Method for adjusting a lighting device for a motor vehicle

Abstract

Procedure for adjusting a lighting device for a motor vehicle, comprising the following steps: - Emission of electromagnetic radiation visible and invisible to humans, wherein the visible radiation is sufficiently strong to illuminate a roadway in front of the motor vehicle so that a driver of the motor vehicle can recognize obstacles and unevenness in the dark; - Detection of a beam direction of non-visible electromagnetic radiation; - Adjustment of the beam direction of the non-visible and the visible electromagnetic radiation depending on the detected beam direction; wherein the illumination device comprises an LCD aperture (200) consisting of several segments, each of the segments being able to assume two states, wherein in a first state both the visible and the non-visible electromagnetic radiation is transmitted, wherein in a second state both the visible and the non-visible electromagnetic radiation is blocked, characterized in that a pattern (300; 400) is set on the LCD aperture (200) by switching some of the segments of the LCD aperture into the second state.

Description

The invention relates to a method for adjusting a lighting device for a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.Such lighting devices for motor vehicles can also be referred to as headlights and serve to illuminate the roadway in front of a motor vehicle, so that a vehicle driver can recognize obstacles and unevennesses in the event of darkness. The lighting devices can be halogen, xenon, LED or laser headlights.LED headlights usually consist of a plurality of arrays, on each of which a plurality of LEDs are arranged. In particular in the case of LED headlights, the beam direction of the headlight can be influenced. This can be done, for example, by allowing the arrays to be pivoted.In the prior art, the beam direction is detected via a detection means and it is detected whether a change in the beam direction is to be carried out. The detection is thus carried out by means of visible light. At least one marking visible to the detection means is thus present when the light falls onto the roadway in front of the motor vehicle.WO 2013 / 084919 A1 also discloses an illumination device comprising a plurality of radiation means. One part of the radiation means radiates visible light, the other part radiates infrared radiation which is not visible to humans.Compared to the prior art, the object of the invention is to provide a method for setting an illumination device for a motor vehicle, which method makes possible particularly good illumination of the roadway in front of the motor vehicle.This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1. Embodiments of the invention are set forth in the dependent claims.According to the method of claim 1, electromagnetic radiation visible and non-visible to a human being is emitted. The visible radiation is sufficiently strong in this case to illuminate a roadway in front of the motor vehicle such that a driver of the motor vehicle can recognize obstacles and unevennesses. A beam direction of the invisible electromagnetic radiation is detected. The beam direction of the invisible and visible electromagnetic radiation is adjusted depending on the detected beam direction.The illumination device comprises an LCD panel which consists of a plurality of segments. Each of the segments may assume two states. In a first state, both the visible and the invisible electromagnetic radiation are transmitted. In a second state, both visible and invisible electromagnetic radiation are blocked. A pattern is set on the LCD panel by switching some of the segments of the LCD panel to the second state.The illumination device comprises a plurality of light sources which are designed to emit electromagnetic radiation visible to humans. In addition, the illumination device comprises at least one radiation means for electromagnetic radiation which is not visible to humans. This radiation can be in the infrared range in particular. Furthermore, the illumination device comprises a detection means for the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the emission means and an adjustment means. The detection means is configured to output a signal to the adjustment means, which signal comprises an indication of a beam direction of the invisible electromagnetic radiation. The detection means can also be configured to detect the invisible electromagnetic radiation and not to detect the light, so that the light does not interfere with the detection of the invisible electromagnetic radiation.The adjusting means is designed to influence a beam direction of the invisible electromagnetic radiation and a beam direction of the visible electromagnetic radiation as a function of the signal.It is thus possible to adjust the beam direction on the basis of the invisible electromagnetic radiation. Therefore, no mark visible in any way to a human being in the light pattern of the illumination device is necessary for adjusting the radiation direction. Thus, the vehicle driver is provided with particularly good illumination without markings visible to him. In particular, this makes it possible to set the beam direction using the detection means during travel.According to one embodiment of the invention, the illumination device can comprise a plurality of, in particular at least three, radiation means, the invisible electromagnetic radiation of which can be detected by the detection means. The detection means is configured to output the signal depending on the beam direction of the plurality of radiation means. A plurality of radiation means have the advantage that an adjustment of the beam direction can be effected more precisely. The beam direction may finally differ in three dimensions from the desired beam direction. At least three emitting means are therefore particularly advantageous in order to calculate exactly from the beam direction of all emitting means how the beam direction is to be changed.According to one embodiment of the invention, the adjusting means can be designed to influence the beam direction directly. This can mean, for example, that the adjusting means is designed to change the arrangement or the orientation of the emitting means or the emitting means and the light sources. For example, the adjusting means can be configured to pivot an array on which the emitting means and the light sources are arranged.According to one embodiment of the invention, the adjusting means can be designed to pivot the emitting means or the emitting means and the light sources in at least one direction, in particular in at least two directions, as a function of the signal. Pivotability in two directions has the particular advantage that the beam direction can be set more precisely. For example, an array on which the radiation means or the radiation means and the light sources are arranged can be pivotable about a vertical axis and about a longitudinal axis by the adjustment means.According to one embodiment of the invention, the adjusting means can be designed to indirectly influence the beam directions. This can mean, for example, that an optical means, such as a lens or a lens system, which influences the beam direction, can be moved by the adjusting means.According to an embodiment of the invention, the illumination device can comprise an optical beam direction influencing means. This can be, for example, a lens or an optical system which is designed to influence the beam direction. The adjusting means can be designed to swivel the beam direction