Light pattern generator, lighting device, vehicle and method for controlling the lighting device

Abstract

A light pattern generator, a lighting device, a vehicle and a method for controlling such a lighting device. The invention relates to a light pattern generator (1). The light pattern generator comprises a laser generator (2) for generating a laser beam (3), a screen (4) which is at least partially transparent to the laser beam (3), at least one movable mirror (5) which is arranged in the beam path of the laser beam (3) and for deflecting the laser beam (3) in the direction of the screen (4), a respective actuator (6) for actuating the respective mirror (5) and for controlling the respective actuator (6) and a control device (7). The light pattern generator according to the invention is characterized in that the control device (7), the actuator (6) and the at least one mirror (5) are arranged to deflect the laser beam (3) onto the screen (4) such that the laser beam (3) can be continuously guided on the screen (4) along a closed trajectory, thereby causing the laser beam (3) to generate a staggered pattern (8) on the screen (4), the control device (7) controls the actuator (6) by means of at least one control signal having a characteristic frequency, control signals that differ at least with different characteristic frequencies are stored in the control device (7) or can be generated by the control device (7), and the control device (7) can select a respective control signal for controlling the actuator (6) as a function of a selection variable (21).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a light pattern generator of the type defined in more detail in the preamble of claim 1, a lighting device having such a light pattern generator, a vehicle having such a lighting device and a method for controlling a lighting device. Advantageous embodiments and developments are given in the dependent claims. Background Art

[0002] Lighting plays an important role in the aesthetics and safety of a vehicle. With daytime running lights and switched-on tail lights, the vehicle can be better identified not only in the dark or in poor visibility (e.g. in fog or heavy rain), but also during the day. With the help of additional brake lights and by additionally flashing tail lights, the vehicle can warn other traffic participants that it is braking. With the help of driving direction indicators (e.g. turn signals), lane changes can be indicated or warnings can be output. In addition, the special design of the lighting elements can highlight the aesthetics and unique appearance of the vehicle.

[0003] Here, ordinary rear lights (such as tail lights or brake lights) can only be operated continuously, and when necessary, continuously at different brightness levels. This severely limits the ability to indicate different events or provide different functionalities. In addition, a lighting device that continuously operates at the same brightness is by no means a "sight focus".

[0004] In the field of prototyping, it is known to replace ordinary taillights with pixel lights designed in the form of screens. For example, Audi has launched an OLED screen called "Swarm Matrix". This involves a relatively large OLED screen on which red or orange light points are displayed, moving like a swarm of insects. The light patterns displayed in this way are animated, so that as an additional functionality, information can be conveyed by displaying different light patterns. In addition, this innovation can make it possible to please customers. However, due to the use of OLEDs, the corresponding screens are relatively expensive. In addition, OLEDs age quickly, which results in a limited service life.

[0005] A device and a method for projecting a light pattern are known from DE 10 2016 208 959 A1. The device comprises a laser device which is capable of generating white laser light by combining red, green and blue laser light. The corresponding laser beam is moved by means of a deflection device to "scan" a two-dimensional field area. In this way, different lighting devices can be implemented for the vehicle, such as matrix headlights or taillights. However, the disadvantage here is the complexity of controlling the deflection device and the laser device in order to guide the laser light according to a two-dimensional grid. For this purpose, corresponding hardware components must be designed to move the laser beam used to generate pixel light, which requires a complex structure, which in turn increases the manufacturing costs of the device.

[0006] Furthermore, DE 10 2015 013 462 A1 discloses a lighting element on a vehicle and a vehicle having a corresponding lighting element. In this case, the light intensity, light color, light frequency and / or the light pattern displayed by means of the lighting element are changed as a function of at least one vehicle parameter. In this way, new functionalities can be provided, for example depending on the forward speed, engine power, time, ambient brightness or other relevant lighting. In this case, the vehicle driver can select a pattern to be displayed preferentially from a catalog of predefined patterns via the lighting element. As a light source, the lighting element contains one or more LEDs, which limits the possibility of displaying complex light patterns.

[0007] Furthermore, GB 2 135 536 A discloses a noise-sensitive lighting system and a device having such a lighting system.

[0008] In addition, DE 10 2020 213 059 A1 discloses an environment acquisition method, an acquisition device, and a motor vehicle. The acquisition device has a laser headlight, which in turn includes a laser light source and a mirror body arranged in the laser light path. The mirror body can be independently swung around two mutually perpendicular steering axes. In this way, Lissajous figures can be generated.

