Event-dependent control of a vehicle's lamp

Abstract

Method for controlling a lamp (12) of a vehicle (1), in which - a control unit (10) of a vehicle (1) receives a control command (100) and controls a lamp (12) of the vehicle (1) depending on the received control command (100); - a communication unit (11) of the vehicle (1) receives a control signal (20) from a stationary server (2), generates the control command (100) depending on the received control signal (20) and transmits the generated control command (100) to the control unit (10), wherein - the stationary server (2) determines an event independently of a driver and independently of a journey of the vehicle (1), generates the control signal (20) depending on the determined event, transmits the generated control signal (20) to the communication unit (11) and controls a light emitted by the lamp (12) depending on the determined event.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for controlling a vehicle lamp, in which a vehicle control unit receives a control command and controls a vehicle lamp based on the received control command. Furthermore, the invention relates to a control unit for a vehicle lamp.

[0002] Methods of the type mentioned at the outset are part of the state of the art in various forms and are used to control a light signal emitted by a lamp of a vehicle.

[0003] Simple methods for controlling a vehicle lamp are based on a driver of the vehicle manually operating a control unit connected to the lamp.

[0004] For example, US 5,803,577 A discloses a method for controlling a decorative lamp of a vehicle. In the method, the driver of the vehicle manually activates the decorative lamp for a specific event.

[0005] The method described in US 2003 / 0210547 A1 is used to control a decorative light having a plurality of light sources that emit light of different colors, and provides the driver of the vehicle with a plurality of predetermined different operating modes of the decorative light. In the method, the driver manually selects a predetermined color configuration of a control unit corresponding to a holiday as an operating mode, and the control unit controls the decorative light depending on the selected color configuration of the control unit.

[0006] Advanced methods for controlling a vehicle lamp include automatic control of the lamp by the control unit.

[0007] Thus, EP 3 569 464 A1 discloses a method for controlling an interior light of a vehicle, in which the vehicle uses sensors to detect the state of a driver of the vehicle when starting a journey and a control unit of the vehicle automatically controls the interior light during the journey depending on the detected state of a driver.

[0008] DE 10 2019 219 606 A1 discloses a method for controlling an exterior light of an autonomously driving vehicle. The exterior light is activated after a control center has positively determined a medical emergency reported by the vehicle to indicate a special status of the autonomously driving vehicle.

[0009] DE 10 2014 118 084 A1 discloses a method for controlling a lamp of a vehicle, in which a control unit of the vehicle detects a gunshot event based on data collected by sensors or communication and controls the lamp when a gunshot event is detected.

[0010] However, known methods are limited to predetermined driver- or trip-dependent applications.

[0011] It is therefore an object of the invention to propose a method for controlling a vehicle lamp that allows driver- and vehicle-independent applications. A further object of the invention is to provide a control unit for a vehicle lamp.

[0012] One subject of the invention is a method for controlling a vehicle lamp, in which a vehicle control unit receives a control command and controls a vehicle lamp based on the received control command. The light emitted by the lamp is determined using the control command.

[0013] According to the invention, a communication unit of the vehicle receives a control signal from a stationary server. The communication unit generates the control command based on the received control signal. The communication unit transmits the generated control command to the control unit. The stationary server generates the control signal based on a specific event. The stationary server transmits the generated control signal to the communication unit. The stationary server determines the event and, based on the specific event, the light emitted by the lamp. In other words, the vehicle's lamp is remotely controlled based on the event. The stationary server can transmit the control signal to the communication unit via a cellular connection, a WLAN connection, a Car2X connection, a satellite connection, and the like.

[0014] The server determines the event independently of the driver and regardless of whether the vehicle is traveling. For example, a theme day, an environmental disaster, an assassination, an event, and the like are determined as the event.

[0015] Advantageously, the stationary server determines the event based on the vehicle's position and / or a time period. The server distinguishes between global events, which are independent of the vehicle's position, and local events, which depend on the vehicle's position in a specific spatial environment. The stationary server can act accordingly as a global server and / or a local server.

[0016] The period includes a point in time and / or a time span. The period can correspond to the duration of the event or include a time span preceding or following the point in time of the event.

[0017] The stationary server generally determines a plurality of temporally successive events with varying spatial relevance. Of course, the method is not limited to a single stationary server and a single vehicle. Rather, a plurality of stationary servers and / or a plurality of vehicles can participate in the method.

[0018] In one embodiment, a GPS receiver of the vehicle determines a position of the vehicle and transmits the determined position to the communication unit. The communication unit transmits the transmitted position to the stationary server, and the stationary server determines the event based on the transmitted position. The stationary server receives the position of the vehicle as GPS coordinates.

