Motor vehicle and method for reducing dry eyes in a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle (10) and a method for reducing dry eyes in a motor vehicle (10). The method comprises the following steps: capturing images of the eyes by a sensor device (12) of the motor vehicle (10); determining from the images whether there are signs of dry eyes; and adjusting one or more light parameters of at least one light source (16, 18, 20) of the motor vehicle (10) to reduce dry eyes if such signs are present.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for reducing dry eyes in a motor vehicle, and to a motor vehicle designed to carry out the method.

[0002] Dry eyes can occur in a motor vehicle due to climatic conditions or lighting. This is often bothersome and can distract a driver from the driving task.

[0003] US Patent 2023 / 0092611 A1 discloses systems and methods for vehicle air and humidity regulation based on tear film monitoring. A vehicle system includes a camera configured to capture one or more images of a vehicle occupant. A logic device is configured to detect tear film disruption in the vehicle occupant based on one or more images captured by the camera. An air system module is configured to identify an air system setting adjustment based on the tear film disruption detected by the logic device. A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system is configured to adjust the vehicle's air system setting based on the air system setting adjustment.

[0004] From DE 10 2022 121 612 A1, a method for adjusting environmental conditions in the interior of a vehicle is known. Input data is acquired to effect the adjustment of environmental conditions in at least one zone of the interior of a vehicle in which at least one passenger is located. A time period is defined during which the environmental conditions are to be adjusted, with a start time and an end time. At least one vehicle function is then controlled to adjust the environmental conditions from the start time in such a way as to support a reduction in the activity level of a passenger, and at least one vehicle function is controlled to adjust the environmental conditions until the end time in such a way as to support an increase in the activity level of the passenger.

[0005] Furthermore, a device for preventing dry eyes is known from JP 2004189082A.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to reduce dry eyes in a motor vehicle.

[0007] This problem is solved by the independent patent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent patent claims, in the following description, and in the figures.

[0008] One aspect of the invention relates to a method for reducing dry eyes in a motor vehicle. The method comprises the following steps: capturing images of the eyes by a sensor device of the motor vehicle, determining from the images whether there are signs of dry eyes, and if signs of dry eyes are present, adjusting one or more light parameters of at least one light source of the motor vehicle to reduce the dry eyes.

[0009] In other words, a sensor device, which may include one or more cameras, can record vehicle occupants and their eyes. A control unit can then analyze these eye images to determine, for example, whether there are signs of dry eyes. Redness or swelling of the eyes, frequent blinking, and / or eye rubbing can be indicators of dry eyes. This analysis can be performed using a trained artificial intelligence (AI) system that can evaluate the eye images. The AI ​​can be trained, for example, using images of individuals or patients with dry eyes.

[0010] If dry eyes are detected in a vehicle occupant, the lighting parameters of one or more of the vehicle's light sources can be adjusted to reduce the dryness. These light sources can include elements within the vehicle, such as a display screen, interior LED lights, headlights, and / or light sources specifically designed to reduce dry eyes, which can be focused directly on the occupant's eyes.

[0011] Adjusting light parameters can involve modifying or changing previously used light parameters and / or activating predefined light sources, particularly those with predefined light parameters, to reduce eye dryness. Light parameters can include, for example, the wavelength or color of the light, the light intensity or brightness, and / or the light pulse sequence or emission sequence.

[0012] The light parameters can be adjusted to provide eye-friendly lighting, or a specific light pattern can be emitted to stimulate the production of lipids in the eye. For example, irradiation with a suitable light pattern can stimulate the meibomian glands, thereby increasing lipid production and reducing dryness. The eyes can also be irradiated with appropriate wavelengths and light pulses to stimulate lipid production.

[0013] The light source used can be, in particular, interior lighting, and exterior lighting such as headlights can also be adjusted accordingly. If a driver is affected by dry eyes, the procedure can preferably be carried out while the vehicle is stationary, with the monitoring and adjustment of the light parameters tailored to the driver's seating position. Furthermore, manual control or manual activation of the light parameter adjustment to reduce dry eyes can be provided.

