Method for simplified orthogonal alignment of a headlight control device to a driving axis of a motor vehicle and motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the simplified orthogonal alignment of a headlight control device (1) to a driving axis (2) of a motor vehicle (3), in which - a first measuring point (6) is determined on or in a front area (4) or a front space (5) of the motor vehicle (3), - a second measuring point (7) is determined on or in a front area (4) or a front-side space (5) of the motor vehicle (3), taking relevant parameters into account, in such a way that a straight line through the two measuring points (6, 7) runs at least substantially orthogonally to the driving axis (2), so that an at least sufficiently orthogonal alignment of the headlight control device (1) to the motor vehicle (3) and its driving axis (2) can be carried out at a later time exclusively via the two measuring points (6, 7).

Description

The present invention relates to a method for simplified orthogonal alignment of a headlight control device with respect to a travel axis of a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle having a front region and / or a front space with a first and second measurement point for aligning a headlight control device which is mounted thereon / therein by this method.DE 10 2013 019 022 A1 discloses a method for adjusting a headlight of a motor vehicle with respect to a rear axle of the motor vehicle with the aid of a first adjustment device having a horizontally running adjustment device alignment axis which together with a vertical axis of the first adjustment device spans a reference plane for calibrating at least one motor vehicle system. Furthermore, a second adjustment device is provided which is not mechanically connected to the first adjustment device and which comprises a light sensor, the alignment of which is fixed with respect to a horizontally extending light sensor alignment axis of the second adjustment device and which is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner about a vertical axis of the second adjustment device. The method comprises the following steps: determining the position and alignment of the alignment device axis, positioning the second alignment device between the vehicle and the first alignment device, determining the position and alignment of the light sensor axis, measuring the light distribution of the headlight with the light sensor and adjusting the headlight depending on the measured light distribution.DE 10 2016 108 973 A1 discloses a method for determining a beam direction of motor vehicle headlights relative to a predefined axis. The test device is positioned in front of the headlight of the vehicle to be tested and rotated about a vertical axis in such a way that the laser beam intersects two points of a vehicle body which are situated on the left and right sides of the vehicle. The orientation of the vehicle is in this case related to the geometric travel axis which corresponds to the bisector of the toe angles of the rear axle wheels and, with optimum setting, corresponds to the axis of symmetry of the vehicle body. Tolerances in the chassis geometry and the body manufacture can, however, lead to deviations which are taken into account in the alignment of the testing device by including the difference between the geometric travel axis and the axis of symmetry of the vehicle body.DE 10 2007 005 084 A1 discloses a method for aligning a vehicle environment sensor or headlight on the vehicle by means of a device which comprises both a camera and an evaluation device. In the method, data for ascertaining a roadway plane and a travel axis of the vehicle during a drive-on through the camera and three measurement points on the vehicle are recorded. Subsequently, an adjustment aid device is placed in front of the vehicle environment sensor or the headlights and aligned with respect to the travel axis and the roadway plane. The alignment of the sensor or headlight with respect to the adjustment auxiliary device is determined and corrected accordingly in the event of a misalignment. Artificially applied features, such as adapters, serve as measurement points for this purpose. The adjustment auxiliary device itself is designed as a reflection plate for a distance sensor emitting radar signal radiation, wherein the position of the reflection plate and a reflection direction are defined by means of the three measurement points arranged on the reflection plate.DE 199 41 034 A1 discloses an adjusting device having an adjusting device for a headlight or for a distance sensor of a vehicle and having an optical adjusting device for aligning the adjusting device relative to the vehicle. The adjusting device has an evaluation device and is designed to determine the direction of the travel axis during the approach of the vehicle. In addition, means are provided for aligning the adjusting device relative to the direction of the travel axis. The direction of the travel axis is in turn determined by detecting a reference feature arrangement fixed to the test space and having three reference features, wherein the movement path of a vehicle-fixed body feature is detected at the same time. This is intended to allow the adjustment device to be aligned with the travel axis of the vehicle with as little effort as possible.In general, in high-resolution headlight systems, perfect lateral light adjustment is required in order to be able to present new projection functions, for example. Such a perfect lateral light adjustment parallel to the travel axis can, however, until now only be achieved with the expense of considerable effort, for example during the production of the motor vehicle, since a large number of influencing factors, such as a throttle angle, a travel axis angle and a body twist angle, as well as component and assembly tolerances, for example, at least make difficult a target-safe orthogonal alignment of a light collection box (test device) with respect to the travel axis.Such a high test effort can thus be