Motor vehicle and method for operating a motor vehicle

Abstract

A motor vehicle, comprising an instrument panel (2) with a combination instrument (3) comprising a display (9) on which several separate items of information, including speed information, can be displayed as illuminated displays (a - h), and comprising a detection device (7) for detecting the viewing direction (B1, B2) of a person (4) driving the motor vehicle (1), via which a detection result comprising a viewing direction (B1, B2) and, based thereon, viewing direction information describing a viewing area (BB1, BB2), and time information associated with the viewing direction information, which describes how long the combination instrument (3) is outside or within the viewing area (BB1, BB2), can be determined, wherein at least some of the illuminated displays (b - h) can be changed in their brightness depending on the detection result,wherein within the instrument cluster (3) the separate illuminated displays (b - h) can be individually varied in their brightness depending on the detection result, with the exception of the illuminated display (a) indicating speed information.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle, comprising an instrument panel with an instrument cluster comprising a display on which a plurality of separate items of information, including speed information, can be displayed as illuminated displays, and comprising a detection device for detecting the line of sight of a person driving the motor vehicle, via which a detection result comprising a line of sight and, based thereon, line of sight information describing a field of vision and time information associated with the line of sight information, which describes how long the instrument cluster is outside or within the field of vision, can be determined, wherein at least some of the illuminated displays can be changed in terms of their brightness depending on the detection result.

[0002] Modern motor vehicles have a large number of light sources in the vehicle interior, particularly in the area of the instrument panel and adjacent to it in the center console, but also in the door or side panels. These light sources include, for example, displays on which information is shown or which are used to operate various functions, etc., or illuminated control elements such as the controls for the climate control system or any passenger display, ambient lighting or other illuminated switches or buttons in the interior, and the like. While the brightness of all these elements is not important during the day, they can be perceived as disturbing by the person driving the vehicle in the dark. The person can be dazzled by such light sources, and any scattered light from the sides can reduce the contrast for the person.

[0003] DE 10 2012 016 258 A1 discloses a motor vehicle of the type mentioned above in which such light sources have the option of automatically reducing or dimming their brightness. This reduces the strain on the person, allowing them to concentrate on the essential driving task and perceiving their surroundings, while at the same time providing the option of increasing the brightness again if necessary. For this purpose, a detection device is provided for detecting the line of sight of the person driving the motor vehicle, for example a camera or similar. This device detects a line of sight and, based on this line of sight information describing a field of sight, as well as time information associated with the line of sight information, which describes how long an element whose brightness may need to be reduced is outside this field of sight.If it is determined that the element has not been in the field of vision for a sufficiently long time, its brightness is automatically reduced or the element is switched off. This can be provided for various elements such as buttons, switches or displays, including the entire instrument cluster. The instrument cluster, which is located directly in front of the person driving the vehicle, shows the person several separate pieces of information, such as speed information, engine speed information, infotainment information, range information, fuel or charge level information, navigation information and similar. This instrument cluster is relatively bright due to the large number of individual illuminated displays and can therefore be perceived as distracting. This is why, in the known state of the art, if the driver does not look at it for an extended period of time, its brightness is reduced overall or switched off.When the driver looks at the instrument cluster again, the brightness is increased again so that the information can be perceived more clearly. Since switching on or increasing the brightness is associated with a certain time delay, since a certain amount of time must have passed to ensure the correct line of sight and to switch on or increase the brightness, during which the person looks at the instrument cluster again, this information, including essential information, is not perceptible to the person for a certain, brief period.

[0004] The invention is based on the problem of providing an improved motor vehicle.

[0005] To solve the problem, in a motor vehicle of the type mentioned at the outset, the invention provides that the separate illuminated displays within the instrument cluster can be individually changed in their brightness depending on the detection result, with the exception of the speed information.

[0006] In the motor vehicle according to the invention, the individual illuminated displays displayed on the instrument cluster can be individually adjusted in brightness. This means they can be dimmed or switched off if the instrument cluster is not viewed for an extended period of time, or their brightness can be increased or switched on again when the view is directed back to the instrument cluster. However, speed information, i.e., an indication of the actual speed, is always excluded from this. This information is essential for the driver, as they must always be informed of it and be able to obtain it immediately at any time in order to ensure that they do not drive faster than the maximum speed assigned to the road, for example, 50 km / h in built-up areas or 100 km / h on country roads, etc.According to the invention, the overall brightness of the instrument cluster can be significantly reduced if the person focuses on the area in front of the vehicle rather than the instrument cluster for a defined period of time. However, the speedometer remains displayed at all times. If the driver wishes to obtain information about this, they can do so immediately by looking at the instrument cluster, as they can immediately perceive the permanently displayed speed information. A very brief glance, which can even last only a fraction of a second, is sufficient to perceive this information.This short viewing time is usually not sufficient to trigger the switching on or dimming of all the illuminated displays that are not shown or are only shown with reduced brightness, since a somewhat longer time, for example 0.5 - 1 second, must have elapsed during which the view rests on the instrument cluster or certain areas of the instrument cluster.

