Procedures for operating a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for operating a motor vehicle (1) in which an electronic computing device (9) of the motor vehicle (1) automatically determines the current situation in which a person using the motor vehicle (1) and / or the motor vehicle (1) finds itself. Using the electronic computing device (9), one of the operating states of at least one component (10) of the motor vehicle (1) is automatically selected and set, depending on the determined situation, from several different, adjustable operating states of the component (10) that are perceptible to the person.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle.

[0002] US 2013 / 0325202 A1 discloses a driver status module for communication with a vehicle. Furthermore, EP 2 544 914 B1 discloses a non-distracting and non-invasive on-board system for detecting, personalizing, and monitoring a driver's cardiac activity in a vehicle. Furthermore, JP 2015503491 A discloses a method for personalizing a vehicle.

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a method for operating a motor vehicle so that a particularly advantageous usability, in particular drivability, of the motor vehicle can be realized.

[0004] This object is achieved according to the invention by a method having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0005] The invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle, also referred to simply as a vehicle, whose interior, also referred to as a passenger cell or passenger compartment, is formed by a motor vehicle structure designed, for example, as a self-supporting body. The motor vehicle is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car.

[0006] In the method, a current situation in which a person using the motor vehicle, such as the driver of the motor vehicle and / or the motor vehicle, is located is automatically determined by means of an electronic computing device of the motor vehicle. For this purpose, for example, the electronic computing device carries out at least one calculation process to determine the situation and / or the electronic computing device receives, for example, at least one signal, in particular an electrical one, characterizing the situation. The electronic computing device automatically determines the situation, for example, by receiving the signal and / or as a function of the signal.In the method, by means of the electronic computing device of the motor vehicle, one of the operating states is automatically selected and set, i.e. activated, from a plurality of different, adjustable and perceptible operating states of the component for at least one component of the motor vehicle as a function of the determined situation, so that the component is then operated at least temporarily in the one selected and set operating state.The feature that the operating states of the component are perceptible by the person is to be understood as meaning that the different operating states cause the person to perceive the motor vehicle differently, since, for example, the different, adjustable operating states affect the driving of the motor vehicle and / or emissions of the motor vehicle that are perceptible by the person, for example haptically and / or acoustically and / or visually.If, for example, the component is operated in a first of the operating states, such that the first operating state is set, i.e. activated, the person will, for example, perceive the motor vehicle in a first way, and if, for example, a second of the operating states of the component is set, i.e. activated, such that the component is operated in the second operating state, the person will perceive the motor vehicle in a second way that is different from the first way. By means of the method according to the invention, the component and thus the motor vehicle can be adapted automatically and as needed to the current situation, such that a particularly advantageous usability, in particular drivability, of the motor vehicle can be realized for the person.For example, the first operating state comprises a first combination of set, i.e., activated, sub-operating states of subcomponents of the component, and, for example, the second operating state comprises a second combination of set, i.e., activated, sub-operating states of the subcomponents of the component, different from the first combination. This means, in particular, that the component has the aforementioned subcomponents, namely at least one first subcomponent and at least one second subcomponent.For the first subcomponent, for example, a plurality of mutually different first sub-operating states can be set, and for the second subcomponent, for example, a plurality of mutually different second sub-operating states can be set, so that the first subcomponent can be operated in the first sub-operating states and the second subcomponent can be operated in the second sub-operating states.The method according to the invention enables different combinations of the first sub-operating states and the second sub-operating states, in particular depending on the determined situation, so that, for example, optionally a first of the first sub-operating states and simultaneously a first of the second sub-operating states, or the first of the first sub-operating states and simultaneously a second of the second sub-operating states, or a second of the first operating states and simultaneously the first of the second operating states can be set, i.e. activated. By means of the method according to the invention, the way in which the person perceives the motor vehicle can be set and thus varied as needed and in particular adapted to the situation, so that, so to speak, an emotionality of the motor vehicle, also simply referred to as the vehicle, can be set, i.e. varied, as needed and adapted to the situation.

[0007] In order to be able to realize a particularly advantageous usability, in particular drivability, of the motor vehicle, it is provided in one embodiment of the invention that at least one variable is automatically detected by means of at least one detection device of the motor vehicle, wherein the electronic computing device automatically determines the situation as a function of the detected variable.

