value is updated. This ensures that the ego information can be determined even if the satellite signal is shaded, for example during a tunnel trip. The position detection unit may also include an electronic compass. The position detection unit can be integrated in the navigation device.

The motor vehicle according to the invention realizes the advantage that the light source used in conventional motor vehicles only for ambient lighting can be used for additional information transmission to the occupants of the motor vehicle. For this purpose, the division of the light source into a plurality of light segments is used for the above-described visualization of the position of the sun, so that the occupants are given an orientation possibility even in the absence of visibility of the sun.

The control device can also be designed to select the subgroup as a function of occupant information describing a position of an occupant of the motor vehicle. In particular, the subgroup may be selected such that at least one of its luminous segments lies on an imaginary ray from the position of the occupant in the direction of the azimuth angle of the sun. For this purpose, the control device, for example, take into account information about a seating position of the occupant in the selection of the subgroup, so that a perspective correct visualization of the position of the sun is made possible. Since a large number of possibilities is already known from the prior art for determining the viewing direction and / or the head and / or eye position of the occupant, it may be provided in particular to take such information into account when selecting the subgroup. For this purpose, the motor vehicle may in particular have a camera which detects at least one occupant.

In addition, it is advantageous in the motor vehicle according to the invention if the sun position information additionally describes a current elevation angle of the sun, wherein the control device is further configured to select the subgroup associated lighting segments and / or specify the configuration of the subgroups associated lighting segments depending on the elevation angle. In particular, the number and / or the luminous intensity and / or the luminous color of the luminous segments belonging to the subgroup can be adjusted as a function of the elevation angle, preferably the ratio of the instantaneous elevation angle to a maximum elevation angle assumed or to be assumed by the sun on the current day. This advantageously makes it possible to estimate the altitude of the position of the sun along the trajectory of the sun. A high sun position can thus be visualized by a high number and / or high brightness of the light segments. Likewise, the position of the sun can be visualized by a luminous color selected within a color gradient, for example from red to yellow to red.

Additionally, the altitude information may additionally describe at least one azimuth angle of the next and / or last sunset and / or sunrise, wherein the controller is further configured to obtain at least one direction of the next and / or last sunset and / or sunrise from the altitude information and the ego information to derive further directional information describing the motor vehicle, to select a further subgroup of light segments comprising at least one light segment to be controlled, and to select the respective light segment belonging to the subgroup in accordance with one of its lighting directions Luminous brightness and / or its luminous color predetermining, the next and / or last sunset and / or sunrise visualizing, further control configuration. Preferably, the last sunrise and the next sunset is visualized during the day. Advantageously, the information about the current position of the sun is set in relation to sunrise and sunset, so that in particular an estimate of the duration until the next sunset is made possible.

In the motor vehicle according to the invention can also be provided that the component is a dashboard and / or a door and / or a body pillar and / or a center console of the motor vehicle. Preferably, a plurality of line-shaped bulbs can be used, which are arranged on each one of the components of the motor vehicle. For example, at least one light source can extend along the dashboard and one of the light sources along the doors of the motor vehicle. Illuminants may be provided only on the front doors or on the front and rear doors of the motor vehicle. It can be realized at least partially circumferential illuminant line, which allows on the one hand Ambientebeleuchtung the motor vehicle and on the other hand, the visualization of the position of the sun.

The horizontal extent of the light segments can be in the motor vehicle according to the invention in each case between 2 mm and 100 mm. The horizontal extent may in particular be at least 5 mm or at least 10 mm and / or at most 50 mm or 30 mm. The width of the line-shaped illuminant in the vertical direction may be less than 2 mm or less than 1 mm. Preferably, the width can be 0.8 mm. The lighting means may comprise a common diffuser for all or several diffusers for the individual lighting segments and / or it may be arranged in the motor vehicle such that an additional motor vehicle component is illuminated for indirect illumination of the vehicle interior.

Further advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the following examples and from the drawings. These are schematic representations and show:

1 a perspective view of the interior of a motor vehicle according to the invention;

2 a schematic representation of the in 1 shown motor vehicle with the relevant components for controlling lamps; and

3 a detailed view of a bulb of the in 1 shown motor vehicle.