[0019] Preferably, the control unit stores a received control command and controls the light at a later time selected by the vehicle driver based on the stored control commands. The stored control commands allow for automatic repetition of control commands even after the triggering events have expired.

[0020] Furthermore, a vehicle driver can manually set the control unit's configuration, and the control unit can control the light depending on the set configuration. For example, the driver can specify that the control unit only accepts control commands related to local events or only control commands related to global events.

[0021] The driver may further specify that the control unit requests driver confirmation for each control of the lamp, or requests driver confirmation for a specific control of the lamp and controls the lamp only after receiving the confirmation, or requests driver confirmation for no control of the lamp, or does not request driver confirmation for a specific control of the lamp and controls the lamp automatically.

[0022] The driver of the vehicle can configure the control unit using an infotainment system of the vehicle using a terminal device connected to the vehicle, for example using a smartphone linked to the vehicle via a Bluetooth connection.

[0023] In a further embodiment, the control unit controls the light depending on a vehicle model, vehicle equipment, vehicle operating mode, vehicle terminal status, vehicle position, vehicle speed, time period, road class traveled by the vehicle, brightness of the vehicle's surroundings, country lock, and / or country release. Vehicle operating parameters, vehicle configuration parameters, and environmental parameters detected by the vehicle's sensors further refine the control of the light.

[0024] The control unit can hierarchically prioritize operating parameters, configuration parameters, and environmental parameters. Higher-priority parameters can override lower-priority parameters. In particular, these parameters can prevent the control command from being accepted and the luminaire from being controlled.

[0025] Ideally, the control unit controls the color, spatial shape, temporal progression, and / or brightness of a light signal emitted by the luminaire. The luminaire can comprise a spatial arrangement with a plurality of light sources, for example, incandescent lamps, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), and the like. The light sources can be controlled with a time offset and / or with a variable electrical current. In this way, a high degree of variability of the light signal emitted by the luminaire is achieved.

[0026] The control unit can control an interior light and / or an exterior light of the vehicle as the light. The light emitted by the exterior light will be perceived by a person located in the vicinity of the vehicle. The light emitted by the interior light can be perceived by those in the vicinity of the vehicle. When the lights of a plurality of vehicles are controlled similarly depending on the same event, this leads to a sense of community among the drivers of the vehicles.

[0027] Advantageously, the control unit controls a dipped beam, a high beam, a daytime running light, a tail light, a brake light, a reversing light, a direction indicator, a projection light, an illuminated or luminous external display surface, a position light, and / or a decorative light as the exterior light. The control unit can control a plurality of exterior lights and / or interior lights depending on a single event, in particular according to a complex signature.

[0028] Another subject of the invention is a control unit for a vehicle lamp. Such control units are widespread and installed in a variety of vehicles. Accordingly, the invention has a wide range of possible applications.

[0029] According to the invention, the control unit is configured to participate in a method according to the invention for controlling the light. The control unit provides driver- and driving-independent, i.e., external, control of the light for the vehicle.

[0030] A key advantage of the method according to the invention is that the light can be controlled independently of the driver and the vehicle, i.e., externally. Further advantages include the fact that vehicle drivers experience a sense of community and the scope of use of the light is expanded, i.e., the potential of vehicle lighting is widely utilized.

[0031] The invention is schematically illustrated in the drawings using an embodiment and will be further described with reference to the drawings. It shows: Fig. 1 is a partial block diagram of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0032] Fig.Figure 1 shows a partial block diagram of a vehicle 1 according to one embodiment of the invention. The vehicle 1 includes a communication unit 11 and may include additional functional systems of the vehicle 1, such as a navigation system 13, a driver assistance system 14, an environmental sensor 15, a drive system 16, an infotainment system 17, a comfort system 18, and / or another functional system 19, for example, a GPS receiver.

[0033] The vehicle 1 further comprises a lamp 12, in particular a plurality of lamps 12, and a control unit 10 connected to the communication unit 11 and at least one, in particular each, lamp 12.

[0034] The light 12 can be designed as an interior light 124 of the vehicle 1 or as an exterior light of the vehicle 1. The exterior lights include, for example, a daytime running light 120, a tail light 121, a projection light 122, an illuminated or luminous external display surface 123, and other lights 125 such as a low beam, a high beam, a brake light, a reversing light, a direction indicator, a position light, and / or a decorative light.

[0035] The control unit 10 is configured to participate in a method described below for controlling the lamp 12 of the vehicle 1.

[0036] A stationary server 2 generates a control signal 20 depending on a specific event and transmits the generated control signal 20 to the communication unit 11. The stationary server 2 can determine the event depending on a position of the vehicle 1 and / or a time period. In particular, a GPS receiver of the vehicle 1 can determine the position of the vehicle 1 and transmit the determined position to the communication unit 11. The communication unit 11 can transmit the transmitted position to the stationary server 2, and the stationary server 2 can determine the event depending on the transmitted position.