[0014] The invention offers the advantage of providing additional benefits from light sources in a motor vehicle, thereby increasing comfort, particularly from a health perspective, for vehicle occupants. Overall, this can reduce or prevent the occurrence of dry eyes in a motor vehicle.

[0015] The invention also includes embodiments that offer additional advantages.

[0016] One embodiment provides that signs of dry eyes include redness and / or swelling of the eyelids, scaling of the eyelid margins, and / or sticking of the eyelashes. Furthermore, frequent blinking and / or eye rubbing can be identified as signs of dry eyes in the eye photographs.

[0017] Another embodiment provides that a wavelength, light intensity, and / or a light pulse sequence are set as light parameters for at least one light source. That is, a color of the light or a brightness can be set as a light parameter. Alternatively or additionally, the duration of light pulses can also be set. For example, predefined light pulse sequences can be emitted, with each light pulse having its own light intensity and wavelength. In particular, wavelengths between 580 nm and 1,200 nm and a light pulse sequence of, for example, eight light pulses can be used to stimulate lipid production.

[0018] Another embodiment provides that at least one light parameter of the light source is adjusted to stimulate the meibomian glands. The meibomian glands, also known as tarsal glands, are sebaceous glands in the eyelids that produce a lipid which mixes with the tear fluid from the lacrimal glands, slowing down the evaporation of the tear fluid. Stimulating these meibomian glands can therefore prevent excessively rapid dehydration and thus dry eye.

[0019] Another embodiment provides that, if signs of dry eyes are present, a query is additionally performed by the vehicle's voice assistant. The voice assistant can, for example, ask a vehicle occupant whether they are experiencing dry eyes and / or whether the light parameters should be adjusted to reduce dry eyes. Based on the answer, it can then be confirmed that dry eyes are present, thus initiating the adjustment of the light parameters to reduce dry eyes.

[0020] Another embodiment provides for a light source in the vehicle, the light of which is focused on the eyes of an occupant suffering from dry eyes. In particular, it can be provided that a light source specifically designed to reduce dry eyes, hereinafter referred to as the eye light source, is provided. The light from the eye light source can be focused on the eyes or a specific area of ​​the eyes. This can achieve improved stimulation of lipid production. For example, such a light source with focused light can be provided for each vehicle occupant and / or the focus of the light source can be adjusted according to the occupant experiencing dry eyes. This embodiment offers the advantage of improved stimulation of the eye glands.

[0021] Another design option involves adjusting the light sources closest to the occupant experiencing dry eyes to reduce eye strain. In other words, existing light sources in the vehicle, such as a display screen or LEDs, can be used to reduce eye strain. Specifically, the light sources can be adjusted based on the occupant experiencing dry eyes. This means that the light sources located near the occupant with dry eyes can be used.It may also be provided that light sources, which are positioned laterally offset to the occupant with dry eyes, are briefly activated, for example as a light pulse or light stimulus, so that the vehicle occupant directs their gaze towards the light stimulus, whereby such a movement, which may include, for example, eye rotation, blinking or head movement, can also achieve a reduction in dry eyes.

[0022] Another embodiment involves using an additional exterior light from the vehicle as a light source, adjusted with light parameters to reduce eye dryness. This means, for example, that a headlight beam can be adjusted according to these parameters. Thus, the light illuminating a field of vision can be modified in such a way as to stimulate lipid production in the eye, thereby reducing eye dryness.

[0023] Another embodiment provides that the adjustment of the light source's parameters is automatically terminated based on monitoring of eye dryness by the sensor device. This means that the sensor device continues to monitor eye dryness even after the light parameters have been adjusted to reduce it. In particular, signs indicating that eye dryness has subsided can then be checked. For example, the formation of a tear film and / or a reduction in signs of eye dryness can be detected, which allows the adjustment of the light parameters for reducing eye dryness to be automatically terminated. This means, for example, that the original light settings can be restored and / or the light sources used to reduce eye dryness can be deactivated.

