Motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle, comprising: a distance detection device (3) which is designed to continuously detect the distance (a, a1, a2, a3) of the motor vehicle (1) and a further motor vehicle (2) running behind the motor vehicle (1); and at least one light-emitting device (6) which is arranged on the rear side of the motor vehicle (1) and is used for outputting light information (8) indicating that the light information (8) is below a predetermined minimum distance (M), the brightness and / or the size of the light information (8) being also increased in the case of an increase in the extent below the minimum distance (M).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a distance detection device and at least one lighting device / illumination device, wherein the distance detection device is designed to continuously detect the distance between the motor vehicle and another motor vehicle traveling behind it, and the lighting device is arranged at the rear side of the motor vehicle and is used to output light information indicating that the distance is less than a predetermined minimum distance. Background Art

[0002] Modern motor vehicles typically have a distance detection system for detecting the distance to objects in front of or behind the vehicle. This can involve stationary objects, so the distance detection system operates similarly to a parking assistance system. However, it can also involve detecting the distance to moving objects, i.e., vehicles traveling in front or behind, where the distance data can be used to control other driver assistance systems. The distance detection system includes one or more corresponding distance sensors, such as ultrasonic sensors, radar sensors, or lidar sensors, located at corresponding locations on the vehicle.

[0003] Document DE 10 2018 221 351 A1 discloses a motor vehicle having a corresponding distance detection device capable of detecting the distance to a vehicle traveling behind the motor vehicle. Furthermore, the known motor vehicle includes a lighting device disposed on the rear side of the vehicle. When the distance detection device detects that the distance between the following vehicle and the motor vehicle reaches or falls below a minimum distance, the lighting device can emit the aforementioned light information to warn the rear traffic participants. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a comparatively improved motor vehicle.

[0005] In order to solve this problem, it is provided according to the invention that for a motor vehicle of the type mentioned at the outset, the brightness and / or size of the light information also increases as the degree to which the minimum distance is fallen below increases.

[0006] In the motor vehicle according to the present invention, a warning is adaptively provided to traffic users behind the vehicle, depending on the extent to which a defined minimum distance is exceeded. As described, the distance to the vehicle behind is continuously detected, so that the actual distance is always known. If the vehicle behind the vehicle falls below a defined minimum distance, which is adapted accordingly, for example, based on the actual speed of the vehicle, a light signal is output via the lighting device to signal this fact to the traffic user behind the vehicle. However, if the traffic user behind the vehicle continues to approach, and the minimum distance decreases, or more precisely, the extent to which the minimum distance is exceeded increases, the light signal is adapted accordingly, and the warning is made stronger or more noticeable. To this end, the brightness of the light signal is increased, that is, the light device emits brighter, thereby making the light signal more noticeable. Alternatively, the size of the light signal can be increased, for example, by enlarging the luminous surface or by switching on additional lighting devices. Alternatively, both the brightness and size of the light signal can be increased. Therefore, by generating light information adapted to the degree to which the minimum distance has been fallen below, it is possible to respond to changing driving situations, and since traffic participants traveling behind may not be aware that the minimum distance has been fallen below after the first light information has been output, the warning content can be improved and the information can be effectively conveyed to traffic participants behind.

[0007] Therefore, in the motor vehicle according to the present invention, the warning to the road users behind is not performed only once or in a single form, but rather a warning signal is outputted adaptively according to the situation by suitable light information.

[0008] Of course, this adaptation preferably occurs not only in one direction, i.e., increasing the brightness and / or size as the distance below the (minimum distance) increases, but also in the opposite direction. Thus, if a vehicle approaches accordingly, the brightness and / or size are increased accordingly. However, if the approaching vehicle then slows down again and the distance increases, then the adaptation appears to be reversed, with the brightness and size decreasing again. More precisely, if the vehicle leaves the minimum distance range, the light information disappears completely.

[0009] Particularly advantageously, the adaptation is not performed only once after the first light information is issued, but rather continuously as the distance below the minimum distance increases, i.e., as the proximity increases. To this end, according to a first variant of the present invention, provision can be made for the brightness and / or size to increase continuously as the distance below the minimum distance continues to increase. Thus, as the vehicle approaches, the light information becomes increasingly brighter or larger, i.e., the brightness or size is continuously increased. This, of course, also applies to increasing distances, i.e., as the distance below the minimum distance continues to decrease. In this case, the increased brightness or size is also continuously reduced.