[0037] The communication unit 11 of the vehicle 1 receives the control signal 20 from the stationary server 2, generates a control command 100 depending on the received control signal 20, and transmits the generated control command 100 to the control unit 10.

[0038] The control unit 10 of the vehicle 1 receives the transmitted control command 100 and, depending on the received control command 100, controls the lamp 12 of the vehicle 1. The control unit 10 can control an interior lamp 124 and / or an exterior lamp 120, 121, 122, 123, 125 of the vehicle 1 as the lamp 12. Specifically, the control unit 10 can control a daytime running lamp 120, a tail lamp 121, a projection lamp 122, an illuminated or luminous external display surface 123, and / or another lamp 125 such as a low beam, a high beam, a brake lamp, a reversing lamp, a direction indicator, a position lamp, and / or a decorative lamp as the exterior lamp.

[0039] In particular, the control unit 10 controls a color, a spatial shape, a temporal progression and / or a brightness of a light signal emitted by the lamp 12.

[0040] Ideally, a configuration of the control unit 10 is set manually by a driver of the vehicle 1 and the control unit 10 further controls the lamp 12 depending on the set configuration.

[0041] Apart from that, the control unit 10 can control the lamp 12 depending on a model of the vehicle 1, an equipment of the vehicle 1, an operating mode of the vehicle 1, a terminal state of the vehicle 1, a position of the vehicle 1, a driving speed of the vehicle 1, a time period, a class of a road traveled by the vehicle 1, a brightness of an environment of the vehicle 1, a country lock and / or a country release.

[0042] Preferably, the control unit 10 stores a received control command 100 and controls the lamp 12 at a later time selected by a driver of the vehicle 1 depending on the stored control commands 100. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS: 1 vehicle 10 Control unit 100 control commands 11 Communication unit 2 stationary servers 20 control signal 12 lights 120 Daytime running light 121 tail light 122 Projection light 123 display area 124 interior light 125 additional lights 13 Navigation system 14 Driver assistance system 15 Environmental sensor 16 Drive system 17 Infotainment system 18 Comfort system 19 additional functional systems

Claims

[1] Method for controlling a lamp (12) of a vehicle (1), wherein - a control unit (10) of a vehicle (1) receives a control command (100) and, depending on the received control command (100), controls a light (12) of the vehicle (1); - a communication unit (11) of the vehicle (1) receives a control signal (20) from a stationary server (2), generates the control command (100) depending on the received control signal (20) and transmits the generated control command (100) to the control unit (10), wherein - the stationary server (2) independently of a driver and independently of a journey of the vehicle (1) determines an event, generates the control signal (20) depending on the determined event, transmits the generated control signal (20) to the communication unit (11) and controls a light emitted by the lamp (12) depending on the determined event. [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein the stationary server (2) determines the event depending on a position of the vehicle (1) and / or on a period of time. [3] Method according to claim 2, wherein a GPS receiver of the vehicle (1) determines a position of the vehicle (1) and transmits the determined position to the communication unit (11), the communication unit (11) transmits the transmitted position to the stationary server (2) and the stationary server (2) determines the event depending on the transmitted position. [4] Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit (10) stores a received control command (100) and controls the light (12) at a later time selected by a driver of the vehicle (1) depending on stored control commands (100). [5] Method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a configuration of the control unit (10) is manually set by a driver of the vehicle (1) and the control unit (10) controls the light (12) depending on the set configuration. [6] Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control unit (10) controls the light (12) depending on a model of the vehicle (1), an equipment of the vehicle (1), an operating mode of the vehicle (1), a terminal state of the vehicle (1), a position of the vehicle (1), a driving speed of the vehicle (1), a period of time, a class of a road traveled by the vehicle (1), a brightness of an environment of the vehicle (1), a country lock and / or a country release. [7] Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the control unit (10) controls a color, a spatial shape, a temporal progression and / or a brightness of a light signal emitted by the lamp (12). [8] Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the control unit (10) controls an interior light (124) and / or an exterior light (120, 121, 122, 123, 125) of the vehicle (1) as the light (12). [9] Method according to claim 8, wherein the control unit (10) controls a dipped beam light (125), a high beam light (125), a daytime running light (120), a rear light (121), a brake light (125), a reversing light (125), a direction indicator (125), a projection light (122), an illuminated or luminous external display area (123), a position light (125) and / or a decorative light (125) as the external light. [10] Control unit (10) for a light (12) of a vehicle (1) which is configured to control the light (12) to participate in a method according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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