influencing means in at least one direction, in particular in at least two directions, as a function of the signal. The pivotability in two directions is particularly advantageous in order to be able to set the beam directions particularly accurately.According to one embodiment of the invention, the radiation means or the radiation means and the light sources can be arranged in a geometric shape. For example, the light sources and the radiation means or means can be arranged in a circular or rectangular manner. The geometric shape can be determined, for example, by the shape of the array on which the radiation means and the light sources are arranged. The radiation means or the radiation means can be arranged in an edge region or a plurality of edge regions of the geometric shape. The edge region can be understood here in particular as the region which encloses the outer edge of the geometric shape.For example, the radiation means can be arranged in corners of the rectangle or on the circumference of the circle. It is also possible that the edge region comprises not only the light sources and radiation means positioned furthest outward in each case, but also light sources and radiation means which still have an adjacent light source and / or an adjacent radiation means which is arranged further outward.This arrangement of the emitting means has the particular advantage that a change in the beam direction has a particularly pronounced effect on the emitting means or means, so that a particularly precise setting is possible. In addition, the radiation on the roadway that is not visible to the vehicle driver can become noticeable by a slightly darker region, since a light source could have been replaced by an emitting means. This slightly darker region is then relatively far outward, so that it has little disturbing effect.According to one embodiment of the invention, the light sources and the radiation means or means can be designed to emit the visible and the non-visible electromagnetic radiation simultaneously.According to one embodiment of the invention, the invisible electromagnetic radiation can be in the infrared range.The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals are used for identical or similar components and for components having identical or similar functions. The following shows: FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the invention with an LCD panel; FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the apparatus of FIG. 2 with an adjustment pattern; and FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the apparatus of FIG. 2 with a tuning pattern.In FIG. 1, a plurality of light sources 100 and three emitting means 101 are arranged in a rectangular shape. Both the light sources 100 and the emitting means 101 are schematically represented by squares in the figures. The light sources 100 are configured to output light visible to humans. The emitting means 101 are designed to emit electromagnetic radiation that is not visible to humans. This can be, for example, infrared radiation. Both the light sources 100 and the emitting means 101 are preferably designed as LEDs.Also shown is an optical beam direction influencing means 102 which is designed to influence a beam direction of the light emitted by the light sources 100 and of the electromagnetic radiation output by the emission means 101. The beam direction influencing means 102 can be, for example, a lens or a system with a plurality of lenses.Furthermore, FIG. 1 shows two pivot axes 103 and 104, about which the light sources 100 and the emitting means 101 can be pivoted. By pivoting about the pivot axis 103, the illumination range of the light sources 100 and of the emitting means 101 can be adjusted. The further downward the light sources 100 and the emitting means 101 emit the respective radiation, the shorter the illumination range. By pivoting about the pivot axis 104, the beam direction of the emitted radiation can be pivoted in the horizontal plane. This can be done, for example, in a motor vehicle for realizing a cornering light.The emitting means 101 are used for adjusting the beam direction of the light sources 100. For this purpose, a detection means, not shown in the figures, is provided, which can detect the invisible electromagnetic radiation. By means of the invisible radiation detected, for example, on a roadway in front of a motor vehicle, it is possible to calculate in which position the radiation means 101 and the light sources 100 are located and whether a correction should optionally be made.The use of three radiation means 101 is advantageous in order to obtain many information about the beam direction of the light and the invisible electromagnetic radiation. When pivoting about the pivot axis 104, it is advantageous to use at least one radiation means 101 to the left and right of the pivot axis 104. When pivoting about the pivot axis 103 for headlight range regulation, it is advantageous to use at least one radiation means above and below the pivot axis 103. By arranging one of the three radiation means 101 in each case in a region at the top right, in a region at the top left and in a region at the bottom left, these two advantages can be used.The radiation means 101 are arranged in outer corner regions of the rectangular shape. This arrangement has the advantage that the emitting means 101 are relatively far from the pivot axes 103 and 104 and thus undergo the greatest pivoting, whereby the adjustment of the beam direction can be carried out more accurately.FIG. 2 shows an LCD panel 200 which consists of a plurality of segments. Each of the segments may assume two states. In a first state, both the light of the light sources 100 and the invisible radiation of the emitting means 101 are transmitted. In a second state, both the light of the light sources 100 and the invisible electromagnetic radiation of the emitting means 101 are blocked. This can be achieved, for example, by polarization of the radiation or of the light and the use of a liquid crystal.FIGS. 3 and 4 show patterns 300 and 400 which can be adjusted on the LCD panel 200. For this purpose, some of the segments of the LCD panel are switched into the second state. These are shown in black in FIGS. 3 and 4. The pattern 300 is a stripe pattern, and the pattern 400 is a cross. Both patterns 300 and 400 may be used for adjusting the beam direction of the light and the invisible electromagnetic radiation. The detection means can be configured in particular to detect the invisible electromagnetic radiation and not to detect the light.The detection means is configured to output a signal comprising an indication of the beam direction of the invisible electromagnetic radiation. For example, a desired position of the pattern 300 or 400 may be provided on a roadway in front of a motor vehicle and the detection means outputs a signal if this desired position does not match the actual position. An adjusting means may then correct the beam direction so that the pattern 300 or 400 is at the desired position.It is particularly advantageous to use the invisible electromagnetic radiation for the detection of the beam direction, since the pattern is not visible or can only be detected with difficulty by a motor vehicle driver. The light distribution perceived by the driver on the roadway is not disturbed or is only hardly disturbed by the pattern 300 or 400 and the radiation means 101.List of reference characters100 Light sources 101 Radiation means 102 Radiation direction influencing means 103 Pivot axis 104 Pivot axis 200 LCD panel 300 Pattern

