Method for operating a lighting device and lighting device

Abstract

A method for operating a lighting device (2) for a motor vehicle (8), wherein the lighting device (2) has a main radiation direction in a first of two directions of travel (10, 12) of the motor vehicle (8), wherein operation of a first lighting function (4) is enabled to generate a first light distribution (34) when the motor vehicle (8) is traveling in the first direction of travel (10), and that operation of a second lighting function (6) of the lighting device (2) is enabled to generate a second light distribution (36) when the motor vehicle (8) is traveling in the second direction of travel (12), characterized in that the first lighting function (4) is operated with an adjustable cut-off line to generate the first light distribution (34) when there is oncoming traffic.

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating an illumination device according to the preamble of claim 1 and to an illumination device according to the preamble of an independent claim.It is known that in motor vehicles which are driven by means of an internal combustion engine, a main direction of travel is predefined.Furthermore, it is known that headlights emit light with a white component in the direction of travel for the detection of the own lane of the motor vehicle and for the detection of obstacles.It is likewise known that tail lamps emit red light in particular counter to the direction of travel in order to enable drivers of following motor vehicles to recognize the motor vehicle driving ahead. These also include changes in direction and braking processes, which essentially provides an information function of tail lamps.DE 10 2009 052 321 A1 discloses that a single lighting device can be used to implement two different lighting functions, in particular on the rear side of a vehicle.Furthermore, DE 10 2008 002 274 A1 discloses a robot vehicle which can be operated multidirectionally and which has an optical signal system for signaling a planned direction of movement.Further general prior art includes EP 1 195 311 A1 and DE 10 2007 057 989 A1.The trend toward using driver assistance functions up to autonomous driving is irreversible. Moreover, the use of electric motors in motor vehicles promotes novel concepts for the movement with the motor vehicle.It is therefore an object of the invention to provide methods for operating a lighting device and a lighting device in order to enable two driving directions for a motor vehicle.The object on which the invention is based is achieved by a method according to claim 1 and by an illumination device according to an independent claim. Advantageous refinements are specified in the dependent claims. Features important for the invention are furthermore found in the following description and in the drawings, wherein the features can be important for the invention both alone and in different combinations, without explicit reference again being made thereto.Because an operation of a first light function of an illumination device is enabled to generate a first light distribution when the motor vehicle is travelling in a first direction of travel, and an operation of a second light function of the illumination device is enabled to generate a second light distribution when the motor vehicle is travelling in a second direction of travel, an illumination device can advantageously be used for two directions of travel of a motor vehicle. In particular, the explicit enabling of the operation ensures that the motor vehicle can signal this new direction of travel to the other road users accordingly in accordance with the present direction of travel. In particular, new driving maneuvers can be carried out, as a result of which the motor vehicle can be moved more quickly and more safely. In particular, complicated turning maneuvers are prevented and replaced by more simple reversing maneuvers to be carried out, which brings with it advantages in dense city traffic and when driving on narrow roads, such as mountain roads.In an advantageous embodiment, the first and the second direction of travel can be determined as a function of a movement profile of the motor vehicle. By taking into account a calculated movement profile, it is possible to infer an intended direction of travel of the motor vehicle, in particular when the motor vehicle is stationary. This improves traffic safety in particular because traffic approaching the motor vehicle is warned of a planned change in direction by the changing signaling in the sense of a change from a backlighting function to a headlight function. Furthermore, a complicated turning of the motor vehicle with more driving back and forth is no longer necessary.Further features, possible applications and advantages of the invention are evident from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are illustrated in the figures of the drawing. For functionally equivalent variables and features, the same reference numerals are used in all figures even in different embodiments.Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the drawings.In the drawing, the following are shown: FIG. 1 shows an illumination device in schematic form; FIG. 2 shows a motor vehicle in schematic representation; FIG. 3 shows a schematically illustrated traffic situation; FIG. 4 is a schematic front and rear view of the motor vehicle.FIG. 1 shows in schematic form an illumination device 2 which comprises a first light function 4 and a second light function 6. The first light function 4 comprises, for example, a low beam function and / or a high beam function. The second light function 6 comprises, for example, a rear light function. The lighting device 2 makes it possible to create a motor vehicle which can be operated equivalently in two directions of travel. These directions of travel can be realized easily, for example, by means of a motor vehicle which has an electric drive. Consequently, the direction of travel does not change when the motor vehicle is cornering, but rather the two directions of travel of the motor vehicle mean that the motor vehicle can be moved in two mutually opposite directions with substantially the same driving behavior. The first light function 4 can be operated when the motor vehicle is travelling in the first direction of travel to generate a first light distribution, which requires a corresponding enabling of the operation of the first light function 4. The second light function 6 is operated when the motor vehicle is travelling in a second direction of travel in order to generate a second light distribution, which requires a corresponding enabling of the operation of the second light function 6. Upon this operation release depending on the present direction of travel of the motor vehicle, for example, during night driving, the first light function 4 can be operated in the form of a front headlight function and during daytime driving in the form of a daytime running light function. When the second light function 6 is enabled to operate, it can be operated in the form of a rear light function during night driving. Regardless of a daytime or afterrun, when the second light function 6 is enabled to operate, it is active in the form of a brake light function which additionally requires the determination of a braking operation of the motor vehicle for its enabling to operate. By means of the respective operation enables, the respective light functions can be switched off or on manually or automatically for a day or night drive.FIG. 2 shows a schematic form of a motor vehicle 8 which can be operated in a first direction of travel 10 and a second direction of travel 12. The first and the second driving direction 10, 12 are substantially equivalent, which means that the motor vehicle 8 provides substantially the same speed and acceleration behavior in both driving directions 10, 12. A first illumination device 2 ais arranged towards a first end 14. Towards a second end 16, a second illumination device 2 bis