[0008] In order to achieve particularly advantageous usability of the motor vehicle, it has been shown to be particularly advantageous if the variable is a current position of the motor vehicle on the earth and / or a current weight, i.e. a current mass of the motor vehicle and / or a current coupling state in which the motor vehicle is coupled to a trailer, in particular in an articulated manner and / or a current date and / or a current time and / or a current weather in a current environment of the motor vehicle and / or a current temperature, also referred to as ambient temperature, in the current environment of the motor vehicle and / or a current,also referred to as interior temperature or interior temperature in the interior of the motor vehicle and / or a driving behavior of the person as driver of the motor vehicle and / or a traffic volume in the current environment of the motor vehicle and / or a physical condition and / or a state of mind, thus a mental or psychological state of the person and / or a number of persons present in the interior of the motor vehicle and / or a current loading condition of at least one luggage compartment of the motor vehicle and / or a currently active user profile of a person currently trained as a driver of the motor vehicle and / or a predicted, thus forecasted or predicted driving behavior of the driver of the motor vehicle.

[0009] A further embodiment is characterized in that the component comprises at least one drive component for driving the motor vehicle. The drive component is or comprises, for example, at least one or exactly one electric machine, by means of which the motor vehicle can be driven, in particular purely electrically. Alternatively or additionally, the drive component is or comprises, for example, at least one or exactly one internal combustion engine, by means of which the motor vehicle can be driven.The background to this embodiment is in particular that drive characteristics of the motor vehicle can be adjusted, i.e. varied, as needed and adapted to the situation, wherein in particular by varying the drive characteristics the emotionality of the motor vehicle and thus an emotional perception of the motor vehicle by the person can be advantageously varied, in particular because the drive characteristics in particular affect an emotional perception of the motor vehicle by the person.

[0010] Preferably, the method provides that the person does not receive a suggestion for setting the respective operating state of the component with regard to the component and thus, for example, with regard to the drive component and thus, quite particularly, with regard to a drive comprising the drive component and designed to drive the motor vehicle, but rather the component and thus, in particular, the drive configures itself automatically. This means that the component, in particular the drive component and thus, for example, the drive, is automatically set depending on the situation in such a way that, depending on the situation, from the plurality of possible operating states, one of the operating states of the component, in particular of the drive component and thus of the drive, is formed and set, and thus activated, in particular that active intervention by the person is required for this.In particular, compared to conventional, static and thus fixed setting options, the invention enables at least almost any combination of, for example, the aforementioned sub-operating states, so that a particularly needs-based and thus advantageous adaptation or adaptability to different situations can be realized.

[0011] In order to be able to adapt the component and thus the motor vehicle particularly advantageously to the situation and thus advantageously change the person's perception of the motor vehicle, a further embodiment of the invention provides that setting one operating state comprises switching the component from another of the adjustable operating states to one operating state. For example, the aforementioned first operating state is the one operating state that is automatically set, i.e., activated, with the aforementioned second operating state, for example, being the other operating state.

[0012] In one embodiment of the invention, the other operating state is a first drive state, which means that the other operating state is also referred to as the first drive state, and one operating state is a second drive state, so that, for example, one operating state is also referred to as the second drive state. In order to adapt the component and thus the motor vehicle automatically and particularly advantageously to the situation and thus create particularly advantageous usability, in particular drivability, of the motor vehicle, it is further preferably provided that in the other operating state a first drive power that can be provided by the drive component to drive the motor vehicle is permitted and / or that in the other operating state a first torque that can be provided by the drive component to drive the motor vehicle is permitted.In one operating state, a second drive power, which is less or greater than the first drive power and which can be provided by the drive component to drive the motor vehicle, and / or in one operating state, a second torque, which is less or greater than the first torque and which can be provided by the drive component to drive the motor vehicle, is permitted, so that when switching from the other operating state to the one operating state, the drive power and / or the torque is limited or eliminated. In this way, the emotionality of the motor vehicle and thus the person's perception of the motor vehicle can be influenced in a particularly advantageous way and, in particular, adapted to the situation, so that particularly advantageous usability and drivability of the motor vehicle can be achieved.

[0013] In a further, particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the component comprises a lighting device for at least partially illuminating the interior of the motor vehicle. In particular, by varying the interior lighting, the person's perception of the vehicle can be particularly well varied and thus adapted to the situation.

