Method and motor vehicle control device for operating a lighting system of a motor vehicle with an additional screen for displaying the operating state

Abstract

Method for operating an exterior lighting system (3) of a motor vehicle (1), comprising the steps: - determining a first variable which at least partially describes an operating state of the outdoor lighting system (3), and - operating a vehicle-mounted display device (6) depending on the first variable, - determining an additional second variable which at least partially describes the operating state of the outdoor lighting system (3), and - Operating a vehicle-independent mobile terminal (7) depending on the second variable, characterized in that - a digital image of the motor vehicle (1) is generated depending on the second variable, and - the digital image of the motor vehicle (1) is fused with image data from a camera system (11) of the motor vehicle (1), the image data relating to an environment (U) of the motor vehicle (1), the camera system (11) displaying the environment (U) of the motor vehicle (1) and the digital image of the motor vehicle (1) in a bird's-eye view or top view.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating a lighting system of a motor vehicle, in which a first variable, which at least partially describes an operating state of the lighting system, is determined, and a vehicle-mounted display device is operated as a function of the first variable. Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding motor vehicle control device and a motor vehicle with such a motor vehicle control device.

[0002] A motor vehicle typically has a lighting system for providing a variety of lighting functions. Examples of such lighting functions include: low beam, high beam, automatic high beam, daytime running lights, tail lights, brake lights, direction indicators, hazard warning lights, reversing lights, rear fog lights, fog lights, cornering lights, and the like. The lighting system may have different lighting units for each of the different lighting functions. However, it is also possible for individual lighting functions to be provided by the same lighting unit.

[0003] During normal driving, the status of certain lighting functions is visualized to the driver via legally required displays. For example, a motor vehicle has a respective vehicle-mounted display device for the visualization of the low beam, high beam, and direction indicator or turn signal, which visualizes whether the corresponding function is switched on or off. In particular, the lighting system in the context of the present application relates to a lighting system for illuminating an exterior area of ​​the motor vehicle. For this reason, the lighting system is referred to below as an exterior lighting system. The lighting functions of the lighting system or exterior lighting system relate, in particular, exclusively to an exterior area of ​​the motor vehicle.

[0004] Respective display devices for indicating whether a lighting function of an outdoor lighting system is switched on or off can be seen, for example, in DE 10 2012 015 062 A1 and DE 10 2014 013 185 A1. In particular, it can be seen that the switched-on state of a respective lighting function is represented by the switched-on state of a lamp of the display device, and the switched-off state of a respective lighting function is represented by the switched-off state of the corresponding lamp.

[0005] Furthermore, DE 10 2014 009 985 A1 discloses a display device that indicates whether a motor vehicle is in an autonomous or semi-autonomous driving mode. Depending on the respective driving mode, a corresponding assistance graphic can be displayed from a different perspective.

[0006] DE 10 2018 102 667 A1 discloses a representation of a light distribution of a headlight of a motor vehicle on a vehicle-internal or vehicle-external screen.

[0007] DE 10 2012 019 942 A1 describes a control device that sends control signals to a searchlight equipped with LEDs. A contact-sensitive display unit is used to operate the searchlight and send a control signal to the control unit.

[0008] The display unit is equipped with an image screen and is mounted at a predetermined location on a control unit. A remote sensor system is equipped with image sensors and is synchronously connected to the searchlight.

[0009] DE 10 2015 005 587 A1 describes the display of a lighting status with respect to an object in an area in front of a motor vehicle, as well as the lighting in the area in front of the motor vehicle. A control unit generates an image that represents the area in front of the motor vehicle. This can be a live video image, with the object automatically displayed if it is in front of the vehicle. The control unit then displays the sub-area(s) in the image that are actually illuminated by the headlights.

[0010] It is an object of the present invention to enable a user to be better informed about a state of the exterior lighting system of a motor vehicle.

[0011] This object is achieved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments with useful further developments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0012] The invention relates to a method for operating an exterior lighting system of a motor vehicle, comprising the steps: - Determining a first variable which at least partially describes an operating state of the outdoor lighting system, and - Operating a vehicle-mounted display device depending on the first size, - Determining an additional second variable which at least partially describes the operating state of the outdoor lighting system and - Operating a vehicle-independent mobile device depending on the second size.

