Optical signaling device for emitting warning light signals

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an optical signaling device for emitting warning light signals into the vicinity of a motor vehicle (1), comprising a housing (20), a light source (21), an electrical energy storage device (22), and a circuitry (23). The light source (21) is visibly arranged externally on or in the housing (20) and is electrically connected to the electrical energy storage device (22) and the circuitry (23). The circuitry (23) is configured to receive a radio-based activation signal (30) from a motor vehicle (1) and, as a result of a received activation signal (30), to control the light source (21) to emit warning light signals into the vicinity of a motor vehicle (1). The housing (20) can be visibly attached to a vehicle component (11, 12) in the exterior area of ​​a motor vehicle (1) by means of a fastening means (26).The present disclosure further relates to a control unit and a vehicle component.

Description

Technical area

[0001] The invention relates to an optical signaling device for emitting warning light signals in the environment of a motor vehicle, a control device for triggering the optical signaling device and a vehicle component.

[0002] It is common practice to interrupt the electrical circuit of a vehicle's electrical system for safety reasons in the event of an accident, for example, to minimize the risk of fire due to short circuits. A safety shutdown can be triggered, for example, by a control unit for vehicle restraint systems if a deceleration value measured by an acceleration sensor exceeds a threshold for a severe accident.

[0003] The disadvantage of a known safety shutdown is that if the vehicle's electrical system is deactivated, the hazard warning lights of a vehicle involved in an accident are no longer operational to warn other road users. Other vehicles may collide with the vehicle involved in the accident, particularly at night, in the dark, or generally in poor visibility. Brief description of the invention

[0004] Given that secondary accidents represent a high risk in road traffic, the object of the invention is to provide a supplement to a conventional hazard warning system with which warning light signals can be emitted even when the vehicle electrical system is without power.

[0005] Accordingly, an optical signaling device according to the main claim, as well as a control device and a vehicle component according to the dependent claims, are proposed. Further embodiments are the subject of the respective dependent claims.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by an optical signaling device for emitting warning light signals in the environment of a motor vehicle, which comprises a housing, a light source, an electrical energy store, and a circuit device. The light source is arranged visibly on the outside on or in the housing and is electrically controllably connected to the electrical energy store and the circuit device. The circuit device is designed to receive a radio-based activation signal from a motor vehicle and, as a result of a received activation signal, to control the light source to emit warning light signals in the environment of a motor vehicle. The housing can be visibly fastened to a vehicle component in the exterior of a motor vehicle by means of a fastening means.

[0007] An advantageous effect of the optical signaling device is that the electrical energy storage device allows warning light signals to be emitted independently from a vehicle's on-board power supply in the vicinity of an accident-damaged vehicle.

[0008] According to a further development of the optical signaling device, the fastening means can be designed to produce a non-destructively removable fastening between the vehicle component and the optical signaling device.

[0009] This means that the optical signaling device can be replaced, for example if the electrical energy storage device is used up or there is another technical defect.

[0010] According to a further development of the optical signaling device, the electrical energy storage device can be a rechargeable electrical energy storage device.

[0011] A rechargeable electrical energy storage device can, for example, be a rechargeable battery with at least one electrochemical secondary cell. The rechargeability of the electrical energy storage device can increase the service life of an optical signaling device.

[0012] According to a further development of the optical signaling device, the housing can have a number of electrical contacts with which an electrical connection can be established between the rechargeable electrical energy storage device and a vehicle electrical system of a motor vehicle.

[0013] This further development allows the rechargeable electrical energy storage device to be charged with electrical power from the vehicle's on-board network during normal operation of a motor vehicle.

[0014] According to an alternative or additional development of the optical signaling device, a photovoltaic cell can be arranged on or in the housing in order to obtain electrical energy from ambient light for charging the rechargeable electrical energy storage device.

[0015] A photovoltaic cell allows energy harvesting, so that the rechargeable electrical energy storage device can be charged even if there is no access to the vehicle electrical system on a vehicle component for attaching the optical signaling device.

[0016] According to a second aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a control device for a motor vehicle, which is designed to compare a measured value for a deceleration of a motor vehicle with a limit value and, upon reaching or exceeding the limit value, to output a control signal for switching off a vehicle's electrical system to a switch-off device. The control device is further designed to transmit, as a function of an output control signal for switching off a vehicle's electrical system, a radio-based activation signal for activating an optical signaling device according to the first aspect of the invention by means of an associated radio signal transmitter.

[0017] The control device can, for example, be comprised of a control unit for triggering restraint devices such as airbags and belt tensioners for a motor vehicle, which also has a control unit for the deactivation device. According to the invention, a corresponding control unit is simply expanded to include a radio signal transmitter. If a control signal is transmitted to a deactivation device, the activation signal for the optical signaling devices is also transmitted via the radio signal transmitter.

[0018] According to a further development, the control device can comprise an electrical energy storage device.