applied exclusively at the manufacturer, but not in downstream workshops which have to carry out a renewed setting, for example, when replacing a headlight.The present invention is therefore concerned with the problem of specifying a method for simplified orthogonal alignment of a headlight control device with respect to a travel axis of a motor vehicle, which method, in particular even downstream workshops, enables a comparatively simple and nevertheless relevant parameter-taking into account orthogonal alignment of a headlight control device with respect to a travel axis of a motor vehicle.This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of independent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.The present invention is based on the general idea of defining two measurement points for the first time already during the production of the motor vehicle in or on a front region or a front space of a motor vehicle, which measurement points make possible an at least sufficiently, preferably exact, orthogonal alignment of a headlight control device relative to a travel axis of a motor vehicle and thus a comparatively simple and nevertheless extremely exact checking of headlights of the motor vehicle, as is required, for example, in the case of a replacement of such a headlight after an accident by a workshop. "Sufficiently precise" in this context is intended to mean that the tolerances which occur are tolerable. In the method according to the invention for simplified orthogonal alignment of the headlight control device with respect to the travel axis of the motor vehicle, a first measurement point and a second measurement point are defined on or in a front region or a front space of the motor vehicle, taking into account relevant parameters, in such a way that a straight line through the two measurement points runs at least substantially orthogonally with respect to the travel axis. The first measurement point can be, for example, a corner of a hood or a screw point on the body, a fender tips or generally a special point on a body part. The geometric driving axis is the bisector of the rear wheel total track, i.e. the sum of the two individual tracks. If the driving axis deviates from an axis of symmetry of the motor vehicle, this results in a driving axis angle and the motor vehicle receives a Dackel running. As a result, it is possible for the first time to perform an at least sufficiently orthogonal alignment of the headlight control device with respect to the motor vehicle and its travel axis at a (random) later point in time exclusively via the two measurement points. The two measurement points are attached on the body side in such a way that they remain there in a reliable manner even in the long term. To determine the first and second measurement points, the motor vehicle can be aligned, in particular, by means of an adjustment device.By means of the two measurement points, the headlight can now also be aligned at least sufficiently exactly in a downstream operation, for example a car repair shop, in which, for example, a headlight of the motor vehicle has to be replaced in the event of an accident, since the headlight control device can use two exactly defined measurement points for alignment by means of the two measurement points, without further measurement devices, such as, for example, an adjustment device, still being required for this purpose. A clearly predefined relative position between the headlight control device and the drive axle of the motor vehicle can be enforced via the two measurement points. As a result, it is also possible in less sophisticated workplaces to optimally align newly installed headlights by means of a simple headlight control device, since the headlight control device can in turn be aligned easily and nevertheless extremely precisely with respect to the motor vehicle and its travel axis.If the motor vehicle has an accident in which damage to the vehicle body occurs, the two measurement points must of course be determined again by means of the method according to the invention. In these cases, however, the motor vehicle usually has to be remeasured and adjusted anyway in particular with an axle measurement device or an axle centering system. In the case of a simple replacement of the headlight, on the other hand, the simple alignment of the headlight control device enables optimum setting of the newly installed headlight without great further effort.In an advantageous development of the method according to the invention, relevant parameters which are taken into account in particular by the adjusting device during orthogonal alignment of the headlight control device with respect to the motor vehicle and its travel axis, for example a throttle angle, a travel axis angle, a body twist angle and / or component and assembly tolerances, are used. A Dackel angle refers to the angle at which the travel axis deviates from a vehicle center line, i.e., a vehicle symmetry line. As mentioned at the beginning, the driving axle angle is understood to mean the angle between the longitudinal center plane of the vehicle and the bisector of the total toe angle of the rear axle. This is positive if the bisector is directed to the front left and is basically obtained from the track, lateral offset and inclination of the rear axle. The driving axle angle influences, for example, the steering wheel center position. A body twist angle, i.e. a twist of the body, as well as component and assembly tolerances can also be determined extremely exactly by means of the adjustment device, in particular in the manufacturer's plant. By using all these or even further parameters, an extremely exact orthogonal alignment of the headlight control device with respect to the travel axis of the motor vehicle can be achieved, whereby in turn an extremely exact setting of headlights is possible.In a further advantageous embodiment of the method according to the invention, a light collecting box is used as headlight control device. A light collection box measures light, for example