[0009] In addition, DE 44 06 339 A1 discloses an optical vehicle collision warning device. If there is a risk of an accident caused by a rear vehicle colliding with the vehicle, the rear lights of the vehicle, such as brake lights, turn signal lights or rear fog lights, can be activated to warn the rear vehicle driver of the imminent collision accident.

[0010] In addition, US2009 / 0185251 A1 discloses a vibrating mirror for image projection. The mirror body performs rotational oscillation around two mutually offset axes with two different rotation frequencies. In this way, Lissajous figures can be generated. The mirror body can have a curved surface.

[0011] Furthermore, DE 10 2009 058 762 A1 discloses a deflection device for a projection device, a projection device for projecting an image, and a method for controlling a deflection device. Lissajous figures can be generated by means of the projection device. The deflection device comprises a damped suspended deflection element. Summary of the invention

[0012] The object of the present invention is to specify an improved light pattern generator, by means of which complex and dynamic light patterns can be generated with low control complexity and by which the light pattern generator can be produced in a cost-effective manner.

[0013] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a light pattern generator having the features of claim 1 and a light pattern generator having the features of claim 7. Advantageous embodiments and improvements are derived on the basis of the dependent claims, as well as a lighting device having such a light pattern generator, a vehicle having such a lighting device and a method for controlling a corresponding lighting device.

[0014] The aforementioned type of light pattern generator comprises: a laser generator for generating a laser beam, a screen that is at least partially transparent to the laser beam, at least one movable mirror arranged in the optical path of the laser beam and for deflecting the laser beam in the direction of the screen, a corresponding actuator for actuating the corresponding mirror, and a control device for controlling the corresponding actuator, wherein the control device, the actuator and at least one mirror are configured to deflect the laser beam onto the screen so that the laser beam can be continuously guided along a closed trajectory on the screen, thereby causing the laser beam to generate an interlaced pattern on the screen, wherein the control device controls the actuator with the aid of at least one control signal having a characteristic frequency, different control signals that are distinguished from each other at least by different characteristic frequencies are reserved in the control device or can be generated by the control device, and the control device is capable of selecting the corresponding control signal for controlling the actuator according to a selection variable.

[0015] The light pattern generator according to the present invention is manufactured and designed to generate an interlaced pattern on a screen by means of a laser beam. An interlaced pattern is a closed line having at least one intersection. Examples of interlaced patterns include lines, loops, figure eights or infinity symbols. The interlaced pattern is not necessarily symmetrical here, but can also extend in a chaotic and disordered manner. The interlaced pattern can be static, i.e., it remains unchanged in shape over time, or it can have an animated effect, i.e., it moves and / or changes shape over time. Such an interlaced pattern can be generated with a lower design complexity and control complexity, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the light pattern generator according to the present invention. Due to the special design of the interlaced pattern, especially the animated and / or moving interlaced pattern, it is particularly easy to be recognized by personnel, thereby improving the perception of personnel. According to the selection variables and the control signals designed according to different frequencies, different interlaced patterns can be displayed by means of the light pattern generator, wherein the displayed interlaced pattern is changed in particular for different application scenarios. In this way, the selection variables can be changed for different scenarios and the displayed interlaced pattern can be changed accordingly. This enables different functionalities to be provided, responding to specific scenarios and adapting the light pattern, which will be explained in more detail below in conjunction with the vehicle.

[0016] The control device is designed in terms of hardware and / or software to control an actuator and at least one mirror body for generating a light pattern on the screen. For this purpose, corresponding control software can be reserved in the control device. The corresponding control signal can be designed in a simple manner, for example, as a sine or cosine oscillation, a sawtooth pulse, a rectangular pulse, etc. Here, the corresponding signal has a unique characteristic frequency. The frequency can be selected arbitrarily and is, for example, in the range of 0.1 Hz to 10 Hz. But it can also be other frequencies. Next, the actuator will be triggered according to the control signal to excite the mirror body to vibrate or deflect the mirror body. Here, multiple control signals with different characteristic frequencies can be overlapped. For example, a first control signal with a characteristic frequency of 1 Hz can be overlapped with a second control signal with a characteristic frequency of 5 Hz and a third control signal with a characteristic frequency of 100 Hz. The corresponding control signal can also be modulated. For the movement of a mirror body or multiple mirror bodies through an actuator or multiple actuators, a separate control signal will be used for each degree of freedom of movement, in particular, for multiple degrees of freedom of movement. For example, the mirror is moved in the X direction by the actuator using the first control signal, and the mirror is moved in the Y direction perpendicular to the X direction by the second control signal.