1 and 2 show different views of a motor vehicle, wherein 1 schematically shows a perspective view of the interior of the motor vehicle and 2 represents the components relevant to the following discussion and their communication. The car 1 has several line-shaped bulbs 2 - 10 on, for direct illumination of the vehicle interior of the motor vehicle 1 serve. In an alternative embodiment, it would be possible to supplement or alternatively to the bulbs 2 - 10 provide for direct lighting line-shaped bulbs that illuminate the vehicle interior indirectly, by further vehicle components, such as a fabric cover of a door, shine. The following remarks regarding the line-shaped bulbs 2 - 10 for direct lighting can also be transferred to such indirectly illuminating bulbs.

The bulbs 2 - 10 each extend at least partially horizontally along different components of the motor vehicle 1 , The bulbs 2 and 3 extend along the dashboard 11 and the bulbs 4 and 5 each along a contour of the front vehicle doors 12 , The bulbs 6 and 7 extend horizontally in extension of the bulbs 4 and 5 along the not shown B-pillars of the motor vehicle 1 and the bulbs 8th . 9 put these through the bulbs 4 and 6 respectively. 5 and 7 formed line along the rear doors of the motor vehicle, not shown 1 continued. The bulbs 2 - 9 Thus, apart from a few interruptions, they essentially form the lateral and front circumference of the motor vehicle 1 circumferential light line to the interior of the motor vehicle 1 to illuminate. To the contours of the motor vehicle 1 further emphasize, is also the line-shaped light source 10 provided along the contour of the center console 13 of the motor vehicle 1 extends.

A detail of the bulbs 2 - 10 is the example of the bulb 9 in 3 shown. The light source 9 has several light segments 14 on, each having a fixed predetermined radiation profile and separately by a control device 15 of the motor vehicle for specifying a luminous brightness and / or a luminous color of the luminous segments 14 are controllable. The individual light segments 14 each have a lighting element 16 on, which may be, for example, an RGB LED, its luminous brightness and / or luminous color by the control device 15 is controllable. Between the individual lighting elements 16 and the vehicle interior, a not-shown diffuser is arranged, which controls the light of the individual lighting elements 16 so scatters that when operating adjacent light segments 14 In the horizontal direction, a substantially homogeneous luminous brightness and luminous color is achieved.

Again with respect to 2 has the motor vehicle 1 a navigation device 17 with an integrated position detection unit 18 on. By means of the position detection unit 18 is a position and orientation of the motor vehicle 1 can be determined in a geodetic coordinate system describing ego information. The determination of the information ego based on a satellite-based positioning method, such as GPS or Galileo, which in a missing satellite signal by evaluating a wheel speed, a steering angle and a yaw rate of the motor vehicle 1 is supplemented. In addition, the position detection unit 18 for determining the orientation of the motor vehicle 1 an electronic compass, not shown.

In addition, the motor vehicle includes 1 a camera 19 that captures its interior, and a communication device 20 for making an internet connection.

1 further shows an exemplary driving situation of the motor vehicle 1 with a current position in the sun 21 over a horizon line 22 , Based on this driving situation, the function of the control device will be described below 15 with regard to the visualization of the position of the sun explained:
First, the communication device 20 a sun position information wirelessly queried via an Internet server and to the controller 15 provided. The sun position information includes an azimuth angle of the current sun position 21 , the last sunrise and the next sunset as well as an elevation angle of the current position of the sun 21 and a highest position in the sun during the current day. In an alternative embodiment, the controller calculates 15 from the position of the motor vehicle 1 descriptive ego information, the current date and the current time, the position of the sun itself. From the position detection unit 18 is the orientation of the motor vehicle 1 descriptive ego information to the controller 15 provided. The control device determines from the position of the sun's position and the information of the ego 15 one the direction of the current position of the sun 21 with respect to the motor vehicle 1 descriptive direction information.