[0014] It has proven particularly advantageous if, in the other operating state, the lighting device provides light with a first color in order to at least partially illuminate the interior by means of the light. Furthermore, it is preferably provided that, in the one operating state, the lighting device provides light with a second color that differs from the first color in order to at least partially illuminate the interior by means of the light. This allows the motor vehicle to be automatically adapted to the situation in a particularly advantageous manner, thus enabling particularly advantageous usability.

[0015] A further embodiment is characterized in that the other operating state is a first lighting state or is also referred to as the first lighting state. For example, one operating state is a second lighting state, or the one operating state is also referred to as the second lighting state. In order to be able to realize particularly advantageous usability, in particular drivability, of the motor vehicle, it is preferably provided that in one of the lighting states, the lighting device does not illuminate the interior, while in the other lighting state, the lighting device at least partially illuminates the interior.

[0016] Finally, it has proven particularly advantageous if the component comprises at least one device influencing the vibration behavior of at least one partial region of the motor vehicle and / or at least one device influencing the axle load distribution of the motor vehicle and / or at least one, in particular electronic, playback device, by means of which visually perceptible images and / or acoustically perceptible sounds can be output in the interior of the motor vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, the component comprises a steering handle arranged in the interior of the motor vehicle and designed, for example, as a steering wheel for steering the motor vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, the component comprises, for example, shock absorbers and / or springs of a chassis of the motor vehicle, wherein a hardness of the respective shock absorber and / or the respective spring is changed by adjusting one of the operating states.Alternatively or additionally, the component comprises an accelerator pedal of the motor vehicle, wherein a drive torque for driving the motor vehicle can be adjusted by means of the accelerator pedal. Thus, for example, by setting one operating state, a travel and / or a characteristic of the accelerator pedal can be changed so that, for example, in the other operating state, moving the accelerator pedal to one position of the accelerator pedal causes the drive to provide a first torque for driving the motor vehicle, and so that, for example, in the one operating state, moving the accelerator pedal to the same position causes the drive to provide a second torque for driving the motor vehicle that is greater or smaller than the first torque.

[0017] For example, the current situation in particular can be recognized on the basis of map data, so that it can be detected, for example, that the motor vehicle is currently in a city, on a country road or on a motorway. Alternatively or additionally, it can be determined on the basis of the map data whether the person, in particular as the driver of the motor vehicle, has just been shopping and / or performed another activity. By recognizing or determining driving behavior, it can be determined, for example, whether the driver is driving the motor vehicle in a sporty or, in contrast, moderate manner. The traffic volume can be determined, for example, via radio and / or the Internet, particularly in real time.A person's preferred driving behavior, particularly as a driver of the motor vehicle, can be predicted, for example, using input variables and / or logic and / or artificial intelligence. Switching the drive components and thus the drive from one operating state to another can, for example, occur with or without a query. For example, the vehicle can be predictable, particularly via settings, and always display the same emotions. It is conceivable to adjust control levers that are perceptible to the person, in particular drive control levers, such as background noise, power and / or torque availability, gradients, vibration behavior, axle load distribution, so that the person feels, and therefore perceives, the switching of the component, particularly acoustically and / or haptically and / or visually, for example under safe driving conditions.If there is a corresponding requirement, the emotional behavior of the vehicle can be expanded, for example with regard to less power.

[0018] Further details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment with the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a motor vehicle.

[0019] The only Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a motor vehicle 1, also simply referred to as a vehicle, whose interior 2, also referred to as a passenger cell or passenger compartment, is formed by a structure of the motor vehicle 1, for example in the form of a self-supporting body. The motor vehicle 1 is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car. While the motor vehicle 1 is traveling, people, such as the driver of the motor vehicle 1, can be present in the interior 2. The motor vehicle 1 has at least or exactly two vehicle axles 3 and 4 arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle. The respective vehicle axle 3, 4 has at least or exactly two respective vehicle wheels 5 and 6 or 7 and 8.The respective vehicle wheels 5 and 6, reference numerals 7 and 8, of the respective vehicle axle 3, 4 are arranged on opposite sides of the motor vehicle 1 in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle 1.