[0024] Another aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising a sensor device, a control device, and at least one light source, wherein the sensor device is configured to capture images of the eyes, the control device is configured to determine from the images whether there are signs of dry eyes, and, if such signs are present, to control the at least one light source to adjust one or more light parameters to reduce dry eyes. In other words, the motor vehicle can be configured to perform a method according to the preceding aspect. The motor vehicle according to the invention is preferably configured as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car or truck, or as a bus or motorcycle. This offers the same advantages and possibilities for variation as the method.

[0025] For use cases or application situations that may arise during the procedure and are not explicitly described here, it may be provided that, according to the procedure, an error message and / or a request for user feedback is issued and / or a default setting and / or a predetermined initial state is set.

[0026] The invention also includes the control unit for the motor vehicle. The control unit can comprise a data processing device or a processor unit (processor circuit) configured to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. For this purpose, the processor unit can comprise at least one microprocessor and / or at least one microcontroller and / or at least one FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and / or at least one DSP (Digital Signal Processor). In particular, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), or an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) can be used as the microprocessor. Furthermore, the processor unit can comprise program code configured to carry out the embodiment of the method according to the invention when executed by the processor unit.The program code can be stored in a data memory of the processor device. The processor device can be based, for example, on at least one circuit board and / or on at least one SoC (System on Chip).

[0027] The invention also includes further developments of the motor vehicle according to the invention, which have features as already described in connection with the further developments of the method according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the motor vehicle according to the invention are not described again here.

[0028] As a further solution, the invention also includes a computer-readable storage medium comprising program code which, when executed by a computer or a computer network, causes it to execute an embodiment of the method according to the invention. The storage medium can be provided at least partially as a non-volatile data storage medium (e.g., as flash memory and / or as an SSD - solid state drive) and / or at least partially as a volatile data storage medium (e.g., as RAM - random access memory). The storage medium can be located within the computer or computer network. However, the storage medium can also be operated, for example, as an app store server and / or cloud server on the internet. The computer or computer network can provide a processor circuit with, for example, at least one microprocessor.The program code can be provided as binary code, assembly code, source code in a programming language (e.g., C), or a program script (e.g., Python). Alternatively, the computer-readable storage medium can be implemented as a signal containing computer-readable data, such as a time-varying voltage signal or a radio signal.

[0029] The invention also includes combinations of the features of the described embodiments. The invention therefore also includes realizations that each exhibit a combination of the features of several of the described embodiments, provided that the embodiments have not been described as mutually exclusive.

[0030] The following are exemplary embodiments of the invention described. This is illustrated by: Fig. 1 a motor vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment; Fig. 2 a schematic process diagram according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0031] The exemplary embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In these exemplary embodiments, the described components each represent individual features of the invention, which can be considered independently of one another and each further develops the invention independently. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to include combinations of features of the embodiments other than those shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0032] In the figures, identical reference symbols denote functionally equivalent elements.

[0033] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a motor vehicle 10 according to an exemplary embodiment. The motor vehicle 10 can have a sensor device 12, a control device 14 and light sources 16, 18, 20.

[0034] The sensor device 12 may in particular include one or more cameras directed at the respective vehicle occupants, in particular at the eyes of vehicle occupants, in order to capture eye images.

[0035] The eye images captured by the sensor device 12 can be provided to the control device 14, which may be configured to determine from the eye images whether a vehicle occupant shows signs of dry eyes. This can be done, for example, by image analysis of one or more eye images. Signs of dry eyes may include, for example, redness and / or swelling of the eyelids, scaling of the eyelid margins, sticky eyelashes, frequent blinking, and / or the detection of eye rubbing.

[0036] If signs of dry eyes are detected in a vehicle occupant, the control unit can activate 14 light sources 12, 18, 20 of the vehicle to adjust predefined light parameters, whereby the light parameters are intended to reduce dry eyes.