[0013] The invention provides that a digital image of the motor vehicle is generated depending on the second variable, and the digital image of the motor vehicle is fused with image data of a camera system of the motor vehicle, wherein the image data relate to an environment of the motor vehicle, wherein the camera system displays the environment of the motor vehicle and the digital image of the motor vehicle in a bird's eye view or top view.

[0014] The first variable can, for example, indicate whether certain lighting functions of the outdoor lighting system are switched on or off. In other words, the operating state of the outdoor lighting system can be described by the first variable in such a way that the first variable indicates whether one or more lighting functions of the outdoor lighting system are switched on or off. Thus, the first variable can be determined in particular in such a way that it indicates or relates to the operating state of the outdoor lighting system with regard to one or more lighting functions of the outdoor lighting system. As already described in the introduction, the outdoor lighting system can have one or more lighting functions. The first variable can thus indicate for at least one of the lighting functions whether it is switched on or off.

[0015] The vehicle-mounted display device is operated depending on the correspondingly determined first variable. In particular, the vehicle-mounted display device can be one or more of the lighting devices described above. In general, the vehicle-mounted display device can visualize the operating state of the exterior lighting system through its operating state depending on the first variable. Specifically, the vehicle-mounted display device can indicate or visualize through its operation depending on the first variable whether the at least one lighting function of the exterior lighting system, which relates to or describes the first variable, is switched on or off. For example, the vehicle-mounted display device can have a respective lighting device for each lighting function, which is switched on precisely when the corresponding lighting function is also switched on.However, it is also possible to configure the vehicle-mounted display device as a screen, particularly in the area of ​​the vehicle's steering wheel. If the vehicle-mounted display device is a screen, it is particularly a screen for displaying the vehicle's speed or for visualizing a speedometer.

[0016] The additional second variable can correspond to the first variable or differ from it. In other words, the second variable can represent the operating state of the same lighting function or functions as the first variable. Advantageously, the second variable describes or relates to at least one operating parameter of the outdoor lighting system. An operating parameter in the present sense is in particular a parameter that has an effect on the operation of the outdoor lighting system or a lighting function of the outdoor lighting system. Whether the outdoor lighting system or one or more lighting functions of the outdoor lighting system are switched on is therefore in particular not such an operating parameter. In particular, the second variable differs from the first variable in that the second variable describes or relates to the at least one operating parameter.To determine the second variable, the at least one operating parameter of the outdoor lighting system or the lighting function of the outdoor lighting system can be determined. Subsequently, depending on the operating parameter, the second variable is determined in such a way that it represents the at least one operating parameter.

[0017] The additional second variable is then used to operate the vehicle-independent mobile terminal. Vehicle-independent means in particular that the mobile terminal has no permanent mechanical and / or electrical connection to the motor vehicle. In other words, the vehicle-independent mobile terminal is preferably not a part or device of the motor vehicle. For example, the mobile terminal can be a mobile phone, in particular a smartphone, a tablet computer or a notebook. In particular, when operating the mobile terminal, an output device of the mobile terminal, preferably a screen of the mobile terminal or a loudspeaker of the mobile terminal, is operated depending on the second variable. In other words, the output device of the mobile terminal can be operated or controlled depending on the second variable such that it represents the second variable.If a screen is used as the output device, it can be controlled in such a way that the second variable is represented by the screen or by a screen content. For this purpose, the screen content can be generated and / or displayed depending on the second variable.

[0018] According to the invention, the digital image of the motor vehicle is transmitted to the mobile terminal and / or displayed by the vehicle-mounted display device or a further vehicle-mounted display device different from the vehicle-mounted display device, in particular a screen in the region of a center console of the motor vehicle. The operation of the vehicle-independent mobile terminal depending on the second size can be achieved by transmitting the digital image of the motor vehicle, which in turn is generated depending on the second size, to the mobile terminal. Preferably, the digital image of the motor vehicle is displayed or represented on the mobile terminal, in particular on its screen. As a result, the digital image of the motor vehicle can be displayed on the mobile terminal.The digital image is transmitted to the mobile device, in particular, via the wireless data connection.