[0019] A buffer for storing electrical energy ensures reliable triggering of the shutdown device and reliable transmission of the activation signal for triggering an optical signaling device, even if a vehicle's electrical system has already failed or been shut down. Storage capacitors, for example, can be used as electrical energy storage.

[0020] According to a further aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a vehicle component for a motor vehicle, which comprises a receiving device for receiving an optical signaling device according to the first aspect of the invention. An optical signaling device can be fastened to or in the receiving device by means of a fastening means.

[0021] According to a further development of the vehicle component, the receiving device can have a number of electrical contacts with which an electrical connection can be established between a vehicle electrical system and an optical signaling device.

[0022] According to a further development of the vehicle component, the vehicle component can be a vehicle lamp having a housing body with a transparent cover plate. The receiving device is arranged on the transparent cover plate and extends at least partially into an interior of the housing body, so that the receiving device can at least partially encompass a housing of an optical signaling device.

[0023] By means of suitable dimensioning, it is thus possible to align a photovoltaic cell on or in the housing of an optical signaling device with a light source within the vehicle lamp in such a way that electrical energy can be harvested from a vehicle lamp to charge an electrical energy storage device of the optical signaling device. Short description of the drawing figures

[0024] Further features and details emerge from the following description, in which at least one exemplary embodiment is described in detail—possibly with reference to the drawing. Described and / or illustrated features constitute the subject matter, either individually or in any meaningful combination, possibly independently of the claims, and may, in particular, also be the subject of one or more separate applications. Identical, similar, and / or functionally identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals. Here, the following are shown: Fig. 1 shows a motor vehicle with a control device, a radio signal transmitter and optical signaling devices; Fig. 2 shows an optical signaling device. Description of the execution types

[0025] In the Fig. 1 shows a motor vehicle 1 with a warning system 4 according to the invention for emitting warning light signals. The motor vehicle 1 has a control device 3 which is designed to control a shutdown means 13 for switching off a starting voltage. The control device 3 can, for example, be comprised of an airbag control unit which, using an acceleration sensor, can determine critical deceleration values ​​as a result of a serious accident. If a serious accident is detected, restraint devices such as airbags and belt tensioners are then triggered by the control device 3. In order to minimize the risk of fire after an accident, which can arise from a short circuit in the 12 V electrical system of the motor vehicle 1, in addition to the restraint devices, the shutdown means 13 is also controlled so that, for example, a vehicle battery is disconnected from the 12 V electrical system.

[0026] While the 12 V vehicle electrical system is shut down after a serious accident, the risk of fire is reduced, but the on-board voltage is no longer available for the vehicle's lighting. Therefore, the vehicle's hazard warning lights can no longer emit warning signals to the surroundings of the vehicle involved in the accident.

[0027] In order to counteract this disadvantage, the control device 3 is assigned a radio signal transmitter 31, with which a radio-based activation signal 30 can be transmitted within the motor vehicle 1 as soon as a control signal has been output to the shutdown means 13 for interrupting the starting voltage.

[0028] The control device 3 can be integrated together with the radio signal transmitter 31 in a structural unit of an airbag control unit.

[0029] The warning system 4 according to the invention further comprises a number of optical signaling devices 2 which are arranged or can be arranged fastened to a vehicle component in the exterior of the motor vehicle 1.

[0030] The Fig. 2 shows an exploded view of an optical signaling device 2, which according to the present example has a two-part housing 20 with a housing body 201 and a transparent housing cover 202. A printed circuit board 24 is mounted in the housing body 201 such that an upper side of the circuit board 24 is visible from the outside through the transparent housing cover 202. A light source 21 and a circuit device 23 are mounted on the upper side of the circuit board 24. The light source 24 is designed as a light-emitting diode. The circuit device 23 is in the form of an integrated circuit in a chip housing arranged on the upper side of the circuit board 24. The printed circuit board 24 provides a structure for an antenna 25 on its upper side.Conductor tracks for electrically connecting circuit device 23, light source 21, and antenna 25 can be arranged on the lower side of circuit board 24. An electrical energy storage device 22 is also mounted on the lower side of circuit board 24 and is electrically connected or wired to the other electronic components. Energy storage device 22 can be, for example, a battery or a rechargeable accumulator.

[0031] The optical signal devices 2 can be detachably attached to a vehicle component of the motor vehicle 1 via a fastening means. As shown in the Fig. 1, the optical signaling devices 2 can be arranged, for example, within a respective housing of a front light 11 and a rear light 12 of the motor vehicle 1.

[0032] The front and rear lights 11 and 12 each have a receiving device 111 and 121, respectively, which each provide a space for inserting an optical signaling device 2. The space can extend from a transparent cover plate into the interior of the housing of a respective vehicle light. An optical signaling device 2 can be inserted behind a continuous transparent cover plate of a vehicle light 11 or 12. Alternatively, the transparent cover plates can have an opening in the region of the receiving devices 111 and 121, respectively, so that the optical signaling devices 2 can be inserted through the openings into a respective vehicle light 11 or 12.