arranged. A control device 20 of the motor vehicle 8 determines a driving direction signal 28 as a function of a distance signal 22 and / or a wheel running signal 24 and / or a camera signal 26. The control units 30 aand 30 bmay of course also be arranged on and / or in the lighting device 2 aand 2 b, respectively. Further signals from components, not shown, present in the motor vehicle 8, such as camera, radar, laser scanner systems, for example, can be fed to the control device 20, 30 a, 30 bfor detecting the direction of travel.In the present case, the direction of travel signal 28 indicates the direction of travel 10. When driving in the direction of travel 10, the control device 30 a enables operation of the first light function 4 aand disables operation of the second light function 6 a. The control device 30 bblocks the operation of the first light function 4 band enables the operation of the second light function 6 b. For this purpose, the first control unit 30 afeedings a control signal 32 ato the lighting device 2 a. The control unit 30 bcontrols a control signal 32 bto the lighting device 2 bcorrespondingly. By way of example, the operation during night driving is shown, in which the first light function 4 ain the form of a low beam function or high beam function and the second light function 6 bin the form of a rear light function are activated.Accordingly, the state changes during the travel of the motor vehicle 8 in the second direction of travel 12, which is indicated by the direction of travel signal 28. When the motor vehicle 8 is travelling in the direction of travel 12, the control device 30 ablocks the operation of the first light function 4 aand enables the operation of the second light function 6 a. When driving in the second direction of travel 12, the control device 30 b enables the operation of the first light function 4 band disables the operation of the second light function 6 b.Of course, the control device 20 can also be provided with a manual specification of the direction of travel 10 or 12 by a destination input via a navigation device or the like. In addition, the control device 20 can also take into account a setpoint movement profile of the motor vehicle 8, as explained in FIG. 3, in order to generate the driving direction signal 28. This desired movement profile can contain, for example, data about the planned route, about planned distances to vehicles or the like and thus specifies boundary conditions with respect to the desired driving situation that the motor vehicle 8 is intended to carry out.The first light function 4 comprises, for example, a low beam function with an adjustable bright-dark limit in order to generate a light distribution 34 which illuminates the roadway in front of the vehicle in accordance with the direction of travel 10. In addition, the first light function 4 comprises a high beam function, a cornering light function, a daytime running light function, a fog headlight function and / or a flashing light function.The second light function 6 comprises a tail light function, a brake light function, a backup light function, a license plate light function and / or a rear fog light function and / or a flashing light function. The rear light function generates a corresponding light distribution 36.The two directions of travel 10 and 12 along the roadway 38 being traveled are directed substantially in opposite directions. The motor vehicle 8 advantageously does not necessarily have to be turned for the equivalent journey in one of these two directions of travel 10, 12.In FIG. 2, the light functions 4 and 6 are arranged within a headlight housing and within a housing of the lighting device 2, respectively. Of course, the individual light functions 4 and 6 can also be arranged separately from one another in different housings.FIG. 3 shows a traffic situation in schematic form. A night driving situation is assumed, whereby the respective aforementioned modes of operation of the light functions 4 and 6 are assumed and only an activation and deactivation of the respective light functions 4 and 6 is discussed in a simplified manner below. In this case, the vehicle 8 travels in the first direction of travel 10 according to a setpoint movement profile, which is matched to an actual movement profile, on the right side of a roadway 38, for example at constant speed. According to the actual movement profile, it is detected that the motor vehicle 8 is approaching an unforeseeable obstacle 40, for example a fully blocked roadway. The vehicle 8 is in an autonomous driving mode, wherein the lighting devices 2 cand 2 dradiate the light distributions 34 aand 34 bin the direction of travel 10. Opposite the direction of travel 10, the illumination devices 2 eand 2 fradiate the light distributions 36 cand 36 d.After the ascertainment that the actual movement profile deviates from the setpoint movement profile, the autonomous driving function of the motor vehicle 8 brakes the motor vehicle 8 and brings the motor vehicle 8 to a standstill in the position 42 shown in FIG. 3 in accordance with the newly ascertained setpoint movement profile in front of the obstacle 40 in order to initiate a reversing maneuver.In order to start the reversing maneuver instead of a turning maneuver, the intended direction of travel is changed according to the desired motion profile that includes the travel path 44. The intended direction of travel is thus the direction of travel 12 in order to change the roadway side according to the travel path 44 newly planned on account of the obstacle. Consequently, during the stationary state, i.e. in the position 42, a change in the direction of travel is communicated to the lighting devices 2 by means of the direction of travel signal 28. Consequently, in the position 42, the illumination devices 2 fand 2 eare still operated with the light distributions 34 cand 34 dand thus with a headlight light distribution. Accordingly, the lighting devices 2 cand 2 dare still operated in the position 42 for a short time with a rear light function according to the light distributions 36 eand 36 f. According to the regulations that red light is never allowed to illuminate in the direction of travel, a switchover from red signal illumination to the headlight function takes place only after the actual change of direction of travel. A comparison with the actual motion profile can always take place, which reflects the actual driving situation, in order to make possible adaptations to the desired motion profile.After this switching of the lighting devices 2, the travel from the position 42 is continued according to the travel path 44 and according to the travel direction 12. Once the opposite side of the road has been reached, the reversing maneuver is completed. Consequently, a turning of the motor vehicle 8, i.e. a rotation about the vertical axis, is no longer necessary.The setpoint or actual movement profile therefore comprises in each case a setpoint or actual course of a distance of the motor vehicle from its environment, in particular from the obstacle 40. Consequently, the first and second travel directions 10, 12 are determined as a function of a planned change in direction in the sense of the desired movement profile and an actual change in direction in the sense of the actual movement profile.FIG. 4 shows a schematic form of the motor vehicle 8 or an end 14 or 16 of the motor vehicle 8, respectively. the lighting device 2 gcomprises the first light function 4 gand 4 hand the second light function 6 gand 6 h. Furthermore, the lighting device 2 gcomprises flashing functions 46 aand 46 b.A daytime running light 48 and an additional stop light 50, for example, are arranged between the aforementioned light functions. The stop light 50 can only be activated as soon as a direction of travel opposite to the x direction is predefined by the direction of travel signal 28 of the lighting device 2 g. The daytime running light 48 can be activated only when a running direction is present in the x direction.