[0019] Alternatively or additionally, the digital image of the motor vehicle can be displayed on the vehicle-mounted display device or on the additional vehicle-mounted display device that is different from the vehicle-mounted display device. This embodiment is explicitly also possible without the above-mentioned method step of operating the vehicle-independent mobile terminal depending on the second variable. In other words, part of the present application is also a method in which the digital image of the motor vehicle is displayed or represented by the vehicle-mounted display device or the additional vehicle-mounted display device. This can thus occur regardless of whether the vehicle-independent mobile terminal is operated depending on the second variable.Such an alternative embodiment of the method for operating an exterior lighting system of a motor vehicle with the steps of determining the first variable and operating the vehicle-mounted display device as a function of the first variable can thus be characterized by determining the additional second variable, wherein a digital image of the motor vehicle is generated as a function of the second variable and the digital image of the motor vehicle is displayed by the vehicle-mounted display device or the further vehicle-mounted display device which is different from the vehicle-mounted display device.

[0020] According to the invention, it is further provided that the digital image of the motor vehicle is fused with image data from a camera system of the motor vehicle, wherein the image data relates to the surroundings of the motor vehicle. In particular, the camera system of the motor vehicle is a so-called surround-view system, i.e. a system for displaying the surroundings of the motor vehicle. By such a system, the surroundings of the motor vehicle and a digital image of the motor vehicle provided for this purpose are usually displayed in a bird's-eye view or top view. This bird's-eye view or top view of the surroundings of the motor vehicle is generated in particular by the images from several cameras arranged on the motor vehicle being appropriately processed, for example by stretching, compressing and / or combining them.The idea of ​​the present embodiment is therefore to additionally visualize the operating state of the exterior lighting device or one or more lighting functions of the exterior lighting device in the digital image of such a system or surround-view system. In this way, the realism of the representation and thus the practical utility of such a system can be further improved.

[0021] According to a further development, the second variable is transmitted to the mobile device via a wireless data connection. In other words, the mobile device can be coupled to the motor vehicle or a corresponding interface of the motor vehicle via the wireless data connection, for example Bluetooth, WiFi or WiFi Direct. For the purpose of operating the vehicle-independent mobile device depending on the second variable, the second variable can be transmitted or sent to the mobile device. Accordingly, the mobile device can receive the second variable from the motor vehicle via the mobile data connection. However, transmitting the second variable to the mobile device can already constitute operation of the mobile device depending on the second variable. By transmitting the second variable, the mobile device is in particular caused to receive the second variable.This allows the process step of operating the mobile device based on the second variable to be implemented. A wireless data connection allows any mobile device, especially if it remains with the driver or user of the vehicle when exiting the vehicle, to be used for operation based on the second variable in a particularly straightforward manner.

[0022] According to a further development, the second variable indicates which of several different signatures of a daytime running light of the exterior lighting system is currently selected and / or displayed by the exterior lighting system. In other words, a lighting function provided by the exterior lighting system can be the daytime running light. For example, the daytime running light can be provided by the low beam, a high-resolution headlight, by specially provided lighting means independent of the low beam (preferably LED strips), or the like as part of the exterior lighting system. In general, the exterior lighting system preferably has a lighting unit for providing the daytime running light as a lighting function. The lighting unit can be designed according to an aforementioned example.The lighting unit for providing the daytime running lights or the lighting function of the daytime running lights can be provided according to different signatures. The different signatures can differ in terms of the light distribution emitted. For example, the light distribution of the daytime running lights is emitted with different contours according to the different signatures. The second variable can then indicate which of the signatures is currently selected or according to which signature the light distribution of the daytime running lights or the exterior lighting system is currently emitted. For example, to determine the second variable, it is determined or retrieved which of the different signatures is currently selected and / or displayed. In this way, the user can be particularly advantageously visualized for the current appearance of the motor vehicle.