[0007] For the person, this means, on the one hand, that the light exposure provided by the instrument cluster is significantly reduced when driving at night if the person is not looking at the instrument cluster. When they look at the instrument cluster again, the illuminated displays are dimmed or switched on again so that the full amount of information is once again available and can be perceived. On the other hand, the speed information is available to the person at all times, both when all illuminated displays are displayed at their regular operating brightness and, in particular, when all illuminated information except for the speed information is dimmed or switched off, since the speed information is always displayed as remanent information and is displayed with a correspondingly high brightness.

[0008] According to the invention, the individual illuminated displays, with the exception of the speed information, can be individually adjusted in brightness. This allows, with particular advantage, the user to configure the group of illuminated displays whose brightness can be reduced. The user can thus determine whether, except for the illuminated display for the speed information, they want all other illuminated displays and thus information in the instrument cluster to be dimmed or switched off when they are not looking at the instrument cluster, or only a portion of them. They can thus individually adjust the brightness change.For example, they can specify that, in addition to the permanently displayed speed information, engine speed information, charge level information, navigation information, and similar information should be displayed permanently and at the same brightness, while all other information shown in the instrument cluster is dimmed or switched off. In this case, the display in the instrument cluster is freely configurable, with the respective configuration being individually saved and assigned to a specific person, for example, based on a key carried by the person or another indication option for the person. The configuration can be made, for example, on a display on the instrument panel or the center console in a corresponding configuration menu.

[0009] The brightness of the illuminated displays can be reduced after a certain persistence period has elapsed following detection of a line of sight no longer directed at the instrument cluster. If it is detected that the person is no longer looking at the instrument cluster, the illuminated displays, the brightness of which can generally be adjusted, remain switched on for the defined persistence period at the given brightness and are only reduced in brightness or switched off completely after this persistence period has elapsed. This persistence period can correspond to the time determined via the time information, i.e., the time that must elapse to ensure that the person has actually directed their gaze away from the instrument cluster after a change in the direction of gaze away from the instrument cluster was first detected.If this time information is defined as 1-3 seconds, for example, the lighting devices will continue to illuminate at their original brightness for at least this time. Only when this time has elapsed and it is certain that the person has actually averted their gaze will the lighting devices be reduced.

[0010] It is preferable if the afterglow time is slightly longer than the time defined by the time information during which the instrument cluster is outside of the field of vision. Particularly if the time information defines a relatively short period of time, for example, only 1-1.5 seconds, it may still be expedient to allow the lighting devices to continue to glow for a slightly longer period, for example, 3-5 seconds. This is because it cannot be ruled out that the person will look at the instrument cluster again within a very short period of time, so that in such cases the brightness does not have to be constantly reduced and increased again.

[0011] As described, the gaze direction detection device determines whether or not the gaze is directed at the instrument cluster. This determines whether or not the instrument cluster is located in a defined spatial area around the actual gaze direction, which can be precisely detected, for example, by detecting the position of the eyes or pupils using a camera or similar. In each case, time information is assigned that describes how long the instrument cluster is outside or inside this area, since this detected time is ultimately the trigger that initiates the change in brightness in one direction or the other. In this context, a further development provides that the time information that defines a time from which the lighting devices are reduced in their brightness is longer than the time information that defines a time from which the reduced brightness is increased again.As described, the reduction in brightness serves to relieve the person's stress, i.e. to specifically reduce the ambient brightness in the vehicle. This reduction is associated with the person not looking at the instrument cluster, i.e. having no intention of perceiving the information displayed there. For this reason, the reduction can only be carried out after a somewhat longer period of time, which is determined by the time information, for example the 1 - 5 seconds already described. In the opposite case, if the reduced brightness is to be increased again and the illuminated images are to be displayed at full brightness, the person again specifically directs their gaze towards the instrument cluster, i.e. has the intention of immediately perceiving the information displayed there.For this reason, it is useful if the time information, or the time that defines how long the gaze must be directed at the instrument cluster for the brightness to be increased again, is correspondingly short, ensuring that the brightness is increased as immediately as possible when the person looks at the instrument cluster again. In this case, it is conceivable to set the time information to, for example, 0.5 - 1.0 seconds. This ensures that the person can immediately perceive the previously dimmed or deactivated information in the instrument cluster when needed.