[0037] For example, wavelength, light intensity, and / or a light pulse sequence can be set as light parameters. These light parameters can be selected to stimulate the meibomian glands of the eyes. For instance, a light pulse sequence with a predefined wavelength and light intensity can be emitted by light sources 16, 18, and 20, stimulating lipid production and thus reducing dry eye.

[0038] For example, a display screen 16 of an infotainment system can be set or adjusted as a light source according to the light parameters. Alternatively or additionally, a special light source, such as an eye light source 18, can be provided that can be focused on the eyes of the occupant with dry eyes in order to specifically illuminate or stimulate them. Furthermore, for example, an exterior light of the vehicle 10, in particular a headlight 20, can also be adjusted by the light parameters.

[0039] Furthermore, it may be provided that the light sources are adjusted according to seating position, which means that only the light sources closest to the occupant with diagnosed dry eyes are used.

[0040] In Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic process diagram for reducing dry eyes in a motor vehicle 10.

[0041] In step S10, eye images can be captured by a sensor device 12 of the motor vehicle 10. For example, a camera in the visual spectral range and / or infrared spectral range can be used as the sensor device 12 to capture eye images.

[0042] In step S12, the eye scans can be used to determine whether there are signs of dry eye. For example, symptoms of dry eye can be detected using recognition algorithms. Additionally, a voice assistant in the vehicle can ask whether dry eye is present and / or whether light parameters should be adjusted to reduce it.

[0043] If signs of dry eyes are detected, an adjustment of the light parameters of at least one light source 16, 18, 20 of the vehicle 10 can be carried out in step S14. For example, modern vehicles are equipped with various lighting systems inside and out, such as headlights or various LED strips. These can then be adjusted accordingly, in particular according to a predefined animation or color adjustment, whereby this pulsed light technology can stimulate glands that produce an oily film.

[0044] Furthermore, the process can be automatically terminated by means of sensor monitoring, in particular by means of sensor device 12, if it is detected that the eye dryness is reduced. This means that the light parameter settings can be reset to their original state. If no improvement occurs and signs of eye dryness persist, the inmate can, for example, be advised of further steps to reduce the eye dryness.

[0045] Overall, the examples show how a technical possibility for detecting dry eyes and automatically adjusting light parameters accordingly can be provided in a vehicle interior from a health perspective. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

[0000] US 2023 / 0092611 A1

[0003] DE 10 2022 121 612 A1

[0004] JP 2004189082A

[0005]

Claims

[1] Method for reducing dry eye in a motor vehicle (10), comprising the steps: - Capture of eye images by a sensor device (12) of the motor vehicle (10); - Determine from the eye images whether there are signs of dry eyes; - if there are signs of dry eyes, adjust one or more light parameters of at least one light source (16, 18, 20) of the motor vehicle (10) to reduce dry eyes. [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein signs of dry eye include redness and / or swelling of the eyelids, scaling of the eyelid margins and / or sticking of the eyelashes. [3] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a wavelength, a light intensity and / or a light pulse sequence is set as the light parameter of the at least one light source (16, 18, 20). [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one light parameter of the light source (16, 18, 20) is adjusted to stimulate meibomian glands. [5] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, in the presence of signs of dry eyes, an additional query is carried out by a voice assistant of the motor vehicle (10). [6] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a light source (18) is provided in the motor vehicle (10) the light of which is focused on the eyes of an occupant with dry eyes. [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, in order to reduce dry eyes, the light sources are adjusted to those closest to the occupant with dry eyes. [8] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein an additional external light (20) of the motor vehicle (10) is set as a light source with the light parameters to reduce dry eyes. [9] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment of the light parameters of the light source is automatically terminated based on monitoring of eye dryness by the sensor device (12). [10] Motor vehicle (10) comprising a sensor device (12), a control device (14) and at least one light source (16, 18, 20), wherein the sensor device (12) is configured to capture eye images, the control device (14) is configured to determine from the eye images whether there are signs of dry eyes and to control the at least one light source (16, 18, 20) to adjust one or more light parameters to reduce dry eyes if there are signs of dry eyes.

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