Vehicle rear light with integrated ambient sensor

Abstract

The invention relates to a rear light for a motor vehicle, wherein a transmitter unit (3) and / or a receiver unit (5) of an environment sensor device is integrated into a cover plate (1) of the rear light, so that the cover plate (1) assumes a transmitting function and / or receiving function of the environment sensor device.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a rear light for a motor vehicle, as well as a vehicle with such a rear light.

[0002] A variety of lighting systems for vehicles are known in the prior art. These typically have one or more of the following functions: illuminating the area around the vehicle, providing a signaling effect to be seen by other road users, or emitting special signals, such as an indication of the intention to reverse or turn.

[0003] In this context, DE 10 2006 007 712 A1 relates to a light, in particular a rear light, of a vehicle, preferably a motor vehicle, with at least two signal lights, each having at least one illuminant, wherein the signal function of at least one signal light can be switched on or changed depending on vehicle- and / or sensor-specific data.

[0004] Modern vehicles are increasingly being fitted with sensor systems that, when required to monitor the vehicle's surroundings, are preferably located on the exterior side of the body or a bumper. This applies, for example, to environmental sensors for precise distance measurement and spatial monitoring during parking and maneuvering, such as ultrasonic distance sensors for cars and commercial vehicles in particular. Positioning rear environmental sensors ex works is particularly difficult in pickup trucks with different body styles and the high vehicle variance.

[0005] The object of the invention is to improve the arrangement of an environment sensor on a vehicle with a detection area towards the rear of the vehicle.

[0006] The invention is based on the features of the independent claims. Advantageous developments and refinements are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0007] A first aspect of the invention relates to a rear light for a motor vehicle, wherein a transmitting unit and / or a receiving unit of an environment sensor device is integrated into a cover plate of the rear light, so that the cover plate assumes a transmitting function and / or receiving function of the environment sensor device.

[0008] The cover plate, together with at least parts of the environment sensor device, forms a pre-assembled module that simply needs to be connected to the rear light housing and, if necessary, to the vehicle's electrical system. The rear light itself is thus functionally enhanced by the at least partial integration of the environment sensor, resulting in a combined rear light and environment sensor in a single module. Such a rear light with an integrated environment sensor is particularly, but not exclusively, suitable for precise distance measurement and spatial monitoring when parking and maneuvering commercial vehicles.

[0009] The cover plate is preferably made of transparent plastic such as PMMA and is intended to protect the lighting elements of the rear light from moisture and dirt.

[0010] The transmitting unit and the receiving unit can be designed and arranged separately, but they can also be integrated into a common module. The tasks of the control unit with separate transmitting and receiving units include controlling the piezo element of the transmitting unit, receiving and amplifying the signals from the receiving unit, calculating the signal's propagation time, deriving the distance to the object from which the signal is reflected, providing digital information via a bus system to a vehicle control unit, and / or providing an analog signal with a linear relationship to the object distance.

[0011] If, on the other hand, the transmitting unit and the receiving unit are integrated in a combined module, the functions and tasks of the control unit are the short-term, pulsed control of the common piezo element of the common membrane, the reception and amplification of the signal at this membrane, in turn the calculation of the propagation time of the signal and the derivation of the distance to the object at which the signal is reflected, as well as the provision of digital information via a bus system to a control device of the vehicle, and / or the provision of an analog signal with a linear relationship to the object distance.

[0012] Advantageous effects of the invention include improving the robustness and protection of the environment sensor device, particularly the transmitting unit and the receiving unit, by using a rear light cover plate as a membrane. However, precise distance measurement, for example, using ultrasound technology, can be maintained. Costs can be reduced by eliminating the need for separate sensors and by integrating the rear light and the environment sensor device.

[0013] According to an advantageous embodiment, the environment sensor device is an ultrasonic sensor unit.

[0014] According to a further advantageous embodiment, at least one region of the cover plate is designed as a membrane of the transmitting unit and / or the receiving unit of the ultrasonic sensor unit.

[0015] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the area of ​​the cover plate is designed as a common membrane of the transmitting unit and the receiving unit.

[0016] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the environment sensor device has a holder on the inside of the cover plate of the rear light, which holder houses a piezo element that is designed to deflect the membrane.

[0017] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the cover plate has a through-opening within which the membrane is clamped.

[0018] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the environment sensor device has a control unit which is connected to an on-board computer of the motor vehicle for signal processing and is designed to control the piezo element, wherein the control unit is designed to transmit the signals from the receiving unit to the on-board computer.

[0019] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the control unit is integrated into the cover plate.

[0020] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the environment sensor device is equipped with a power source that is independent of the on-board network.

[0021] According to a further advantageous embodiment, the environment sensor device is electrically connected to an on-board network of the motor vehicle.