[0012] It is conceivable that when the brightness is increased or switched on again, only certain illuminated displays in certain areas of the instrument cluster are increased in brightness or switched on again, namely in an area towards which the driver is looking. The detection device can detect not only the specific direction of view but also the corresponding area around the direction of view. If it turns out that the person is looking at the instrument cluster, the specific direction of view can be used to determine whether the person is looking, for example, at the right, middle or left area of the instrument cluster. This means that, depending on the direction of view, the individual illuminated displays provided in the respective area are dimmed up or switched on, while the others remain dimmed down or switched off. This design is particularly advantageous with correspondingly large instrument clusters.

[0013] A variant of the invention provides that the brightness of the illuminated representations can be changed from a first brightness value, which is present during unchanged operation, to a second brightness value at which they remain visible, and vice versa. Thus, only dimming occurs here, i.e., the illuminated representations are not completely switched off. For example, the brightness can be reduced by 50% or 75%, although these values are merely exemplary. However, a reduction of at least 50% is preferred, in particular a reduction of at least 75%.

[0014] Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the illuminated displays can be switched on and off to change their brightness. In this case, the brightness is reduced from 100% to 0%, meaning the illuminated displays are no longer perceptible in the reduced state.

[0015] The brightness can be continuously variable, meaning it can be dimmed and increased continuously, either from the first brightness level, i.e., 100%, to the second brightness level, for example, 50% or 25%, or even dimmed to 0%, i.e., switched off completely. The brightness can also be dimmed back up continuously in the same way, i.e., increased. This is useful in that changing the brightness does not involve "blinking" for the person, which would be the case if the brightness were changed almost abruptly.

[0016] Furthermore, it is conceivable that one or more additional control or display elements arranged on the instrument panel or on vehicle elements arranged thereon or adjacent thereto, which can be illuminated via lighting devices, are provided, the brightness of which can be adjusted in the same way as the illuminated displays. As described, further light sources are present on the instrument panel or in the vicinity thereof, such as the center console or adjacent side or door panels, i.e. control or display elements that can be illuminated via lighting devices. Their brightness can be adjusted in the same way as the illuminated displays of the instrument cluster.A change therefore occurs when it is determined that such a control or display element is out of the field of vision for a defined period of time. The light is dimmed or switched off, and the brightness of the corresponding lighting device is increased again when it is determined that the driver's gaze is directed towards this control or display element. These control or display elements can be another display on the instrument panel or center console, or buttons or switches on the instrument panel or center console, but also on the steering wheel, as well as buttons on the door panels, for example, power windows, or ambient lighting, etc.

[0017] Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle comprising an instrument panel with a combination instrument comprising a display on which several separate items of information, including speed information, are displayed as illuminated displays, and comprising a detection device for detecting the viewing direction of a person driving the motor vehicle, via which a detection result comprising a viewing direction and, based thereon, viewing direction information describing a viewing area and time information associated with the viewing direction information, which describes how long the combination instrument is outside or within the viewing area, is determined, wherein at least some of the illuminated displays are changed in their brightness depending on the detection result,whereby the brightness of the separate light displays within the instrument cluster is individually changed depending on the detection result, with the exception of the speed information.

[0018] All details, features and advantages described for the motor vehicle according to the invention apply equally to the method according to the invention, so that they can be used.

[0019] Further advantages and details of the present invention will become apparent from the examples described below and from the drawings. Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention in a partial view as a plan view, Fig. 2 a schematic diagram of the motor vehicle from Fig. 1 in a side view, Fig. 3 a schematic diagram of an instrument cluster with several illuminated displays shown on it in normal operation, Fig. 4 a schematic diagram of the instrument cluster Fig. 3 in brightness-reduced operation according to a first variant, and Fig. 5 a schematic diagram of the instrument cluster Fig. 3 in reduced brightness operation according to a second variant.