[0017] The control device can also read in audio files, such as MP3 files, WAV files, etc., and derive characteristic frequencies from the audio files for generating control signals. For example, an FFT analysis can be performed on the audio signal for this purpose. The audio file can also be used directly as a control signal.

[0018] The control complexity for generating the staggered pattern can be simplified by using a control signal that is particularly simple and convenient to design or by directly using an audio file to control the corresponding actuator.

[0019] For example, the laser generator can be a laser diode. It generates laser light with a relatively narrow wavelength spectrum, especially a fixed wavelength. The laser beam can, for example, have a color that can be assigned to the visible spectrum, such as red, green or blue.

[0020] It can also be an infrared laser or preferably an ultraviolet laser. In this way, the screen can be coated with a material coating with fluorescent luminescence ability and / or such a material can be embedded in the screen. Subsequently, the ultraviolet laser will stimulate the fluorescent material to fluoresce, so that a particularly bright and vivid staggered pattern can be generated. By integrating a material with phosphorescent luminescence ability, a phosphorescent effect can be achieved. In this way, different materials with fluorescent luminescence ability can be arranged in different local areas of the screen. In this way, different colors can be generated by the same laser beam in different areas of the screen. As described below, the light pattern generator according to the present invention can be integrated into a vehicle, for example. Subsequently, for example, a material with fluorescent luminescence ability can be arranged on the screen in the area of ​​the turn signal light, which emits yellow or orange fluorescence, and a material with fluorescent luminescence ability can be arranged in the area of ​​the tail light and / or brake light, which emits red light when stimulated by the ultraviolet laser beam. By using infrared or ultraviolet lasers, the risk of the organism being dazzled by the laser beam can be minimized.

[0021] The mirror is not necessarily a physical mirror. A mirror is understood to be a surface or a surface section (eg a metal plate) which has sufficient reflectivity for deflecting the laser beam in the direction of the screen.

[0022] The screen has sufficient transparency to allow light to pass through so that the interlaced pattern can be seen from the side opposite to the side irradiated by the laser beam, but the transparency is low enough so that an organism looking at the screen is not dazzled by the laser beam passing through the screen.

[0023] According to the invention, an actuator is arranged to move the mirror body or a fixed element supporting the mirror body in a translational manner, wherein the actuator is in particular designed as a piezoelectric element or a loudspeaker. In this way, a particularly simple and cost-effective structure of the light pattern generator can be achieved. The mirror body can be mounted directly on the actuator or also indirectly via a corresponding fixed element. By means of a translational deflection, the actuator then excites the mirror body to vibrate or deflects it. The translational deflection can take place in one direction of movement or also in two different directions of movement. For each direction of movement, a separate pair of mirror body and actuator can also be provided.

[0024] That is to say, the laser beam can generally also be deflected multiple times, for example twice or three times, from the laser generator until it strikes the transparent screen.

[0025] When using a loudspeaker as an actuator, it is particularly preferred to use an audio file as a control signal. In this way, the audio signal can be used directly as an input variable for the loudspeaker in order to excite it to vibrate.

[0026] In an advantageous refinement of the light pattern generator, the mirror is designed to have a concave or convex curvature. By designing the mirror to be curved, the angle at which the mirror deflects the laser beam can be varied according to different degrees of deflection. In this way, the speed of advance of the laser beam on the screen can be varied continuously during the generation of the staggered pattern. This ensures special lighting effects. In this way, more complex staggered patterns can be generated, in particular with different brightness in different sections, because the sections of the staggered pattern along which the laser beam moves at a faster speed will appear darker to the observer.

[0027] Furthermore, in another advantageous improvement of the light pattern generator, it is designed that the mirror is connected to the actuator via a fixing element in the form of a lever arm, which is substantially perpendicular to the translation direction of the actuator and extends in a direction away from the actuator. By designing the fixing element as a lever arm, the degree of deflection of the mirror during the translation of the actuator can be amplified. The lever arm acts as a deflection amplifier. Due to the rigidity of the lever arm, it has a characteristic natural frequency, so that the mirror can be excited to vibrate with a corresponding characteristic vibration mode. In this way, the shape of the staggered pattern that can be generated on the screen can be changed according to the different designs of the lever arm.

[0028] By amplifying the deflection of the mirror by the lever arm, the actuator deflection can be reduced. This can save energy and / or reduce noise when using a loudspeaker as an actuator.