[0023] According to a further development, it is provided that the determination of the second variable and / or the operation of the mobile terminal device depending on the second variable only takes place when the motor vehicle is in an autonomous operating state. In other words, it can be provided that a check is first carried out to determine whether the motor vehicle is in an autonomous or semi-autonomous operating state. For example, such an autonomous operating state can be given by the classification of the autonomy levels from Level 1 to Level 5. In other words, it can be provided that the determination of the second variable and / or the operation of the mobile terminal device depending on the second variable only takes place when the motor vehicle is in an operating state that corresponds to an autonomy level of at least Level 1, at least Level 2, at least Level 3, at least Level 4 or at least Level 5.On the one hand, using a mobile device while driving only makes sense in such an operating state. On the other hand, operating the mobile device appropriately in an autonomous operating state of the vehicle can improve the user's experience of and confidence in the autonomous functions.

[0024] According to a further development, the second variable is determined in such a way that it indicates whether dynamic masking of an azimuthal and / or vertical angular range is present by at least one headlight of the exterior lighting system. The at least one headlight can be a headlight for providing a low beam and / or a high beam. The dynamic masking of the azimuthal and / or vertical angular range can be designed according to the function of a high beam assistant. Such dynamic masking of the azimuthal and / or vertical angular range is therefore carried out in particular for those angular ranges in which another, in particular oncoming, road user is detected. The functioning of such a lighting assistant is fundamentally known from the prior art. For this reason, this will not be explained in unnecessarily extensive detail here.The suppression of which azimuthal angle range is applied can be valuable information for a driver or user of the motor vehicle. For this reason, the present invention provides for the driver or user to be shown on the mobile device which azimuthal and / or vertical angle ranges are dynamically suppressed. In particular, the mobile device is operated depending on the second variable in such a way that it visualizes which azimuthal and / or vertical angle ranges are dynamically suppressed. Dynamic suppression is understood in particular to mean a reduction in the light intensities emitted in the respective azimuthal and / or vertical angle range compared to a normal value.Emission corresponding to the normal value occurs particularly when no other road user, especially no oncoming traffic, is detected within the corresponding azimuthal and / or vertical angular range. Appropriate visualization improves the user's or driver's confidence in such a motor vehicle function, as the user or driver can see that the other road user is not dazzled.

[0025] According to a further development, a digital image of the motor vehicle is generated depending on the second variable. In particular, the motor vehicle can be shown in the digital image from a top view and / or a bird's eye view. The digital image can be based on a computer graphic, i.e. an artificially generated image, or a real image, i.e. a digital photograph, of the motor vehicle. In addition, the operating state of the exterior lighting system is represented or visualized in the digital image according to the second variable. In other words, based on the second variable, the operating state of a virtual exterior lighting system in the image of the motor vehicle can be modeled on the operating state of the exterior lighting system of the motor vehicle.In this way, the operating state of the outdoor lighting system or the lighting function of the outdoor lighting system is represented or visualized in the digital image.

[0026] The vehicle-mounted display device can thus, on the one hand, be operated as a function of the first variable, for example by displaying or visualizing whether one or more lighting functions of the exterior lighting system are switched on or off, and, at the same time, be operated as a function of the second variable by displaying or displaying the digital image dependent on the second variable. Alternatively, it is possible for the vehicle-mounted display device to be operated as a function of the first variable, for example by visualizing whether one or more lighting functions of the exterior lighting device are switched on or off, and for the further vehicle-mounted display device to be operated as a function of the second variable, in particular by displaying or displaying the digital image dependent on the second variable.The additional on-board display device is, in particular, a screen located in the center console of the vehicle. This allows a significantly expanded information content to be provided by corresponding vehicle display devices.

[0027] According to a further development, the operating state of the motor vehicle's exterior lighting system or the respective operating state of one or more lighting functions of the motor vehicle's exterior lighting system is simulated or visualized in the digital image of the motor vehicle using the second variable. In particular, the digital image is a two-dimensional or three-dimensional representation of the motor vehicle, wherein the operating state of the exterior lighting device or its lighting function(s) represented by the second variable is taken into account in this representation. This allows the user to experience the lighting functions more effectively.