[0020] The Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention as a partial view in a plan view, while Fig. 2 the motor vehicle 1 from Fig. 1 in a side view. The motor vehicle 1 has an instrument panel 2, on which, in the example shown, a combination instrument 3 is arranged, which is positioned directly in front of a person 4 driving the motor vehicle, of whom only the head is shown as an example. Further operating and display elements are also provided on the instrument panel 2, an operating element 5, for example a button or a switch, and a display 6 are shown as an example. The combination instrument 3 can display a series of separate illuminated displays, each of which conveys specific information, as will be discussed below. These illuminated displays illuminate with a defined brightness during normal operation. The operating element 5 and the display element 6 also illuminate, i.e., they are assigned corresponding lighting devices so that they are clearly visible, particularly in the dark, and in the case of the control element 5 can be easily found, and in the case of the display element 6, information displayed thereon can be perceived.

[0021] Furthermore, a detection device 7 is provided, which serves to detect the line of sight of the person 4 and, based thereon, line of sight information describing a field of vision, as well as time information associated with the line of sight information, which describes how long one of these illuminated instruments, i.e., the instrument cluster 3 or the control element 5 or the display element 6, is within or outside the field of vision, thus providing a detection result containing the line of sight information and time information. Based on this detection result, the brightness of the respective illuminated displays or lighting devices can be reduced or increased by a control device 8, which varies the operation of the instrument cluster 3 and thus the display of the illuminated displays and the lighting devices of the control element 5 and the display element 6.For this purpose, the detection device 7 has, for example, a camera that detects the head of the person 4 and, using suitable evaluation software, determines the position of the eyes and thus the direction of gaze, just as a corresponding area around them is assigned to this determined direction of gaze. Based on the direction of gaze, the detection device determines which of the lighting instruments, i.e. either the instrument cluster 3 or the control element 5 or the display element 6, is in the field of view or not, i.e. the direction of gaze information. It also determines for how long they are in the field of view or not. Based on this information, the brightness of the units that are not in the field of view is then reduced, i.e. dimmed or switched off, or, when such a unit is back in the field of view, the brightness is increased or switched on.This means that the brightness of the instruments that are not being viewed by person 4 is specifically reduced or, after a previous reduction, increased again when the viewer looks at them again.

[0022] In Fig. 2 shows, by way of example, a first viewing direction B1 which is directed towards the instrument cluster 3. A viewing area BB1 is defined for this viewing direction B1, which is arranged in a quasi-conical manner around the viewing direction B1. In the example shown, the instrument cluster 3 would be in the viewing area BB1, so its illuminated displays would all be operating at full brightness. Also shown is a second viewing direction B2, which is directed towards the windshield and the area in front of the vehicle. A second viewing area BB2 is also shown for this direction, which is arranged in a conical manner around the viewing direction B2. It is clear that the instrument cluster 3 is not within this viewing area BB2, so that in principle the brightness of the illuminated displays, with the exception of the illuminated display indicating speed information, can be reduced.

[0023] Determining the time information ensures that, if the gaze direction information determines that, for example, the gaze is no longer directed at the instrument cluster, a sufficient period of time has passed during which the gaze was not resting on the instrument cluster, thus ensuring that the brightness of the illuminated displays in the instrument cluster can be reduced. Likewise, if the gaze direction information indicates that the gaze is again directed at the instrument cluster, this time information ensures that this gaze remains on it for a sufficient length of time so that the previously reduced brightness is increased again. The brightness is reduced and increased in the same way with respect to other units such as control element 5 or display element 6.

[0024] According to the invention, it is provided that all of the illuminated displays of the instrument cluster 3 can be individually changed in their brightness, with the exception of one illuminated display indicating speed information. Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of the instrument cluster 3 comprising a display 9, on which a total of eight separate illuminated displays a, b, c, d, e, f, g, and h are shown during normal operation. It is assumed that illuminated display a represents speed information, illuminated display c represents navigation information, and illuminated display e represents engine speed information. The other illuminated displays can contain any content, for example, information about the range or fuel level or charge level or infotainment, etc.

[0025] The brightness of each of the illuminated displays b - h can be individually adjusted, except for the illuminated display a, which displays speed information. If the detection device 7 determines that the person 4 is no longer looking at the instrument cluster 3, which was determined and verified via the viewing direction information and the time information, then after any afterglow time has elapsed, the brightness of all illuminated displays b - h is reduced or they are switched off, as indicated by the dashed representation of the illuminated displays b - h. The exception to this is the illuminated display a, which remains unchanged and displayed at the same brightness.Since the illuminated display a represents speed information, this information, which is essential for the person, remains permanently displayed and can therefore be perceived again by the person within a fraction of a second when looking at the instrument cluster 3. If the person has previously viewed the area in front of the vehicle while all illuminated displays b - h have been dimmed or switched off, they can therefore glance at the instrument cluster 3 with a very brief glance and immediately perceive the speed information according to the illuminated display a and immediately direct their gaze back to the area in front of the vehicle. This short glance duration is not sufficient to trigger the brightening again, i.e. the time information for a renewed brightening is not met, even if the gaze direction information indicated a glance at the instrument cluster.Only when the person looks at the instrument cluster for a little longer, for example, for 0.5 to 1 second, is the brightness increased again. It is also conceivable to increase the brightness only in the area specifically viewed by the person, which can be determined by detecting the actual direction of gaze. This makes it possible to detect whether the driver is looking at the right, middle, or left area of the instrument cluster 3, so that only the illuminated displays present there are increased again.