[0029] According to another advantageous design of the light pattern generator, the lever arm has different bending stiffnesses in its main extension direction and in a direction perpendicular to this direction. When the lever arm is excited to vibrate by the actuator, according to different designs, not only the bending vibration of the lever arm is excited along its main extension direction, but also its bending vibration is excited in a direction perpendicular to the main extension direction. In particular, for different bending stiffnesses in the corresponding directions, a deflection of the mirror body in at least two different directions can be achieved when the actuator is only translated and deflected in one direction, so that a staggered pattern can be generated in a particularly simple way. In order to influence the bending stiffness of the lever arm, it can have a specific shape and / or use different materials at different positions. The elastic modulus of the material also affects the bending stiffness.

[0030] Preferably, the actuator is connected to the superstructure via a damping element. The hardware components of the light pattern generator can be surrounded by a housing, for example. Here, the screen can form a housing section or be integrated in the housing. Since the actuator is stimulated to move, especially to resonate, the actuator may form a noise source. The actuator may therefore also stimulate the housing to vibrate, which may then cause interfering noise. However, such a situation can be avoided by connecting the actuator to the superstructure via a damping element. In order to form a damping element, any material can be used, such as polystyrene foam, hardened foam, rubber, cardboard, elastomer, etc. The damping element can be designed to be passive or active. In this way, the damping element can also include an active damper or form such a damper. When the actuator is designed as a loudspeaker, active noise reduction can be implemented through an active damping element.

[0031] According to another alternative design of the light pattern generator of the present invention, the actuator is configured as a rotationally movable mirror or a fixed element supporting the mirror, wherein the mirror is connected to the actuator so that the mirror has a certain inclination angle relative to its rotation axis. According to the present invention, at least two rotationally movable mirrors arranged in the optical path of the laser beam are arranged relative to each other and configured so that the laser beam moves along the Lissajous figure on the screen when the mirrors rotate.

[0032] By rotating the mirror, the laser beam is guided along the trajectory when the mirror rotates. In this way, it is possible to use a motor that is also low-cost and easily available as an actuator. If the light pattern generator includes multiple mirrors and multiple actuators, it is also possible to deflect one mirror by translation and deflect another mirror by rotation. In other words, a combination is possible.

[0033] Lissajous figures are a special form of staggered patterns. They are symmetrical and therefore have a particularly high aesthetic value. Lissajous figures are also called Lissajous curves. As mentioned above, the corresponding Lissajous figures can be static or animated. In particular, by displaying an animated Lissajous figure on a screen, a particularly aesthetic and easily perceptible light pattern can be generated.

[0034] The lighting device according to the invention comprises at least one of the above-mentioned light pattern generators. In this case, each light pattern generator can have a laser generator, which generates a laser beam of a different color. Subsequently, the two laser beams can be projected onto the same screen. In this way, staggered patterns of different colors can be generated in different spatial areas of the screen. The staggered patterns can also overlap at least partially.

[0035] According to the invention, a vehicle comprises such a lighting device. Here, the lighting device is designed in particular as a taillight. Preferably, a lighting device is designed respectively to form a turn signal light, a taillight, a brake light, a headlight, a cooling grille lighting light, etc. It is also possible to integrate multiple vehicle lights, such as turn signal lights and taillights, into the same lighting device. This has been described above. When the lighting device according to the invention is used as a turn signal light, in particular, the displayed staggered pattern can be changed for each turn signal that is displayed again. In this way, a turn signal that is particularly easy to perceive is generated. For example, if a left turn signal light, a right turn signal light or a warning flasher of the vehicle is activated, the shape of the staggered pattern can also be changed. Here, the control device of the light pattern generator can be formed by a computing unit of the vehicle or integrated into the computing unit.

[0036] According to the present invention, for the method of controlling the lighting device included in the aforementioned vehicle, the selection variable is determined by the calculation unit of the vehicle according to the vehicle parameters, the distance between the vehicle and the following vehicle measured by the vehicle and / or the operation action input through the human-machine interface. By changing the selection variable according to the variable, different functions can be realized. The vehicle parameters can be the use of a specific driving mode, such as the use of an internal combustion engine or an electric motor, the forward speed of the vehicle, the operation of the accelerator pedal, that is, the operation of acceleration, brakes and / or running the vehicle in a comfort, sport or dynamic driving mode.

[0037] For example, the forward speed of the vehicle can be divided into steps of 10 km / h continuously, and the selected variable can be changed for each speed section, so that a new control signal with a different characteristic frequency is output by the control device to control the actuator. Here, it is preferred to use such a control signal by changing the selected variable for controlling the actuator so that the staggered pattern displayed by the lighting device becomes more noticeable as the forward speed increases. More noticeable here means, in particular, that the size of the staggered pattern becomes larger, the brightness increases, the moving speed becomes faster, more intersections are included in the staggered pattern, and / or the staggered pattern flashes.