[0028] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a motor vehicle control device for operating an exterior lighting system of a motor vehicle, comprising - a determination unit for determining a first variable which at least partially describes an operating state of the outdoor lighting system, and - a control device for operating a vehicle-mounted display device as a function of the first variable, wherein - the determination unit is designed to at least partially determine an additional second variable which at least partially describes the operating state of the outdoor lighting system, and - the control device is configured to operate a vehicle-independent mobile terminal device based on the second variable. Operating the mobile terminal device based on the second variable can be achieved, for example, by the control device transmitting the second variable to the mobile terminal device. In other words, the control device can alternatively or additionally be configured to transmit the second variable to the vehicle-independent mobile terminal device.

[0029] According to the invention, the motor vehicle control device is characterized in that - the motor vehicle control device is designed to generate a digital image of the motor vehicle depending on the second variable, and - the motor vehicle control device is designed to fuse the digital image of the motor vehicle with image data from a camera system of the motor vehicle, wherein the image data relate to an environment of the motor vehicle, and wherein the camera system displays the environment of the motor vehicle and the digital image of the motor vehicle in a bird's eye view or top view.

[0030] A third aspect of the present invention relates to a motor vehicle with the motor vehicle control device according to the invention. Optionally, the motor vehicle according to the invention can have the exterior lighting system. In particular, the exterior lighting system initially has a lighting unit for providing at least one lighting function.

[0031] The motor vehicle control device has, in particular, a processor device that is configured to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. For this purpose, the processor device can have at least one microprocessor and / or at least one microcontroller and / or at least one FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and / or at least one DSP (Digital Signal Processor). Furthermore, the processor device can have program code that is configured to carry out the embodiment of the method according to the invention when executed by the processor device. The program code can be stored in a data memory of the processor device. The determination unit and / or the control device can be implemented by the processor device or the program code.

[0032] The invention also includes further developments of the motor vehicle according to the invention and the motor vehicle control device according to the invention, which have features as already described in connection with the further developments of the method according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the motor vehicle according to the invention and the motor vehicle control device according to the invention are not described again here.

[0033] The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car or truck, or as a passenger bus or motorcycle.

[0034] The invention also includes combinations of the features of the described embodiments.

[0035] The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention that can be considered independently of one another, each of which also develops the invention independently of one another. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to encompass combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0036] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below. The single figure shows a highly schematic plan view of a motor vehicle with an exterior lighting system and a motor vehicle control device.

[0037] The single figure shows a motor vehicle 1 with an exterior lighting system 3. The motor vehicle 1 is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car or truck, or as a passenger bus or motorcycle. The exterior lighting system 3 is designed to illuminate an environment U of the motor vehicle 1. In particular, the exterior lighting system 3 is designed exclusively to illuminate the environment U, but not, or only to a negligible extent, to illuminate the interior of the motor vehicle 1. In the present case, the exterior lighting system 3 comprises two headlights 4 and two direction indicators 5 or turn signals 5.

[0038] A motor vehicle control device 2 of the motor vehicle 1 is designed to determine a first variable that at least partially describes an operating state of the exterior lighting system 3. In the present example, the first variable indicates whether the headlights 4 or the direction indicators 5 are illuminated. The direction indicators 5 and the headlights 4 provide respective lighting functions of the exterior lighting system 3. The headlights 4 are designed, for example, to provide a low beam, a high beam, and / or daytime running light as lighting functions of the exterior lighting system 3. The direction indicators 5 are designed, for example, to provide a hazard warning light and a direction indicator (flashing) as lighting functions.The first variable can thus indicate whether the respective lighting functions of the headlights 4 and / or the turn indicators 5 are activated at the respective time. In particular, the first variable can indicate which of the lighting functions of the headlights 4 and / or the turn indicators 5 are currently active, or whether the respective lamps for providing the respective lighting function are illuminated or not. To determine the first variable, the motor vehicle control device 2 can implement a determination unit provided for this purpose.

[0039] The motor vehicle 1 has a vehicle-mounted display device 6 on a dashboard in the area of ​​a speedometer 12 and / or in the area of ​​a steering wheel 13 of the motor vehicle 1. The motor vehicle control device 2 is designed to operate the vehicle-mounted display device 6 as a function of the first variable. In particular, the motor vehicle control device 2 controls the display device 6 such that the first variable is visualized thereby. In other words, the motor vehicle control device 2 can control the display device 6 such that the first variable is visualized. For example, the display device 6 has respective lighting means which visualize the operating state of the lighting functions of the headlights 4 and / or the direction indicators 5.Depending on the first variable, the respective lamps of the display device 6 can be controlled such that only those lamps representing a lighting function that is activated are illuminated. In this way, only those lamps of the display device 6 whose associated lighting function is also active can always be illuminated. A corresponding control device can be implemented in the motor vehicle control device 2 for operating the display device 6.