Subsequently, the controller selects 15 a subgroup 23 (see also 2 ) of the light segments 14 of the bulb 2 such that it comprises those lighting segments, which from the perspective of an occupant on the driver's seat of the motor vehicle 1 in perspective correct the current position of the sun 21 visualize. In addition she receives from the camera 19 Image data of the occupant making up the control device 15 by evaluating his eye position and his line of sight, a position of the occupant of the motor vehicle 1 derives descriptive occupant information. The subgroup 23 is selected such that at least one of its luminous segments 14 on an imaginary ray 29 from the position of the occupant in the direction of the azimuth angle of the current position of the sun 21 lies. The control device 15 selects the number of light elements 14 the subgroup 23 depending on the ratio of the current elevation angle of the sun to the elevation angle of the highest position of the sun in the current day. Similarly, the controller selects 15 another subgroup 24 (see also 2 ) depending on the azimuth angle of the last sunrise and another subgroup 25 (see also 2 ) depending on the azimuth angle of the next sunset.

The control device 15 controls the light segments 14 the subgroup 23 according to their luminous brightness and luminous color, the current position of the sun 21 visualize configuration. This configuration is also determined by the control device as a function of the ratio of the current elevation angle of the sun to the elevation angle of the highest position of the sun in the current day. Depending on this ratio, the luminous colors of the lighting elements 14 the subgroup 23 selected from a given color gradient. The gradient ranges from red for the sunrise over a bright yellow at the highest position of the sun again to a red for the sunset. For the visualization of the sunrise and the sunset, so the light segments 14 of the subgroups 24 . 25 , may have a lower luminous brightness than the subgroup 23 be specified.

Claims (6)

Motor vehicle comprising at least one line-shaped lighting means ( 2 - 10 ) for direct and / or indirect illumination of a vehicle interior, which extends at least in sections horizontally along at least one component of the motor vehicle ( 1 ) and a position detection unit ( 18 ) for detecting an alignment of the motor vehicle ( 1 ) descriptive Egoinformation, characterized in that the lighting means ( 2 - 10 ) horizontally into several light segments ( 14 ), each having a fixed predetermined emission profile, wherein the motor vehicle is a control device ( 15 ), which is designed to - from a current position of the sun ( 21 ) describing sun position information and the ego information a one direction of the current one Sunrise ( 21 ) with respect to the motor vehicle ( 1 ) to determine descriptive direction information, - depending on the direction information, at least one luminous segment to be controlled ( 14 ) comprehensive subgroup ( 23 ) of light segments ( 14 ), and - the respective subgroup ( 23 ) associated light segment ( 14 ) according to a configuration for visualizing the instantaneous position of the sun, given its luminous brightness and / or its luminous color ( 21 ) head for. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the control device ( 15 ) is further adapted to the subgroup ( 23 ) depending on a position of an occupant of the motor vehicle ( 1 ) descriptive occupant information. Motor vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sun position information additionally describes a current elevation angle of the sun, wherein the control device ( 15 ) is further adapted, depending on the elevation angle of the subgroup ( 23 ) associated lighting segments ( 14 ) and / or to specify the configuration of the light segments associated with the subgroup. Motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sun position information additionally describes at least one azimuth angle of the next and / or last sunset and / or sunrise, wherein the control device ( 15 ) is further adapted to use at least one direction of the next and / or last sunset and / or sunrise with respect to the motor vehicle ( 1 ) descriptive to determine further direction information, depending on the further direction information a at least one light segment to be controlled ( 14 ) comprehensive subgroup ( 24 . 25 ) of luminous segments and the respective subgroup ( 24 . 25 ) associated light segment ( 14 ) in accordance with a his luminous brightness and / or its luminous color predetermining, the next and / or last sunset and / or sunrise visualizing to drive further configuration. Motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the component is a dashboard ( 11 ) and / or a door ( 12 ) and / or a body pillar and / or a center console ( 13 ) of the motor vehicle ( 1 ). Motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the horizontal extension of the lighting segments ( 14 ) is in each case between 2 mm and 100 mm.

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