[0038] Similarly, if the vehicle performs a braking maneuver, the staggered pattern becomes more noticeable, thereby alerting the following vehicle to the braking maneuver being performed, similar to the addition of brake lights.

[0039] Preferably, the vehicle measures the distance to the respective following vehicle and adjusts the staggered pattern as a function of the measured distance. In this way, a collision warning can be output to the following vehicle. The vehicle can, for example, display a specific staggered pattern while driving, which changes when the brakes are actuated. If the following vehicle approaches, the staggered pattern is further changed until, below a critical distance, the staggered pattern is displayed in the most striking manner, i.e., for example, particularly large, particularly bright, with many intersections and flashing. In this way, road traffic safety is increased, since the driver of the following vehicle is warned of an imminent collision and is thereby guided to perform particularly strong emergency braking actions.

[0040] Here, the vehicle user (e.g., the vehicle driver) can set preferences via a human-machine interface (e.g., a touch screen), i.e., for what kind of scene or what kind of boundary conditions, what kind of staggered pattern should be displayed on the lighting device. Here, for different staggered patterns that are automatically displayed according to specific scenes, the vehicle user can also set what kind of staggered pattern should be used for what kind of scene. Preferably, the vehicle user can also make this setting while the vehicle is driving. A mobile terminal device paired with the vehicle can also be used as a human-machine interface. Accordingly, an application suitable for setting the selection variables will be run on the mobile terminal device (e.g., a smartphone).

[0041] Preferably, the control signal selected by the control device according to the selection variable is output visually and / or acoustically in the vehicle and / or the staggered pattern generable on the screen according to the corresponding control signal is output visually in the vehicle.

[0042] In this way, a variety of options can be realized in order to show the user in which specific manner the staggered pattern is displayed by the lighting device. The visual display of the control signal and / or the staggered pattern can be carried out via any display device in the vehicle or on a mobile terminal device of the vehicle user. The acoustic output of the control signal (especially an audio file) can be carried out via the vehicle's sound system or a loudspeaker of the mobile terminal device. In particular, when the control signal and the staggered pattern are displayed simultaneously, the user can be aware of the influence of the control signal on the staggered pattern that can be generated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] On the basis of the embodiments described in detail below in conjunction with the schematic diagram, further advantageous designs can also be derived for the light pattern generator according to the invention, the lighting device according to the invention, the vehicle according to the invention, and the method for controlling a lighting device included in such a vehicle.

[0044] in:

[0045] Figure 1Schematically shows a side view of the light pattern generator according to the present invention according to a first embodiment;

[0046] Figure 2 Schematically shows Figure 1 A circuit diagram of the light pattern generator shown;

[0047] Figure 3 schematically shows a perspective view of a light pattern generator according to the present invention according to a second embodiment;

[0048] Figure 4 A perspective view schematically shows a lighting device according to the present invention;

[0049] Figure 5 A schematic diagram of a vehicle taillight according to the present invention is shown;

[0050] Figure 6 Several examples of Lissajous figures are shown;

[0051] Figure 7 A flow chart of a method for controlling the light pattern generator according to the present invention is shown;

[0052] Figure 8 A flowchart showing the relevant user selection for setting a staggered pattern that is preferably displayed on the lighting device according to the present invention; and

[0053] Fig. 9 The diagram schematically shows an input interface for setting a staggered pattern by a user. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0054] like Figure 1 As shown, the light pattern generator 1 according to the present invention comprises a laser generator 2 for generating a laser beam 3, a screen 4 at least partially transparent to the laser beam 3, at least one movable mirror 5 arranged in the optical path of the laser beam 3 and used for deflecting the laser beam 3 in the direction of the screen 4, an actuator 6 matched with each mirror 5 for operating the mirror, and a Figure 2 A control device 7 for controlling the respective actuator 6 is shown in FIG.

[0055] The control device 7 is configured to control the actuator 6 so that the laser beam 3 is continuously guided along a closed trajectory on the screen 4 by means of the mirror 5, so that the laser beam 3 generates a Figure 3 and the staggered pattern 8 shown in other figures.

[0056] To this end, the control device 7 controls the actuator 6 by means of at least one control signal having a characteristic frequency. The control signals, which differ at least in having different characteristic frequencies, are stored in the control device 7, for example on a physical storage medium, or are generated by the control device 7. The corresponding control signal for controlling the actuator 6 can be selected by the control device 7 as a function of a selection variable. The selection variable can be provided to the control device 7 from the outside or can also be determined by the control device 7 as a function of different boundary conditions.