[0040] The motor vehicle control device 2 or the determination unit of the motor vehicle control device 2 is additionally configured to determine a second variable, wherein the second variable at least partially describes or relates to the operating state of the exterior lighting system. In the present case, the first variable differs from the second variable. In the present example, the second variable indicates which surrounding areas, in particular with respect to an azimuthal and / or vertical angular range, are dynamically masked by the headlights 4, in particular by the lighting function of the low beam and / or the lighting function of the high beam. This dynamic masking is performed by a driver assistance system similar to a high beam assistant.In particular, those surrounding areas or those azimuthal and / or vertical angular ranges in which another road user, in particular an oncoming road user, is detected are masked out. The second variable can thus indicate which of the surrounding areas and / or azimuthal and / or vertical angular ranges are dynamically masked out at a particular point in time. Alternatively or additionally, the second variable can indicate which surrounding areas or which azimuthal and / or vertical angular ranges are illuminated at a particular point in time with a luminous intensity corresponding to a normal value. During dynamic masking, the luminous intensity in the respective surrounding area or the respective azimuthal and / or vertical angular range is reduced compared to the normal value, in particular as long as another road user is present there.The determination of the second quantity can be done by the determination unit.

[0041] The motor vehicle control device 2 or its monitoring device can be designed to operate a vehicle-independent mobile terminal or a further vehicle-mounted display device 8 that is different from the vehicle-mounted display device 6 depending on the second variable. The mobile terminal 7 is in particular a mobile phone, in particular a smartphone, a tablet computer, or a laptop or notebook. The mobile terminal 7 preferably has a screen. The further vehicle-mounted display device 8 can preferably be a screen. The implementation of both the mobile terminal 7 and the further vehicle-mounted display device 8 in the present example is to be understood as purely optional.In other embodiments, only the operation of the mobile terminal 7 or only the operation of the further vehicle-side display device 8 may be provided depending on the second variable.

[0042] For example, the screen of the mobile device 7 and / or the screen of the further display device 8 displays the azimuthal angle range and / or surrounding area that is dynamically masked at a given time. This occurs, in particular, depending on the second variable.

[0043] The representation of the respectively masked-out azimuthal and / or vertical angular ranges can be visualized, for example, using a digital image of the motor vehicle 1. For this purpose, a digital image of the motor vehicle 1 is generated, wherein, for example, a light distribution emitted by the headlights 4 is visualized in the digital image of the motor vehicle 1 according to the second variable. In other words, the operating state of a virtual exterior lighting system in the digital image of the motor vehicle 1 is modeled on an actual operating state of the exterior lighting system 3. In this way, by appropriately virtualizing the light emission of the exterior lighting system 3 or the headlights 4 in the digital image, it can be shown which azimuthal angular range or which ambient area is dynamically masked by the headlights 4.

[0044] In addition, the operating state of other lighting functions of the exterior lighting system 3, in this case, for example, the operating state of the direction indicators 5, can also be visualized in the digital image of the motor vehicle 1. In other words, a virtual exterior lighting system 3 is represented in the digital image of the motor vehicle 1, the operating state of which corresponds to the exterior lighting system 3. For example, a direction indicator 5 or several direction indicators 5 are represented as part of the digital image of the motor vehicle 1, the respective operating state of which corresponds to the operating state of the direction indicators 5 of the motor vehicle 1.

[0045] The digital image can, for example, be based on a computer graphic, i.e., an artificially generated image of the motor vehicle 1, or on a digital photograph of the motor vehicle 1. In the case of a digital photograph, the respective operating state of the exterior lighting system 3 or its lighting functions can be added by overlaying the digital photograph. For example, the digital image is generated by rendering the digital photograph based on the second size or the operating state. In the case of a digital image based on a computer graphic, the digital image can be generated directly based on the second size in accordance with a predetermined generation rule. In this example, it is provided, by way of example, that the second size corresponds at least partially to the first size.In other words, in the present example, the second variable, like the first variable, contains the information as to whether the respective lighting functions of the exterior lighting system 3 are switched on or off. In other embodiments not shown, there may be no intersection between the first and second variables.