light emitted by a motor vehicle headlight, which enters via a specially tuned Fresnel lens. The entering light is imaged on a projection surface in a focal plane of the lens and from there recorded with one or more cameras. By means of appropriate software, it is then possible to determine test parameters, such as, for example, the position of a light-dark boundary and of a break point. Such light collecting boxes are nowadays common components of test and repair shop locations.In a particularly preferred embodiment, the motor vehicle is oriented by means of an adjustment device, in particular by means of an axle measurement device or an axle centring system. By means of an axle surveying device or an axle centring system, for example, a camber, a run-on, a track, etc. can be determined comparatively easily. Such axle surveying devices or axle centering systems are sufficiently known, but comparatively complicated and thus expensive both in terms of procurement and also in maintenance. For this reason, downstream workplaces, such as test or repair workplaces, do not usually have such adjusting devices, as a result of which the method according to the invention is of particular advantage especially for such downstream workplaces, since it makes possible for the first time an extremely exact and at the same time comparatively simple orthogonal alignment of a headlight control device with respect to the travel axis of a motor vehicle.In a further advantageous embodiment, the first measurement point is applied as a grain or as a color marking or a special point of a blank is used. The first measurement point can preferably already be picked up on the bodyshell side, as a result of which it is possible to dispense with fitting the first measurement point. Alternatively, it is of course also conceivable to simply shape or mark the first measurement point.The second measuring point is expediently applied as a grain, as a color marking or as a reflector. The two measurement points serve as a clear orientation and cause a clear relative position between the headlight control device and the travel axis of the motor vehicle. By configuring the first and / or second measurement point in particular as a color marking, it(s) can / can be applied not only in a simple manner from a manufacturing standpoint, but also quickly and cost-effectively. Analogously, corresponding adhesive markings can of course also be provided. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the first and / or second measurement point is designed or attached as a reflector, whereby a correct position of the headlight control device can be controlled by a simple reflection of a light beam, for example a laser beam, during a later alignment of the headlight control device relative to the motor vehicle.The present invention is further based on the general idea of specifying a motor vehicle having a front region and / or a front-side space, in particular an engine compartment, on or in which a first and a second measurement point determined by the method according to one of the preceding paragraphs are provided for aligning a headlight control device. A motor vehicle of this type is thus already provided with measurement points of this type during production, as a result of which all downstream workshops can carry out a comparatively simple orthogonal alignment of the headlight control device with respect to the travel axis of the motor vehicle without having to reserve for this purpose, for example, an expensive axle surveying device or an axle centring system. A motor vehicle having measurement points arranged in a front region or a front space according to the method according to the invention thus reduces maintenance and repair costs to a considerable extent.Expediently, the first and / or the second measurement point are / is embodied as grain, as color marking or as reflector. Both embodiments make possible both simple and rapid and cost-effective application. The first measurement point can be tapped off from the bodyshell already, as a result of which it is possible to dispense with fitting the first measurement point.Further important features and advantages of the invention are evident from the dependent claims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures with reference to the drawings.It is understood that the features mentioned above and those still to be explained below can be connected not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the invention. The above-mentioned components of a superordinate unit, such as a device, a device or an arrangement, which are designated separately, can form separate components or components of this unit or can be integral regions or sections of this unit, even if this is illustrated differently in the drawings.Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally the same components.They show, in each case schematically, FIG. 1 shows individual method steps of a method according to the invention for simplified orthogonal alignment of a headlight control device with respect to a travel axis of a motor vehicle, FIG. 2 shows a front view of a motor vehicle according to the invention without a front hood with two measurement points provided according to the invention, FIG. 3 shows a top view of a motor vehicle according to the invention, likewise without a front hood, having two measurement points according to the invention and a headlight control device oriented orthogonally to the vehicle axis.According to FIG. 1, a method according to the invention for simplified orthogonal alignment of a headlight control device 1 (compare FIG. 3 ) with a travel axis 2 of a motor vehicle 3, which corresponds to the vehicle symmetry axis according to FIG. 3, has a total of three method steps A to C.In a method step A, a first measurement point 6 is defined on or in a front region 4 or a front-side space 5 of the motor vehicle 3, while in method step B, a second measurement point 7 is defined on or in a front region 4 or a front-side space 5 of the motor vehicle 3 taking