[0057] exist Figure 1 In the embodiment shown in , the actuator 6 is an actuator 6 capable of translating the mirror body 5 or the fixed element 9 on which the mirror body 5 is mounted in the translation direction T. For example, the actuator 6 is a piezoelectric element or a loudspeaker. The different components of the light pattern generator 1 (such as the laser generator 2 and the actuator 6) can be fixed to a superstructure 13 (such as a housing). Here, the screen 4 can be embedded in the housing, or partially form the housing. In order to prevent the actuator 6 from exciting the superstructure 13 to vibration, the corresponding actuator 6 can be connected to the superstructure 13 via a passive or active damping element 12. For example, the damping element 12 is a rubber, elastomer or foam plastic damper.

[0058] Typically, piezoelectric elements and loudspeakers have a relatively small stroke, wherein the fixing element 9 is advantageously designed as a lever arm 10 in order to still be able to achieve a relatively large degree of deflection of the laser beam 3. Figure 1 The lever arm 10 is shown in the rest position by a thick line. If the fixing element 9 is excited to vibrate in the translation direction T by the actuator 6, the fixing element 9 will vibrate according to the vibration mode caused by its structure, wherein the maximum deflection position is at Figure 1 Indicated by dotted lines.

[0059] The lever arm 10 or the fixing element 9 is designed in particular in such a way that the mirror body 5 vibrates in at least two directions when excited in only one direction.

[0060] Particularly preferably, the laser generator 2 is an ultraviolet laser or an infrared laser, wherein the screen 4 is coated with a material having fluorescent luminescence capability on the side facing the mirror body 5, and / or a corresponding material or a mixed material is embedded in the screen 4. In this way, the risk of dazzle caused by the laser beam 3 for a person observing the screen 4 is reduced, while still being able to generate a particularly beautiful and bright staggered pattern 8.

[0061] In this case, the viewing direction is indicated by the eye 16 .

[0062] Figure 2 Shows Figure 1The corresponding circuit diagram of the light pattern generator 1 is shown. The actuator 6 is connected to an amplifier 18 via a line 17. The amplifier 18 is in turn connected to a DC power source, such as a battery 19, via a line 17. The battery can also be a storage battery. The amplifier 18 receives input signals via a control device 7, which is shown in FIG. Figure 1 Not shown in FIG. Figure 1 , the control device 7 can be located outside the cavity defined by the superstructure 13. In particular, when the actuator 6 is a loudspeaker, the amplifier 18 can be connected to the control device 7 via a plug connector 20. For the specification of the light pattern generator 1 using another actuator 6, the amplifier 18 can also be omitted and the actuator 6 can be triggered directly by the control device 7.

[0063] The control device 7 can receive the selection variable 21 from the outside, or can also determine the selection variable itself according to the measured parameters. According to the selection variable 21, the control device 7 selects a suitable control signal for controlling the actuator 6. Here, as mentioned above, different signals with corresponding characteristic frequencies will be reserved in the control device 7 or can be generated by the control device.

[0064] Further shown is a laser generator 2 connected to a battery 19 via a line 17 .

[0065] Figure 3 An alternative design of the light pattern generator 1 according to the invention is shown. As actuators 6, the light pattern generator 1 here comprises two electric drives, which are able to rotate the two mirror bodies 5 shown. Here, the two mirror bodies 5 are arranged and arranged relative to each other so that the laser beam 3 is guided along a so-called Lissajous figure 11 on the screen 4. For this purpose, the mirror bodies 5 are each connected to the respective motor at an angle. In this way, the center axis M of the respective mirror body 5 is inclined at a certain angle α relative to the rotation axis R of the respective motor. This leads to the laser beam 3 being deflected at a slightly changing angle when it impinges on the mirror body 5, depending on the specific rotational position. Here, the respective mirror bodies 5 are arranged relative to each other so that the laser beam 3 is deflected on the screen 4 along a first direction X by one of the mirror bodies and around a second direction Y perpendicular to the first direction X by the second mirror body 5.