[0020] The following will be based on Fig. 1 describes a method for operating the motor vehicle 1, which is also referred to simply as a vehicle. In the method, by means of a Fig. 1, the electronic computing device 9 of the motor vehicle 1, which is shown particularly schematically, automatically determines a current situation in which a person using the motor vehicle 1 and / or the motor vehicle 1 is located. By means of the electronic computing device 9, for at least one in Fig. 1, a component 10 of the motor vehicle 1, which is shown particularly schematically, automatically selects and sets, i.e. activates, one of the operating states of the component 10 from a plurality of mutually different, adjustable, i.e., activatable, and perceptible operating states of the component 10, in particular precisely, depending on the determined situation, so that the component 10 is then operated at least temporarily in the selected and set, one operating state. For example, another of the possible adjustable operating states was previously set, so that the component 10 was previously operated in a different operating state. By setting, i.e. activating, one operating state, the component 10 is switched from the other operating state to the one operating state, wherein the one operating state is also referred to as the first operating state and the other operating state is also referred to as the second operating state.Thus, the component 10 is switched, for example, from the second operating state to the first operating state.

[0021] In the Fig. 1, the component 10 comprises at least one drive component 11, by means of which, for example, the vehicle wheels 7 and 8 of the vehicle axle 4 and thus the motor vehicle 1 can be driven. In particular, it can be provided that in the method the drive component 11 drives the vehicle wheels 7 and 8 and thus the motor vehicle 1. In particular, the drive component 11 can be an electric machine by means of which the vehicle wheels 7 and 8 and thus the motor vehicle 1 can be or are driven purely electrically. The drive component 11 is a component of a drive, also referred to as a drive device, of the motor vehicle 1, which can be driven by means of the drive. The drive defines or comprises drive characteristics of the motor vehicle 1, wherein the drive characteristics are changed by switching from the other operating state to one operating state of the drive.The drive characteristics form or define, so to speak, an emotion of the motor vehicle 1, since when the person uses the motor vehicle 1 and, in particular, drives it, the person primarily perceives the drive characteristics of the motor vehicle 1, in particular acoustically and / or haptically. By switching from the other operating state to one operating state, the drive can thus, for example, reflect one or more of the person's emotions.

[0022] For example, it is planned that by means of a Fig.1, at least one variable is automatically detected by a particularly schematically illustrated, in particular electronic, detection device 12 of the motor vehicle 1, wherein the electronic computing device 9 automatically determines the situation depending on the detected variable. For example, the detection device 12 can be a component of the computing device 9. The variable includes, for example, a current position of the motor vehicle 1 on the earth and / or a current traffic volume in an environment 13 of the motor vehicle 1. If it is thus determined, for example, on the basis of the variable that the motor vehicle 1 is currently in a traffic jam, a power and / or torque limitation of the drive can be provided, for example by switching from the other operating state to the one operating state.Thus, for example, it is provided that in the other operating state, the drive, in particular the drive component 11, is permitted to provide a maximum of a first drive power and / or a first torque for driving the motor vehicle 1. In one operating state, for example, the drive, in particular the drive component 11, is permitted to provide a maximum of a second drive power that is lower than the first drive power and / or a second torque that is lower than the first torque for driving the motor vehicle 1. Furthermore, it is conceivable, for example, that the variable comprises at least a temperature of the motor vehicle 1, in particular of the component 10 and very particularly of the drive or the drive component 11. If, for example, the temperature is lower than a threshold value, at least a portion of the interior is illuminated with blue or green light.If, for example, the temperature is greater than or equal to the threshold value, at least the partial area of ​​the interior is illuminated not with green or blue light, but with red light, for example. This allows, for example, the current state of the motor vehicle 1, in particular of the drive, to be communicated, particularly visually, to the person present in the interior 2.If, for example, it is recognized, in particular based on the size, that the person driving the motor vehicle 1 is driving roughly, vibrations of at least one partial area of ​​the motor vehicle 1 can be reduced, for example by switching from the other operating state to the one operating state, so that, for example by switching from the other operating state to the one operating state, a vibration behavior of at least one partial area of ​​the motor vehicle 1, in particular of the drive and / or a chassis of the motor vehicle 1, also referred to as vibration behavior, can be changed.This can be done in such a way that the driver, i.e. the person using the motor vehicle 1, feels vibrations of at least part of the motor vehicle 1 more or less strongly by switching from the other operating state to the one operating state, thus that the vibrations of at least the part of the motor vehicle 1 become stronger or weaker by switching from the other operating state to the one operating state, thus stronger vibrations are permitted or the vibrations are reduced by switching from the other operating state to the one operating state. List of reference symbols 1 motor vehicle 2 Interior 3 vehicle axles 4 vehicle axles 5 vehicle wheel 6 vehicle wheel 7 vehicle wheel 8 vehicle wheel 9 electronic computing device 10 components 11 Drive component 12 Recording device 13 Surroundings QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 2013 / 0325202 A1