Claims

A method for operating a lighting device (2) for a motor vehicle (8), wherein the lighting device (2) has a main emission direction in a first of two travel directions (10, 12) of the motor vehicle (8), wherein an operation of a first light function (4) is enabled to generate a first light distribution (34) when the motor vehicle (8) is travelling in the first travel direction (10), and that an operation of a second light function (6) of the lighting device (2) is enabled to generate a second light distribution (36) when the motor vehicle (8) is travelling in the second travel direction (12), characterized in that the first light function (4) is operated with an adjustable bright-dark limit when oncoming traffic is involved to generate the first light distribution (34).The method according to claim 1, wherein the operation of the first light function (4) is blocked when the motor vehicle (8) is travelling in the second direction of travel (12), and the operation of the second light function (6) is blocked when the motor vehicle (8) is travelling in the first direction of travel (10).The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first and second driving directions (10, 12) are determined as a function of a movement profile of the motor vehicle (8).The method of claim 3, wherein the motion profile comprises a position of the motor vehicle (8) on a road (38).The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, when driving in the first direction of travel (10) and when determining a reduced brightness of the environment of the motor vehicle (8), the first light function (4) is activated in the form of a headlight function.The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first light function (4) is operated with a high beam function in the event of no oncoming traffic for generating the first light distribution (34).The method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, when driving in the second direction of travel (12) and when determining braking of the motor vehicle (8), the second light function (6) is activated in the form of a stop light function.A computer program for a digital computing device configured to perform a method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.A control device (20; 30) for operating one or more lighting devices (2), which is provided with a digital computing device, in particular a microprocessor, on which a computer program according to claim 8 is executable.A storage medium for the control device (20; 30) according to claim 9, on which a computer program according to claim 8 is stored.A lighting device (2) for a motor vehicle (8) which is designed to carry out the method according to one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the lighting device (2) has a main emission direction in a first of two directions of travel (10, 12) of the motor vehicle (8), characterized in that operation of a first light function (4) can be enabled to generate a first light distribution (34) for the first direction of travel (10) of the motor vehicle (8), and in that operation of a second light function (6) of the lighting device (2) can be enabled to generate a second light distribution (36) for the second direction of travel (12).The lighting device (2) for a motor vehicle (8) for driving on a road (38), wherein the lighting device (2) has a main emission direction in a first of two driving directions (10, 12) of the motor vehicle (8), wherein an operation of a first light function (4) can be enabled to generate a first light distribution (34) for the first driving direction (10) of the motor vehicle (8), and that an operation of a second light function (6) of the lighting device (2) can be enabled to generate a second light distribution (36) for the second driving direction (12), characterized in that the first light function (4) comprises a headlight function, wherein the second light function (6) comprises a tail lamp function and / or a stop light function.The lighting device (2) according to claim 12, which is designed to carry out the method according to one of claims 1 to 7.A motor vehicle (8) operable in two substantially equivalent driving directions (10, 12), comprising at least two lighting devices (2) according to claim 11, 12 or 13, wherein the first lighting device (2a) is arranged on the motor vehicle (8) oriented towards the first driving direction (10), and wherein the second lighting device (2b) is arranged on the motor vehicle (8) oriented towards the second driving direction (12).

Images