Method for operating a motor vehicle, motor vehicle and computer program product

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle (2) which has a body (4), a chassis (6) and a data processing device (8), wherein the chassis (6) is controllable and is controlled by the data processing device (8) in at least one operating mode of the motor vehicle (2), wherein the chassis (6) is adjustable and is adjusted by the control in the at least one operating mode and wherein the chassis (6) is adjusted such that the body (4) is moved from a first orientation to a second orientation relative to the ground (14) and that the body (4) is subsequently held in this second orientation.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle comprising a body, a chassis, and a data processing unit. Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle and a computer program product.

[0002] Current generation passenger cars are equipped with, among other things, controllable and therefore adjustable suspension systems. Some of these systems are designed to allow adjustments or changes to the vehicle's ride height, for example, to lower the vehicle at higher speeds.

[0003] From “Naughton, Nora (20.02.2024): This Chinese EV can shake off snow like a puppy, [online] https: / / www.businessinsider.com / nio-et9-ev-china-skyrideintelligent-chassis-snow-video-2024-2 [accessed on 06.12.2024]” a passenger car is also known in which a controllable and thus adjustable chassis is used to set the body of the passenger car into a shaking or rocking motion.

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an advantageous method for operating a motor vehicle, in which, in particular, a controllable and thereby adjustable chassis is advantageously utilized. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an advantageously designed motor vehicle and an advantageous computer program product.

[0005] This problem is solved by a method with the features of claim 1, by a motor vehicle with the features of claim 9, and by a computer program product with the features of claim 10. The advantages and preferred embodiments cited with regard to the method are mutatis mutandis transferable to the devices, i.e., the computer program product on the one hand and the motor vehicle on the other, and vice versa. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0006] The method according to the invention is designed for an embodiment in or by a motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0007] Conversely, a motor vehicle according to the invention is configured to carry out the method according to the invention in at least one operating mode. The motor vehicle, i.e., the motor vehicle according to the invention, is preferably designed as a passenger car and comprises a body, a chassis, and a data processing unit.

[0008] The chassis, in turn, is designed as a controllable and therefore adjustable system. Depending on the application, it is also designed as a so-called air suspension or a chassis with so-called air springs. It therefore features, for example, controllable pneumatic or hydropneumatic shock absorbers or controllable pneumatic or hydropneumatic spring-damper units.

[0009] The data processing unit is further connected to the chassis via signal technology and is equipped to control the chassis, namely at least to control the chassis in at least one operating mode.

[0010] In the course of carrying out the method, i.e., the method according to the invention, the chassis is controlled by the data processing device in at least one operating mode of the motor vehicle, thereby adjusting the chassis. The chassis is adjusted in such a way that the body of the motor vehicle is moved from a first orientation to a second orientation relative to the ground, i.e., relative to the ground on which the motor vehicle is standing, and that the body is subsequently held in this second orientation for at least a certain period of time.

[0011] The idea of ​​temporarily reorienting the car body is based on the following considerations. With passenger cars, rainwater can accumulate on the body. Consequently, when a door or tailgate is opened, this rainwater can run into the interior or trunk. This is undesirable and should be prevented by removing the rainwater from the body before the door or tailgate is opened. To achieve this, the body is reoriented so that the rainwater is channeled away from the body in a specific manner. In particular, care is taken to ensure that the rainwater runs off towards the ground and thus no longer enters the interior or trunk.The trunk might run or, for example, hit a driver or passenger.

[0012] According to at least one embodiment, the chassis is adjusted in such a way that the body is brought into a second orientation, which corresponds at least substantially to a horizontal orientation relative to the Earth's gravitational field. In doing so, the body is conveniently moved from a first orientation that is not horizontal relative to the Earth's gravitational field, but instead tilted towards it. Such a first orientation is typically caused by a surface that has a slope or gradient.

[0013] By bringing the vehicle body into a horizontal orientation relative to the Earth's gravitational field, it is essentially brought into the orientation assumed during the vehicle's construction or design, ensuring that rainwater drains away as intended. This, for example, ensures that all existing water drains are flushed evenly, which typically also reduces corrosion. In particular, with a panoramic sunroof, for instance, rainwater can then drain away through all existing drainage channels.

[0014] In the previously described design variant, at least one operating mode is typically activated when the motor vehicle is deactivated or parked and when the data processing device determines, in particular based on sensor data from a sensor device of the motor vehicle, that the motor vehicle is standing on a surface that has an incline or a decline.

[0015] The preferred method is to return the body to its initial alignment when the vehicle is reactivated, for example when the engine is started.

[0016] According to an alternative design variant, the chassis is adjusted in such a way that the body is brought into a second orientation, in which the body is tilted or tilted to one side, either towards the driver's side or the passenger's side. In the first case, the vehicle is then conveniently lowered on the driver's side and / or raised on the passenger's side. In the second case, the vehicle is conveniently lowered on the passenger's side and / or raised on the driver's side.

[0017] In both cases, the body is then held in the second orientation, preferably for a predetermined period of time. Depending on the application, this period might be, for example, 5 seconds or 10 seconds or greater than or equal to that.

[0018] After the predetermined time period has elapsed, the chassis is preferably adjusted in such a way that the body is returned to its initial orientation or to a third orientation. According to one embodiment, the body is then tilted or tilted to one side, held in this tilted or tilted position for a period of time, specifically for the predetermined time period, and then returned to its initial orientation. According to another embodiment, the body is tilted or tilted to one side, held in this tilted or tilted position for a period of time, then tilted or tilted to the other side, held in this tilted or tilted position for a period of time, and finally returned to its initial orientation.

[0019] In modified versions, the body is not tilted or tipped to one side, but rather tilted towards the rear of the vehicle or towards the front.