[0026] As described, with the exception of illuminated display a, all illuminated displays b - h can be individually adjusted in brightness. This offers the possibility for the person 4 to individually configure the instrument cluster 3 insofar as the person can specify which illuminated displays b - h should have their brightness reduced and which should not. Thus, in addition to illuminated display a, the person can define one or more further illuminated displays b - h whose brightness should not be reduced if the person looks away from the instrument cluster 3 for long enough. Fig. Figure 5 shows an example of this. The light representations a - h are shown again, where Fig. 5 shows the instrument cluster in the state in which the brightness reduction is present. It is evident that in this embodiment, the illuminated displays c and e, i.e. navigation information and speed information, have been defined by person 4. No brightness reduction should occur for them, which is why they are shown in Fig. 5 are shown as solid lines. However, the illuminated displays b, e, f, g, and h have not been selected and are therefore dimmed or switched off. Therefore, in this case, only the illuminated displays a, c, and g illuminate in the instrument cluster. The dimming occurs when the view returns to the instrument cluster 3.

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle, comprising an instrument panel (2) with a combination instrument (3) comprising a display (9) on which several separate items of information, including speed information, can be displayed as illuminated displays (a - h), and comprising a detection device (7) for detecting the viewing direction (B1, B2) of a person (4) driving the motor vehicle (1), via which a detection result comprising a viewing direction (B1, B2) and, based thereon, viewing direction information describing a viewing area (BB1, BB2), and time information associated with the viewing direction information, which describes how long the combination instrument (3) is outside or within the viewing area (BB1, BB2), can be determined, wherein at least some of the illuminated displays (b - h) can be changed in their brightness depending on the detection result, characterized bythat within the instrument cluster (3) the separate illuminated displays (b - h) can be individually changed in their brightness depending on the detection result, with the exception of the illuminated display (a) indicating speed information. [2] Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized by that the group of light displays (b - h) whose brightness can be reduced is user-configurable. [3] Motor vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the brightness of the illuminated displays (b - h) can be reduced after an afterglow time has elapsed after detection of a line of sight no longer directed towards the instrument cluster (3). [4] Motor vehicle according to claim 3, characterized by that the afterglow time is longer than the time defined by the time information within which the instrument cluster (3) is outside the field of vision (BB1, BB2). [5] Motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the time information which defines a time from which the lighting devices (b - h) are reduced in their brightness is longer than the time information which defines a time from which the reduced brightness is increased again. [6] Motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the brightness of the luminous displays (b - h) can be changed from a first brightness value given in unchanged operation to a second brightness value at which they are still visible, and vice versa. [7] Motor vehicle according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the illuminated displays (b - h) can be switched on and off to change their brightness. [8] Motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the brightness can be continuously adjusted. [9] Motor vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat in addition one or more operating or display elements (5, 6) arranged on the instrument panel (2) or on vehicle elements arranged thereon or adjacent thereto, which can be illuminated by means of lighting devices and whose brightness can be changed in the same way as the illuminated displays, are provided. [10] A method for operating a motor vehicle comprising an instrument panel (2) with a combination instrument (3) comprising a display (9) on which several separate items of information, including speed information, are displayed as illuminated displays (a - h), and comprising a detection device (7) for detecting the viewing direction (B1, B2) of a person (4) driving the motor vehicle (1), via which a detection result comprising a viewing direction (B1, B2) and, based thereon, viewing direction information describing a viewing area (BB1, BB2), and time information associated with the viewing direction information, which describes how long the combination instrument (3) is outside or within the viewing area (BB1, BB2), is determined, wherein at least some of the illuminated displays (b - h) are changed in their brightness depending on the detection result, characterized bythat within the instrument cluster (3) the separate illuminated displays (b - h) are individually changed in their brightness depending on the detection result, with the exception of the illuminated display (a) representing speed information.

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