[0033] The fastening device can be designed as a spring or clamp device which is fastened in a receiving device 111 or 121 of a respective vehicle lamp 11 or 12 and which can engage in one or more grooves 26 of the housing body 201. Alternatively, on a Fig. 2, a magnet or a suction cup, for example, can be provided for detachable attachment on the underside of the housing body 201 (not shown). As an alternative to the vehicle lights 11 and 12, other vehicle components such as body attachments or the vehicle body itself can also serve as attachment locations for the optical signaling devices 2. Regarding a respective attachment, it is only necessary that a warning light signal emitted by the light source 21 is visible in the external environment of the motor vehicle 1.

[0034] If a rechargeable battery is used as the electrical energy storage device 22, a contact pair 27 can be provided on the housing body 201 for recharging, enabling electrical energy transfer into the interior of the housing 20. Alternatively, a coil for an inductive charging device could be arranged inside the housing of the optical signaling device 2. For a galvanic or inductive charging device, a corresponding counterpart must be provided on the respective vehicle component.

[0035] A photovoltaic cell 28 can also be arranged on the circuit board 24, so that the electrical energy for charging the energy storage device 22 can be obtained by energy harvesting. If the optical signaling devices 2 are arranged in the vehicle lights 11 and 12, the photovoltaic cell 28 can be oriented such that the electrical current for charging the energy storage device 22 can be obtained from the light from the vehicle lighting.

[0036] Although the subject matter has been illustrated and explained in detail by means of exemplary embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations may be derived therefrom by those skilled in the art. It is therefore clear that a multitude of possible variations exist. It is also clear that the exemplary embodiments mentioned are merely 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 motor vehicle 11 Front light 111 Reception facility 12 rear light 121 Recording facility 13 shutdown devices 2 optical signaling device 20 housings 201 Housing body 202 housing cover 21 Light source 22 energy storage units 23 Circuit device 24 circuit board 25 Antenna 26 fasteners 27 Contact 28 photovoltaic cells 3 Control unit 30 activation signal 31 radio signal transmitters 34 Control signal 4 Warning system

Claims

[1] Optical signaling device for emitting warning light signals in the environment of a motor vehicle (1), comprising a housing (20), a light source (21), an electrical energy store (22) and a circuit device (23), wherein the light source (21) is arranged visibly on the outside on or in the housing (20) and is electrically controllably connected to the electrical energy store (22) and the circuit device (23), wherein the circuit device (23) is designed to receive a radio-based activation signal (30) from a motor vehicle (1) and to control the light source (21) as a result of a received activation signal (30) in order to emit warning light signals in the environment of a motor vehicle (1), and wherein the housing (20) can be visibly fastened to a vehicle component (11, 12) in the exterior of a motor vehicle (1) by means of a fastening means (26). [2] Optical signaling device according to the preceding claim 1, wherein the fastening means (26) is designed to produce a non-destructively releasable fastening to the vehicle component (11, 12). [3] Optical signaling device according to one of the preceding claims 1 or 2, wherein the electrical energy storage device is a rechargeable electrical energy storage device (22). [4] Optical signaling device according to the preceding claim 3, wherein the housing (20) has a number of electrical contacts (27) with which an electrical connection can be established between the rechargeable electrical energy store (22) and a vehicle electrical system of a motor vehicle (1). [5] Optical signaling device according to one of the preceding claims 3 or 4, wherein a photovoltaic cell (28) is arranged on or in the housing (20) in order to obtain electrical energy from ambient light for charging the rechargeable electrical energy store (22). [6] Control device for a motor vehicle (1), which is designed to compare a measured value for a deceleration of a motor vehicle (1) with a limit value and, when the limit value is reached or exceeded, to output a control signal (34) for switching off a vehicle electrical system to a switching-off means (13), wherein the control device (3) is further designed to transmit a radio-based activation signal (30) for activating an optical signaling device (2) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 4 by means of an associated radio signal transmitter (31) as a function of an output control signal (34). [7] Control device for a motor vehicle (1) according to the preceding claim 6, comprising an electrical energy store. [8] Vehicle component for a motor vehicle, comprising a receiving device (111, 121) for receiving an optical signaling device (2) according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, wherein an optical signaling device (2) can be fastened to or in the receiving device (111, 121) by means of a fastening means (26). [9] Vehicle component according to the preceding claim 8, wherein the receiving device (111, 121) has a number of electrical contacts with which an electrical connection can be established between a vehicle electrical system and an optical signaling device (2). [10] Vehicle component according to one of the preceding claims 8 or 9, wherein the vehicle component is a vehicle lamp (11, 12) which has a housing body with a transparent cover plate, wherein the receiving device (111, 121) is arranged on the transparent cover plate and extends at least partially into an interior of the housing body, so that the receiving device (111, 121) can at least partially encompass a housing (20) of an optical signaling device (2).

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