[0010] Instead of a continuous, or stepless, adaptation, the brightness and / or size can also be adapted in steps. That is, if the distance below the minimum distance increases in steps, the brightness and / or size also increases in steps, or vice versa. If the vehicle behind approaches and falls below the minimum distance, a first light signal is emitted. If the vehicle approaches, for example, another 5 meters, the first adaptation level is activated, increasing the brightness and / or size by one level, i.e., by a step. If the vehicle approaches further, for example, by another 5 meters, the second adaptation level is activated, increasing the brightness and / or size by another level, i.e., by a step. If the vehicle approaches even further, for example, by another 5 meters, the third adaptation level is activated, increasing the brightness and size by another level. The same applies to increasing distances, where the brightness and / or size is further reduced in corresponding steps. Because the brightness and / or size can change significantly in steps at each level, the stepped adaptation or change achieved here is visually quite striking.

[0011] It is sufficient to provide a lighting device for emitting light information only on the rear side or tail side. For this purpose, for example, a lighting device arranged in the middle of the vehicle, for example at the upper edge of the rear window, can be used, which serves as a taillight or brake light. However, it is expedient for the lighting device to have at least two separate lighting units, wherein the increase or decrease of the brightness and / or size is controlled synchronously. In motor vehicles, the lighting devices are usually arranged on the left and right sides of the tail side and usually include brake lights, in most cases also taillights, and, if necessary, turn signals or reversing lights, etc. Modern lighting units are usually designed as matrix LED lights, which allow the manipulation of different lighting geometries or lighting images, and even the presentation of different colors, so that corresponding brightness adaptation and / or size adaptation can be easily achieved by means of such lighting units.

[0012] Here, it is suitable that the light information widens in the vehicle transverse direction when the size is increased. To this end, when the light information is very eye-catching, the size is increased on the one hand, and the vehicle also appears wider on the other hand, especially in the dark.

[0013] The lighting device itself expediently comprises one or more OLED light sources, which are preferably designed as matrix headlights with corresponding OLEDs. These light sources allow, on the one hand, almost arbitrary control of the light geometry and, on the other hand, allow the brightness to be adapted within a very wide range. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Further advantages and details of the invention will be apparent from the exemplary embodiments described below and with reference to the drawings.

[0015] in:

[0016] Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a first driving situation, in which a first distance between two vehicles is greater than a minimum distance,

[0017] Figures 2 to 4 A diagram showing a subsequent driving situation of a motor vehicle traveling behind gradually approaching another motor vehicle as the degree of falling below the minimum distance increases, and the corresponding light information output,

[0018] Figure 5 A schematic diagram showing the lighting pattern of a taillight lighting assembly without additional lighting information,

[0019] Figure 6 Shown according to Figure 5 Schematic diagram of , with information about the light below the minimum distance, and

[0020] Figure 7 and Figure 8 It is shown that the light information becomes larger as the proximity increases. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Figure 1 The figure shows a first motor vehicle 1 traveling ahead and a motor vehicle 2 traveling behind it according to the present invention. Motor vehicle 1 has a distance detection device 3 comprising a control unit 4 and one or more distance sensors 5 mounted at the rear. Furthermore, a rear lighting device 6 is provided, which may comprise, for example, two light units arranged at the sides and a light unit arranged between the two light units. Lighting device 6 is controlled by a control unit 7, which communicates with control unit 4 of distance detection device 3.

[0022] During driving operation, the distance detection device 3 is active and continuously determines the actual distance a to the following motor vehicle 2, which is indicated by a double arrow. Figure 1 In the example, the actual distance a is greater than Figure 1 The minimum distance M is also shown in FIG. The minimum distance M is calculated from the host vehicle 1 to the detected vehicle 2. The minimum distance M is preferably adaptive to the speed. The faster the host vehicle is traveling, the greater the minimum distance M must be, and vice versa.

[0023] From the basis Figure 1 Based on the driving situation, the motor vehicle 2 approaches the motor vehicle 1, and the actual distance a1 is less than Figure 1 At the same time, the motor vehicle 2 is below the minimum distance M, such as Figure 2This is detected by the distance detection device 3, which sends a corresponding detection signal to the control device 7. The control device then controls the lighting device 6 to output a light signal 8, which signals to the driver of vehicle 2 that the vehicle has approached the vehicle and has fallen below the minimum distance M. The light signal 8 is a warning signal that is intended to inform the road users traveling behind that the following distance is too close.

[0024] However, in the example shown, the vehicle 2 continues to approach, and the actual distance a2 will soon become less than the previous distance a1, that is, it will further fall below the minimum distance M. The distance detection device 3 continuously detects the continuous decrease in distance and the increasing degree of falling below the minimum distance M. The control device 7, upon receiving the corresponding information about the falling below the minimum distance, controls the lighting device 6 so that the output light signal 8 becomes brighter and / or larger, i.e., more noticeable, and its warning characteristics become more pronounced. The corresponding control or adaptation of the brightness and / or size of the light signal 8 can occur continuously with the continuous decrease in distance and the continuously detected decrease in distance, i.e., the light signal 8 becomes increasingly brighter and / or larger in size. However, the control or adaptation can also occur in a stepwise manner, i.e., the approach is detected in stages, and the brightness and / or size of the light signal 8 increases abruptly when the falling below the corresponding next level is reached.