[0046] The digital image of the motor vehicle 1 is in this case part of a system for displaying the surroundings U of the motor vehicle 1 or a so-called surround-view system. The surround-view system in this case has four cameras 11. The four cameras 11 capture the surroundings U of the motor vehicle 1. By suitable post-processing of the respective images from the cameras 11, these are converted and combined into a bird's-eye view or a top view of the surroundings U. This can be done, for example, by appropriately compressing, stretching, and combining the respective images from the cameras 11. To complete the display of the surroundings U, the digital image of the motor vehicle 1 is superimposed on the display of the surroundings U. This creates the impression that a camera is actually filming both the motor vehicle 1 and the surroundings U from a bird's-eye view and outputting a corresponding image.The corresponding representation of the surroundings U and the image of the motor vehicle 1 can, for example, take place on the screen of the additional vehicle-mounted display device 8 and / or on the screen of the mobile terminal 7. In this way, a surround-view system is created which enables a realistic representation of both the surroundings U and the motor vehicle 1, since the operating state of the exterior lighting system 3 is simulated by the digital image of the motor vehicle 1.

Claims

[1] Method for operating an external lighting system (3) of a motor vehicle (1), comprising the steps: - Determining a first quantity that at least partially describes an operating state of the outdoor lighting system (3), and - Operating a vehicle-side display device (6) depending on the first size, - Determining an additional second quantity that at least partially describes the operating state of the outdoor lighting system (3), and - Operating a vehicle-independent mobile device (7) depending on the second size, characterized by , that - a digital image of the motor vehicle (1) is generated depending on the second quantity, and - the digital image of the motor vehicle (1) is fused with image data from a camera system (11) of the motor vehicle (1), wherein the image data relates to an environment (U) of the motor vehicle (1), wherein the camera system (11) represents the environment (U) of the motor vehicle (1) and the digital image of the motor vehicle (1) in a bird's-eye view or top view. [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by , that the second quantity is transmitted to the mobile device (7) via a wireless data connection. [3] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the second size indicates which of several different signatures of a daytime running light of the exterior lighting system (3) is currently selected and / or displayed by the exterior lighting system (3). [4] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by, that determining the second quantity and / or operating the mobile device (7) depending on the second quantity only takes place in an autonomous operating state of the motor vehicle (1). [5] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the second quantity is determined in such a way that it indicates whether there is a dynamic masking of an azimuthal and / or vertical angular range by at least one front headlight (4) of the exterior lighting system (3). [6] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the digital image of the motor vehicle (1) is transmitted to the mobile device (7) and / or is displayed by the vehicle-side display device (6) or by another vehicle-side display device (8) different from the vehicle-side display device (6), in particular a screen in the area of ​​a center console of the motor vehicle (1). [7] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that in the digital image of the motor vehicle (1) the operating state of the external lighting system (3) of the motor vehicle (1) is recreated or visualized using the second quantity. [8] Motor vehicle control unit (2) for operating an external lighting system of a motor vehicle, with - a unit of determination for determining a first quantity which at least partially describes an operating state of the outdoor lighting system (3), and - a control device for operating a vehicle-side display device (6) depending on the first quantity, wherein - the determination unit is designed to determine an additional second quantity which at least partially describes the operating state of the outdoor lighting system (3), and wherein - the control device is designed to operate a vehicle-independent mobile terminal (7) depending on the second size, characterized by , that - the motor vehicle control unit (2) is configured to generate a digital image of the motor vehicle (1) depending on the second quantity, and - the motor vehicle control unit (2) is configured to fuse the digital image of the motor vehicle (1) with image data from a camera system (11) of the motor vehicle (1), wherein the image data relates to an environment (U) of the motor vehicle (1), and wherein the camera system (11) represents the environment (U) of the motor vehicle (1) as well as the digital image of the motor vehicle (1) in a bird's-eye view or top view.

Images