[0022] A further aspect of the invention relates to a vehicle with a rear light as described above and below.

[0023] Advantages and preferred developments of the proposed vehicle result from an analogous and analogous transfer of the statements made above in connection with the proposed rear light.

[0024] Further advantages, features, and details will become apparent from the following description, which – where appropriate with reference to the drawings – describes at least one embodiment in detail. Identical, similar, and / or functionally equivalent parts are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0025] They show: Fig. 1: A rear light according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2: A part of an environment sensor device in a rear light according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0026] The representations in the figures are schematic and not to scale.

[0027] Fig. 1 shows a rear lamp for a commercial vehicle. Behind a cover plate 1 of the rear lamp are several lighting elements (in the Fig. 1 not designated). Furthermore, an environmental sensor device in the form of an ultrasonic sensor unit is integrated into the cover plate 1. This comprises a control unit 11, a receiving unit 5, and a transmitting unit 3. The control unit 11 supplies the remaining environmental sensor device with sufficient electrical voltage, receives signals from the receiving unit 5, and controls the transmitting unit 3 to transmit signals whose reflection can be received at the receiving unit 5. For further details on the structure of the receiving unit 5 or transmitting unit 3, see Fig. 2.

[0028] Fig. Figure 2 shows an ultrasonic sensor unit (without control unit 11) in more detail. Defined areas of the cover plate 1 itself are used as membrane 7. The cover plate 1 comprises at least one mechanical interface for a piezo element 9, which causes a defined area of ​​the cover plate 7 to vibrate. There are two possibilities here: Firstly, two areas of the cover plate 1 designed as membranes 7 can be provided for the separate formation of the transmitting unit 3 and receiving unit 5 (as in Fig.1). The transmitting unit 3 then has its own membrane 7 and its own piezo element 9, and the receiving unit 5 has its own membrane 7 and its own piezo element 9. On the other hand, through pulsed, alternating transmission and reception on a single membrane 7, the shared membrane 7 can act as a transmitting unit 3 and receiving unit 5, for which a single piezo element 9 is provided for the transmitting unit 3 and for the receiving unit 5. A plastic cover is arranged behind each piezo element 9 to ensure tightness with the lighting elements in the rear light. In each case, the receiving unit 5 serves to receive the acoustic waves reflected from objects, which were emitted by a membrane 7 excited by the piezo element 9 of the transmitting unit 3. In both cases, the resulting signals are received, filtered, and processed by the control unit 11 with a signal amplifier.The distance to objects is determined using an echo propagation time method.

[0029] Although the invention has been illustrated and explained in detail by preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations may be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that a multitude of variations exist. It is also clear that exemplary embodiments are truly only examples and should not be construed as limiting the scope, possible applications, or configuration of the invention in any way.Rather, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete terms, whereby the person skilled in the art, with knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, can make various changes, for example with regard to the function or the arrangement of individual elements mentioned in an exemplary embodiment, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description. List of reference symbols 1 cover plate 3 Transmitter unit 5 Receiving unit 7 Membran 9 Piezo element 11 Control unit 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] DE 10 2006 007 712 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Rear light for a motor vehicle, wherein a transmitting unit (3) and / or a receiving unit (5) of an environment sensor device is integrated into a cover plate (1) of the rear light, so that the cover plate (1) assumes a transmitting function and / or receiving function of the environment sensor device. [2] Rear lamp according to claim 1, wherein the environment sensor device is an ultrasonic sensor unit. [3] Rear light according to claim 2, wherein at least one region of the cover plate (1) is designed as a membrane (7) of the transmitting unit (3) and / or as a membrane (7) of the receiving unit (5) of the ultrasonic sensor unit. [4] Rear light according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the area of the cover plate (1) is designed as a common membrane (7) of the transmitting unit (3) and the receiving unit (5). [5] Rear light according to one of claims 3 to 4, wherein the environment sensor device has a holder on the inside of the cover plate (1) of the rear light, which holder receives a piezo element (9) which is designed to deflect one or the membrane (7). [6] Rear light according to claim 5, wherein the cover plate (1) has a through-opening within which the membrane (7) is clamped. [7] Rear light according to one of claims 5 to 6, wherein the environment sensor device has a control unit (11) which is connected to an on-board computer of the motor vehicle for signal processing and is designed to control the piezo element (9), wherein the control unit (11) is designed to transmit the signals of the receiving unit (5) to the on-board computer. [8] Rear light according to claim 7, wherein the control unit (11) is integrated into the cover plate (1). [9] Rear light according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the environment sensor device is electrically connected to an on-board network of the motor vehicle. [10] Vehicle with a rear light according to one of the preceding claims.

Images