relevant parameters into account, in such a way that a straight line through the two measurement points 6, 7 runs at least substantially orthogonally to the travel axis 2. As a result, in a method step C that follows at a later point in time, an at least sufficiently orthogonal alignment of the headlight control device 1 with respect to the motor vehicle 3 and its travel axis 2 can take place at a later point in time exclusively via the two measurement points 6, 7. Before the first method step A, the motor vehicle 3 can be aligned by means of an adjustment device. However, a further and also expensive adjusting device in maintenance or repair work downstream in workshops is no longer required by the method according to the invention.For this purpose, the headlight control device 1 has, for example, corresponding laser devices 9 which emit laser beams 10 to the two measurement points 6, 7 and which enable an exact orthogonal alignment of the headlight control device 1 with respect to the travel axis 2 over the length and angle of the overall two laser beams 10.As relevant parameter, which is used in the orthogonal orientation of the headlight control device 1 relative to the motor vehicle 3, in particular by means of the adjustment device, it is possible to use, for example, a throttle angle, a travel axis angle, a body twist angle, i.e. for example a twist angle, and / or individual component tolerances and assembly tolerances. By taking such parameters into account, an extremely exact alignment of the headlight control device 1 and an extremely exact attachment of the two measurement points 6, 7 can be achieved. The headlight control device 1 can have a light collection box 8 in some areas (compare FIG. 3 ).As the first or second measuring point 6, 7, for example, a grain, a color marking or a reflector can be applied, wherein naturally other markings in the form of labels or the like can also be provided. It is also conceivable that the first measurement point is a special point on a blank.With the method according to the invention and the two measurement points 6, 7, it is possible for the first time to enable an extremely exact orthogonal alignment of the headlight control device 1 relative to the travel axis 2 of the motor vehicle 3 even in downstream workplaces in which usually complicated adjustment devices, such as an axle measurement device or an axle centering system, are not present. This also allows extremely exact alignment of newly installed headlights, which for example had to be replaced due to an accident, and a clearly increased repair quality to be achieved.The present invention is intended to protect not only the method according to the invention but also the motor vehicle 3 according to the invention, as is illustrated in accordance with FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein the motor vehicle 3 has a front region 4 and / or a front space 5, on or in which a first and a second measurement point 6, 7 determined by the method according to one of the preceding claims are provided for aligning a headlight control device 1. Such a motor vehicle 3 according to the invention significantly reduces later repair and maintenance costs.By means of the two measurement points 6, 7 defined by means of the method according to the invention, the headlight can now be exactly aligned without any problem even in a downstream operation, for example a car repair shop, in which, for example, a headlight of the motor vehicle 3 has to be replaced in the event of an accident, since the headlight control device 1 can use two exactly defined measurement points 6, 7 for alignment by means of the two measurement points 6, 7, without further measurement devices, such as the aforementioned alignment device, for example, being required for this purpose.

Claims

Method for simplified orthogonal alignment of a headlight control device (1) with respect to a travel axis (2) of a motor vehicle (3), in which - a first measurement point (6) is defined on or in a front region (4) or a front-side space (5) of the motor vehicle (3), - a second measurement point (7) is defined on or in a front region (4) or a front-side space (5) of the motor vehicle (3) taking relevant parameters into account in such a way that a straight line through the two measurement points (6, 7) runs at least substantially orthogonally with respect to the travel axis (2), - an at least sufficiently orthogonal alignment of the headlight control device (1) with respect to the motor vehicle (3) and its travel axis (2) can take place at a later point in time exclusively via the two measurement points (6, 7).Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that a Dackel angle, a travel axis angle, a body twist angle and / or component and assembly tolerances are used as relevant parameters.Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it has a light collecting box (8) as headlight control device (1).Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the motor vehicle (3) is oriented by means of an adjusting device, in particular by means of an axle surveying device or an axle centring system.Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first measuring point (6) is applied as a grain or as a colour marking or a special point of a blank is used.Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second measuring point (7) is applied as a grain, as a colour marking or as a reflector.Motor vehicle (3) having a front region (4) and / or a front space (5), on or in which a first and a second measurement point (6, 7) determined by the method according to one of the preceding claims are provided for aligning a headlight control device (1).Motor vehicle according to Claim 7, characterized in that the first measurement point (6) is designed as grain or as colour marking or as a special point of a blank component.Motor vehicle according to Claim 8, characterized in that the second measurement point (7) is designed as grain, as colour marking or as reflector.

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