[0066] Figure 4 The arrangement of two light pattern generators 1 according to the present invention in an illumination device 14 according to the present invention is shown. Here, the two laser generators 2 can each generate a laser beam 3 of the same color or of different colors. Figure 4 The screen 4 shown in FIG. 4 can also be designed differently in local locations, for example using different colors and / or different materials with fluorescent light emission capability. Figure 5In the case of the vehicle 15 shown in FIG. 1 , the first staggered pattern 8 can be used to form taillights and the second staggered pattern 8 can be used to form driving direction indicators, such as turn signals. In this case, during the generation of the staggered pattern 8, the corresponding laser beam 3 is continuously guided along the corresponding closed trajectory. However, the laser generator 2 can then also be switched off and then reactivated. After the laser generator 2 has been reactivated, a different staggered pattern 8 can then be generated, for example, by controlling the corresponding actuator 6 with different control signals, or the same staggered pattern can also be generated as before.

[0067] Figure 5 An exemplary external view of the vehicle 15 according to the present invention is shown. Figure 5 In FIG. 1 , the application of the light pattern generator 1 according to the present invention is explicitly shown, and accordingly the application of the lighting device 14 according to the present invention for forming a vehicle taillight is shown.

[0068] Figure 6 Different Lissajous figures 11 are shown as examples. Depending on the specific application and the desired pattern, these figures can be displayed by means of the lighting device 14 of the present invention. Here, the specific Lissajous figure 11 or the staggered pattern 8 can be static or can be displayed dynamically, that is, in the form of animation.

[0069] Figure 7 The flowchart of the method for controlling the lighting device 14, i.e., the light pattern generator 1, according to the present invention is shown. In method step 701, the control device 7 is informed which selection variable 21 should be output. Depending on the requirements, the control device 7 can be informed from the outside via a human-machine interface, for example, but the specific selection variable 21 can also be determined based on vehicle parameters, for example, for different forward speed intervals of the vehicle 15.

[0070] In method step 702 , the control device 7 selects different control signals with different characteristic frequencies according to the selection variable 21 and transmits them to the actuator 6 for control in method step 703 .

[0071] In method step 704 , the mirror body 5 is thereby moved or excited to vibrate.

[0072] In method step 705 , a corresponding staggered pattern 8 or Lissajous figure 11 is projected onto the screen 4 .

[0073] Figure 8 The setting sequence of the control device 7 , ie under what boundary conditions which selection variable 21 is to be selected, is clearly shown.

[0074] In method step 801, the user of the vehicle 15 sets via the human-machine interface which control signal should be output in the control device 7 for which boundary conditions. In this case, the interlaced pattern 8 that can be set in this way can be displayed to the user visually. According to setting 802, the user selects an interlaced pattern 8 that is illuminated continuously and statically during the driving of the vehicle 15. In this case, he can set which control signal should be used for this purpose, that is, the user can select or set the corresponding characteristic frequency of the control signal.

[0075] According to setting 803, the vehicle 15 will automatically select the corresponding control signal according to the set driving mode, such as comfort, sport or dynamic driving mode.

[0076] According to the setting 804, the vehicle 15 will select the corresponding control signal according to the distance of the following vehicle measured backwards to the vehicle 15. In this way, if the distance between the vehicle 15 and the following vehicle changes, the control device 7 will change the selection variable 21.

[0077] According to the setting 805, the selection variable 21 is adjusted according to the forward speed of the vehicle 15, and the control signal is adjusted accordingly. The speed intervals for which the same staggered pattern is respectively displayed can be arbitrarily defined, for example: parking, trekking / slow driving speed, slow driving speed, slow driving speed to 30 km / h, 30 km / h to 50 km / h, 50 km / h to 100 km / h and greater than 100 km / h. There can also be speed intervals for reversing.

[0078] Fig. 9 Schematically shown is an input interface 22 for setting the staggered pattern 8 to be displayed by a user of the vehicle 15. Via a selection field 23, the user can select the type of control signal, for example resonance, rectangular pulse or sawtooth pulse.

[0079] Through the controller 24, the user can set the amplitude of the control signal, that is, the volume of the audio file.

[0080] Through the controller 25, the user can set different modulation modes of the control signal.

[0081] The characteristic frequency can be set by the user via the controller 26. The scanning can be performed according to any step size, for example in steps of 1 Hz.

[0082] By selecting the field 27, the user can output the control signals that can be generated in an audible and / or visual manner via the display area 28. In the display area 28, the interlaced patterns 8 that can be presented can also be displayed visually accordingly. By selecting the field 29, the completed control signals can be saved and / or loaded.

[0083] exist Fig. 9In the example in FIG. 3 , a setting bar 30 is shown for three different control signals. The user can choose to merge the corresponding control signals to generate a common control signal. However, it is also possible to use one of the control signals shown for control.