[0025] from Figure 3 To begin, assume (see Figure 4 ) The motor vehicle 2 still continues to approach, which is again continuously detected by the distance detection device 3. The control device 7 therefore actuates the lighting device 6 so that the light information 8 becomes brighter and / or louder in order to warn the driver of the vehicle 2 even more strongly.

[0026] Of course, if the motor vehicle 2 moves away again, ie, for example, from Figure 4 The situation of the vehicle 1 is started, the distance to the motor vehicle 1 is continuously reduced again, and the brightness and / or size that have been improved at this moment are also correspondingly reduced. At this moment, the brightness and / or size of the light information 8 are also continuously or steppedly reduced again in a corresponding manner.

[0027] Figure 5 An embodiment of a lighting device 6 is shown, which is provided on a motor vehicle. In the example shown, the lighting device comprises three individual lighting units 9a, 9b, and 9c, with lighting units 9a and 9b positioned to the sides and lighting unit 9c arranged between them. Lighting units 9a-9c are preferably OLED lamps that can be configured in a matrix and controlled accordingly to display different lighting geometries or to adjust their brightness over a wide range.

[0028] Figure 5The following situation is shown, in which the motor vehicle 1 is traveling, for example, in the dark with only the headlights on. The lighting units 9a-9c emit corresponding taillight signals 10a, 10b, 10c. Figure 1 This light is provided in the case of

[0029] At this time, if the motor vehicle Figure 2 As shown in FIG, if the vehicle is close to the vehicle and is below the minimum distance M, then in this case the lighting device 9c first displays the lighting information 8, which includes a first lighting information segment 8a, which is in the form of a light bar, for example. Figure 6 shown.

[0030] according to Figure 3 As the proximity increases, the additional second light information segment 8b is actuated in a stepwise or gradual manner, which second light information segment is laterally offset and significantly larger than the light information segment 8a, so that the overall light information is expanded laterally, as shown in FIG. Figure 7 shown.

[0031] according to Figure 4 When the user approaches the light again, the third light information segment 8c is controlled and displayed. The third light information segment is obviously larger and wider than the light information segment 8b. Figure 8 .

[0032] The light information segments 8a-8c can have the same brightness or different brightnesses, i.e., the light information segment 8a has a first brightness, the light information segment 8b has a second, higher brightness, and the light information segment 8c has a third, even higher brightness. It is also possible to increase the brightness of all light information segments as a whole by switching on a different light information segment each time, and so on.

[0033] Figures 5 to 8 The schematic diagram only shows possible geometric shapes for the light information segments 8a-8c, specifically rectangular shapes. Of course, the light information segments can have any geometric shape, such as a circle, a bar, or a line. Instead of displaying a separate light segment on each side, each side can also display a single, continuously or step-wise increasing light information or similar light information. This is particularly easy to achieve when using appropriate matrix OLED lighting units. Of course, corresponding flashing, pulsing, and similar noticeable changes in illumination are also conceivable.

[0034] Of course, as the distance increases accordingly, the light information display is correspondingly retracted, ie in the example shown the light information segments 8 a - 8 c also gradually dim.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle comprising: A distance detection device (3) is designed to continuously detect the distance (a, a1, a2, a3) between a motor vehicle (1) and another motor vehicle (2) traveling behind it; and at least one lighting device (6) is arranged on the rear side of the motor vehicle (1) and is used to emit light information (8) indicating that the vehicle is below a predetermined minimum distance (M), characterized in that the size of the light information (8) increases when the degree of below the minimum distance (M) increases, and when the size increases, the light information (8) becomes wider in the vehicle lateral direction, and the lighting device (6) has at least two separate lighting units (9a, 9b, 9c), wherein the increase or decrease of brightness and / or size is controlled synchronously.

2. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein: The brightness of the luminous display is additionally increased.

3. The motor vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: In case of subsequent decreases below the minimum distance (M), the brightness and / or size are reduced.

4. The motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that In case the degree below the minimum distance continuously increases or decreases, the brightness and / or size continuously increases or decreases.

5. The motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that In the case of a stepwise increase or decrease below the minimum distance, the brightness and / or size increases or decreases stepwise.

6. The motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The lighting device (6) has one or more OLED light sources.

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