[0002] EP 2 544 914 B1

[0002] JP 2015503491 A

[0002]

Claims

[1] Method for operating a motor vehicle (1), in which: - by means of an electronic computing device (9) of the motor vehicle (1), a current situation in which a person using the motor vehicle (1) and / or the motor vehicle (1) is located is automatically determined; and - by means of the electronic computing device (9) for at least one component (10) of the motor vehicle (1), one of the operating states is automatically selected and set from a plurality of mutually different, adjustable and perceptible operating states of the component (10) as a function of the determined situation. [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by that at least one variable is automatically detected by means of at least one detection device (12) of the motor vehicle (1), wherein the electronic computing device (9) automatically determines the situation as a function of the detected variable. [3] Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that includes the size: - a current position of the motor vehicle (1) on the earth; and / or - a current weight of the motor vehicle (1); and / or - a current coupling state in which the motor vehicle (1) is coupled to a trailer; and / or - a current date; and / or - a current time; and / or - current weather in a current environment of the motor vehicle (1); and / or - a current temperature in a current environment (13) of the motor vehicle (1); and / or - a current temperature in the interior (2) of the motor vehicle (1); and / or - the driving behaviour of the person as driver of the motor vehicle (1); and / or - a traffic volume in an environment (13) of the motor vehicle (1); and / or - a physical condition and / or a state of mind of the person; - a number of persons present in the interior (2) of the motor vehicle (1); - a loading state of at least one luggage compartment of the motor vehicle (1); and / or - a currently active user profile of a person currently registered as the driver of the motor vehicle (1); and / or - a predicted driving behaviour of the driver of the motor vehicle (1). [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the component (10) comprises at least one drive component (11) for driving the motor vehicle (1). [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that setting the one operating state comprises switching the component (10) from another of the adjustable operating states to the one operating state. [6] Method according to claims 4 and 5, characterized by , that: - in the other operating state: ◯ a first maximum drive power that can be provided by the drive component (11) is permitted to drive the motor vehicle (1); and / or ◯ a first maximum torque that can be provided by the drive component (11) is permitted to drive the motor vehicle (1); and - in one operating state: ◯ a second drive power, which is lower or higher than the first drive power and can be provided by the drive component (11) as a maximum, is permitted to drive the motor vehicle (1); and / or ◯ a second torque, which is lower or higher than the first torque, is permitted as the maximum torque that can be provided by the drive component (11) to drive the motor vehicle (1). [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the component (10) comprises a lighting device for at least partially illuminating the interior (2) of the motor vehicle (1). [8] Method according to claim 7 when referred back to claim 5 or 6, characterized by , that: - in the other operating state, the lighting device provides light with a first color in order to at least partially illuminate the interior by means of the light; and - in one operating state, the lighting device provides light with a second color different from the first color in order to at least partially illuminate the interior (2) by means of the light. [9] Method according to claim 7 in its dependence on claim 5 or 6, characterized by that the other operating state is a first lighting state and the one operating state is a second lighting state, where: - in one of the lighting states, the interior (2) is not illuminated by the lighting device; and - in the other lighting state, the lighting device at least partially illuminates the interior (2). [10] Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the component (10) comprises: - at least one device influencing the vibration behavior of at least one partial area of ​​the motor vehicle (1); and / or - at least one device influencing an axle load distribution of the motor vehicle (1); and / or - at least one playback device by means of which optically perceptible images and / or acoustically perceptible sounds can be output in the interior (2) of the motor vehicle (1); and / or - a steering handle arranged in the interior (2) of the motor vehicle (1) for steering the motor vehicle (1); and / or - shock absorbers and / or springs of a chassis of the motor vehicle (1), wherein by setting the one operating state, a hardness of the respective shock absorber and / or the respective spring is changed; and / or - an accelerator pedal of the motor vehicle (1), wherein a drive torque for driving the motor vehicle (1) can be adjusted by means of the accelerator pedal.

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