[0020] According to one design, the body is then tilted or tilted towards the front or rear, held in this tilted or tilted position for a while, then tilted or tilted towards the rear or front, held in this tilted or tilted position for a while, and finally returned to its initial position.

[0021] In particular, in the previously described design variants where the body is inclined or tilted, at least one operating mode is preferably not activatable while driving and further preferably only activatable when the motor vehicle is parked.

[0022] It is also advantageous if at least one operating mode can be activated by means of a radio signal, particularly via a remote control, which is, for example, integrated into the vehicle key. This means that at least one operating mode is activated, for instance, when the vehicle doors and / or trunk are unlocked via radio signal.

[0023] According to another embodiment, at least one operating mode is automatically activated by the data processing unit when the data processing unit determines, particularly based on sensor data from a sensor device of the vehicle, that a driver is approaching the vehicle. This means that the vehicle, for example, detects the approach of the vehicle key and then activates at least one operating mode.

[0024] The previously described method according to the invention is thus designed for implementation in or by the vehicle according to the invention. Conversely, the vehicle according to the invention is configured for execution of the method according to the invention in at least one operating mode. For this purpose, it includes, among other things, the data processing device described above. The individual process steps of the method are then executed by means of the data processing device, wherein, preferably, an executable program is stored or installed in the data processing device, which automatically executes the method or the process steps of the method after being started.

[0025] A corresponding program can also be subsequently installed or stored using a computer program product according to the invention, provided that a suitable data processing device is already present in a motor vehicle. This computer program product is typically a file or a data carrier containing a file, wherein the file contains the executable program, i.e., in particular, suitable program code.

[0026] It should be noted once again that the advantages and preferred designs mentioned with regard to the procedure can also be applied analogously to the devices, i.e. the computer program product on the one hand and the motor vehicle on the other, and vice versa.

[0027] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the following description of preferred embodiments, and the schematic drawings. These show: Fig. 1. A motor vehicle in a side view; and Fig. 2 in a block diagram representation of the motor vehicle.

[0028] Corresponding parts are marked with the same reference symbols in all figures.

[0029] The following example describes and is presented in Fig. 1 as well as Fig. 2 The schematically represented motor vehicle 2 is designed as a passenger car and has a body 4, a chassis 6 and a data processing unit 8.

[0030] The chassis 6 is designed as a controllable and therefore adjustable chassis 6. It is also designed as a so-called air chassis or chassis with so-called air suspension and has a controllable hydropneumatic spring-damper unit 12 for each wheel 10 of the motor vehicle 2.

[0031] The data processing unit 8 is further connected to the chassis 6 via signal technology and is configured to control the chassis 6, namely to control the chassis 6 in at least one operating mode.

[0032] In at least one operating mode, the chassis 6 is controlled by the data processing unit 8, thereby adjusting the chassis 6. The chassis is adjusted in such a way that the body 4 of the vehicle 2 is moved from a first orientation to a second orientation relative to the surface 14, i.e., relative to the surface 14 on which the vehicle 2 stands, and that the body 4 is subsequently held in this second orientation for at least a certain period of time.

[0033] In the exemplary embodiment, the chassis 6 is further adjusted such that the body 4 is moved into a second orientation, which corresponds at least substantially to a horizontal orientation with respect to the Earth's gravitational field. In doing so, the body 4 is expediently moved from a first orientation that does not correspond to a horizontal orientation with respect to the Earth's gravitational field, but is instead tilted relative to it. Such a first orientation is typically caused by a surface 14 that has a slope or gradient.

[0034] Furthermore, in the embodiment described here, at least one operating mode is typically activated when the motor vehicle 2 is deactivated or parked and when, in addition, the data processing unit 8 determines, based on sensor data from a sensor unit 16 of the motor vehicle 2, that the motor vehicle 2 is standing on a surface 14 that has an incline or a decline.

[0035] After activation of at least one operating mode, the body 4 is returned to its initial orientation when the vehicle 2 is reactivated, for example when an engine of the vehicle 2 (not shown) is started. REFERENCE MARK LIST: 2 motor vehicles 4 Bodywork 6 Chassis 8 Data processing equipment 10 wheels 12 Spring-damper unit 14 Subsurface 16 Sensor device

Claims

Method for operating a motor vehicle (2) comprising a body (4), a chassis (6) and a data processing device (8), wherein: - the chassis (6) is controllable and is controlled by the data processing device (8) in at least one operating mode of the motor vehicle (2), - the chassis (6) is adjustable and is adjusted by control in at least one operating mode, and - the chassis (6) is adjusted such that the body (4) is moved from a first orientation to a second orientation relative to the ground (14), and that the body (4) is subsequently held in this second orientation. Method according to claim 1, wherein the body (4) is moved into a second orientation which corresponds to a horizontal orientation relative to the Earth's gravitational field. Method according to claim 1, wherein the body (4) is moved into a second orientation in which the body (4) is inclined towards a driver's side or a passenger's side of the motor vehicle (2). Method according to claim 1, wherein the body (4) is moved into a second orientation in which the body (4) is inclined towards a rear or a front of the motor vehicle (2). Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one operating mode can only be activated in a stationary state of the motor vehicle (2). Method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one operating mode can be activated by means of a radio signal. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the at least one operating mode is automatically activated by the data processing device (8) when the data processing device (8) detects that a driver is approaching the motor vehicle (2). Method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the chassis (6) is adjusted such that the body (4) is moved from the first orientation to the second orientation relative to the ground (14), is subsequently held in the second orientation for a predetermined period of time and is finally moved back to the first orientation. Motor vehicle (2) equipped for carrying out a method according to one of the preceding claims in at least one operating mode. Computer program product comprising a program executable on a data processing device (8) which, after being started, automatically executes a method according to one of the preceding claims.

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