Claims

Method for setting an illumination device for a motor vehicle, comprising the following steps: - emission of electromagnetic radiation visible and non-visible to humans, wherein the visible radiation is sufficiently strong to illuminate a roadway in front of the motor vehicle such that a vehicle driver of the motor vehicle can recognize obstacles and unevennesses in the event of darkness; - detection of a beam direction of the non-visible electromagnetic radiation; - setting of the beam direction of the non-visible and visible electromagnetic radiation as a function of the detected beam direction; wherein the lighting device comprises an LCD screen (200) consisting of a plurality of segments, wherein each of the segments can assume two states, wherein in a first state both the visible and the invisible electromagnetic radiation are transmitted, wherein in a second state both the visible and the invisible electromagnetic radiation are blocked, characterized in that a pattern (300; 400) is set on the LCD screen (200) by switching some of the segments of the LCD screen into the second state.Lighting device for a motor vehicle, comprising a plurality of light sources (100) and at least one radiation means (101) for electromagnetic radiation, wherein the light sources (100) are configured to emit electromagnetic radiation visible to humans, wherein the radiation means (101) is configured to emit electromagnetic radiation not visible to humans, further comprising a detection means for the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the radiation means (101) and an adjustment means, wherein the detection means is configured to output a signal to the adjustment means, which signal comprises an indication of a beam direction of the non-visible electromagnetic radiation, wherein the adjustment means is configured to influence a beam direction of the non-visible electromagnetic radiation and a beam direction of the visible electromagnetic radiation as a function of the signal, characterized in that the lighting device is configured to carry out a method according to claim 1.Lighting device according to claim 2, characterised in that the lighting device comprises a plurality of, in particular at least three, radiation means (101), the invisible electromagnetic radiation of which can be detected by the detection means, and in that the detection means is designed to output the signal as a function of the beam direction of the plurality of radiation means (101).Lighting device according to one of the preceding two claims, characterized in that the adjusting means is designed to influence the beam directions directly.Lighting device according to at least one of the preceding three claims, characterized in that the adjusting means is designed to pivot the radiation means (101) and the light sources (100) in at least one direction, in particular in at least two directions, as a function of the signal.Lighting device according to at least one of the preceding four claims, characterized in that the adjusting means is designed to indirectly influence the beam directions.Illumination device according to at least one of the preceding five claims, characterized in that the illumination device comprises an optical beam direction influencing means (102), and in that the setting means is designed to swivel the beam direction influencing means (102) in at least one direction, in particular in at least two directions, as a function of the signal.Lighting device according to at least one of the preceding six claims, characterized in that the radiation means (101) and the light sources (100) are arranged in a geometric shape, wherein the radiation means (101) are arranged in an edge region or a plurality of edge regions of the geometric shape.Lighting device according to at least one of the preceding seven claims, characterized in that the light sources (100) and the radiation means (101) are designed to emit the visible and the non-visible electromagnetic radiation simultaneously.Lighting device according to at least one of the preceding eight claims, characterized in that the non-visible electromagnetic radiation lies in the infrared range.

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