Claims

1. A light pattern generator (1), comprising: A laser generator (2) for generating a laser beam (3), a screen (4) at least partially transparent for the laser beam (3), at least one movable mirror (5) arranged in the optical path of the laser beam (3) and for deflecting the laser beam (3) in the direction of the screen (4), a respective actuator (6) for actuating the respective mirror (5) and a control device (7) for controlling the respective actuator (6), wherein The control device (7), the actuator (6) and at least one of the mirrors (5) are arranged to deflect the laser beam (3) onto the screen (4) so ​​that the laser beam (3) can be continuously guided along a closed trajectory on the screen (4) so ​​that the laser beam (3) generates a staggered pattern (8) on the screen (4), wherein the screen (4) has sufficient transparency for light to pass through so that the staggered pattern (8) can be seen from the side opposite to the side illuminated by the laser beam (3), and The control device (7) controls the actuator (6) by means of at least one control signal having a characteristic frequency, control signals which differ at least in terms of having different characteristic frequencies being stored in the control device (7) or being able to be generated by the control device (7), and the control device (7) being able to select the corresponding control signal for controlling the actuator (6) as a function of a selection variable (21), It is characterized in that The actuator (6) is configured to translate the mirror body (5) or to translate a fixed element (9) supporting the mirror body.

2. The light pattern generator (1) according to claim 1, It is characterized in that The actuator (6) is designed as a piezoelectric element or a loudspeaker.

3. The light pattern generator (1) according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized in that The mirror body (5) has a concave curvature or a convex curvature.

4. The light pattern generator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, It is characterized in that The mirror body (5) is connected to the actuator (6) via a fixing element (9) in the form of a lever arm (10), which is substantially perpendicular to the translation direction (T) of the actuator (6) and extends in a direction away from the actuator (6).

5. The light pattern generator (1) according to claim 4, It is characterized in that The lever arm (10) has different bending stiffnesses in its main extension direction and in a direction perpendicular to the main extension direction.

6. The light pattern generator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, It is characterized in that The actuator (6) is connected to a superstructure (13) via a damping element (12).

7. A light pattern generator (1), comprising: A laser generator (2) for generating a laser beam (3), a screen (4) at least partially transparent to the laser beam (3), at least one movable mirror (5) arranged in the optical path of the laser beam (3) and for deflecting the laser beam (3) in the direction of the screen (4), a respective actuator (6) for actuating the respective mirror (5) and a control device (7) for controlling the respective actuator (6), wherein The control device (7), the actuator (6) and at least one of the mirrors (5) are arranged to deflect the laser beam (3) onto the screen (4) so ​​that the laser beam (3) can be continuously guided along a closed trajectory on the screen (4) so ​​that the laser beam (3) generates a staggered pattern (8) on the screen (4), wherein the screen (4) has sufficient transparency for light to pass through so that the staggered pattern (8) can be seen from the side opposite to the side illuminated by the laser beam (3), and The control device (7) controls the actuator (6) by means of at least one control signal having a characteristic frequency, control signals that differ at least in terms of having different characteristic frequencies being stored in the control device (7) or being able to be generated by the control device (7), and the control device (7) being able to select the corresponding control signal for controlling the actuator (6) as a function of a selection variable (21), and wherein: The actuator (6) is configured to rotationally move the mirror body (5) or a fixed element (9) supporting the mirror body (5), wherein the mirror body (5) is connected to the actuator (6) so that the mirror body has a certain inclination angle α relative to its rotation axis (R), Features At least two of the mirror bodies (5) are arranged in the optical path of the laser beam (3), wherein the mirror bodies (5) are arranged and configured relative to each other so that the laser beam (3) moves along a Lissajous figure (11) on the screen (4) when the mirror bodies (5) rotate.

8. A lighting device (14), Features Comprising at least one light pattern generator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. A vehicle (15), Features The invention comprises at least one lighting device (14) according to claim 8, in particular the lighting device (14) is designed as a taillight.

10. A method for controlling a lighting device (14) included in a vehicle (15) according to claim 9, It is characterized in that The selection variable (21) is determined by a computing unit of the vehicle (15) based on vehicle parameters, a distance between the vehicle (15) and a following vehicle measured by the vehicle (15) and / or an operation action input through a human-machine interface.

11. The method according to claim 10, It is characterized in that - a control signal selected by the control device (7) as a function of the selection variable (21) is output visually and / or acoustically in the vehicle (15); and / or The staggered pattern (8) that can be generated on the screen (4) according to a corresponding control signal is outputted visually in the vehicle (15).

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