METHOD FOR PROVIDING LIGHTING ADAPTED TO VISION CONDITIONS

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for providing vehicle lighting adapted to the visibility conditions, comprising a lighting device that provides illumination by means of individually controllable light points, and a vehicle equipped with a system for carrying out this method. Based on detected visibility conditions, driving information, and / or additional environmental information, the lighting is adaptively adjusted with regard to light distribution, at least one light focus, and / or light intensity in order to predictively indicate the road's course and / or influence the driver's attention.

[0002] Modern vehicles are equipped with headlights and fog lights, which significantly improve visibility of the road and, at least partially, the surroundings in poor visibility conditions such as rain, snow, fog, and spray. Vehicles without fog lights illuminate the road and immediate surroundings much less effectively, leading to a considerable loss of safety while driving. If a vehicle is not equipped with fog lights, it may be necessary to abort a journey due to poor visibility.

[0003] Modern vehicle lighting technology is increasingly moving towards so-called "digital lighting," where the light emitted by one or more light sources is broken down into a multitude of light points using optical systems. This allows for the creation of individual beam profiles characterized by the shape of the light beam projected onto the road or surroundings, the intensity of the light, its distribution, its color, and other factors. Digital lighting is used for headlights, including the functionalities of high beam, low beam, city lights, and parking lights, as well as for taillights, brake lights, reversing lights, and turn signals.

[0004] It would be desirable if the function of fog lighting, both forward (as a front fog light) and rear (as a rear fog light), could also be implemented using such a digital light, with this fog lighting taking into account the current visibility conditions and preferably other conditions in the vehicle's surroundings. It is particularly desirable if the road's course could be displayed even in poor visibility conditions, thus supporting the driver in their driving task. The object of the invention is therefore to propose such an adaptable auxiliary lighting system.

[0005] Several solutions are known in the prior art. For example, WO 2020 / 067497 A1 discloses an area light modulator for illuminating a vehicle's surroundings, which can create areas of higher and lower illumination intensity based on driving and environmental information. DE 10 2020 132 102 A1 describes how the beam pattern of an LED array in headlights is adapted depending on the driver's condition. WO 01 / 01038 A1 discloses a dynamic luminous flux depending on environmental conditions, and US 2019 / 094136 A1 discloses how the illumination from the headlights can be adjusted based on the detection of impaired vision.

[0006] The object of the invention is achieved by a method according to claim 1 and a vehicle according to claim 8. Further preferred embodiments of the invention result from the remaining features mentioned in the dependent claims.

[0007] An inventive method for providing vehicle lighting adapted to visibility conditions with a lighting device that provides lighting by means of individually controllable light points provides that the visibility conditions are detected during the vehicle's journey by means of a vehicle-specific environment recognition system and that the lighting is adaptively adjusted from the detected visibility conditions, as well as driving information and / or additional environmental information with regard to a light distribution, at least one light focus and / or a light intensity in order to predictively indicate a road course and / or to influence the attention of a driver of the vehicle.The method is characterized by the fact that the lighting is adapted to the visibility conditions, taking into account the driver's condition, using information from mobile devices, and an evaluation unit is used to record and evaluate the interaction of recorded visibility conditions and information on the driver's condition, as well as driving information and / or additional environmental information with the adaptive adjustment of the lighting, in order to optimize the adaptive adjustment of the lighting based on the evaluation results.

[0008] Visibility is primarily determined by the viewing distance, but also, at least in part, by the prevailing lighting conditions, i.e., the brightness or darkness and the existing illumination along the vehicle's route. These conditions are influenced, among other things, by the prevailing weather during the vehicle's journey and can vary significantly from place to place. Key weather factors that negatively affect visibility include, but are not limited to, rain, snowfall (including blizzards), fog, and spray. Sandstorms or drifts carrying material such as sand, dry soil, fine dust, or similar substances can also negatively impact visibility. The objective of the method according to the invention is therefore to continuously monitor visibility and react dynamically to it, thus providing the best possible support to the vehicle's driver.

[0009] This support is to be provided by adjusting the lighting. Lighting here refers to both forward and rearward illumination. Forward illumination plays a crucial role in the driver's visibility, while rearward illumination is essential for the visibility of following traffic. Without repeated mention, it should always be understood that this refers to both forward and / or rearward illumination. Adjusting the lighting includes both switching the lights on and off, as well as the specific settings, as will be explained below.

[0010] To use the method according to the invention, the vehicle shall have a lighting device that provides the illumination light in the form of individually controllable light points by means of various optical devices. A multitude of methods and devices are known for this purpose. Examples include the use of LED matrices, rotating polygon mirrors, mirror arrays or mirror systems with individually controllable micromirrors, MEMS mirror systems, or area modulators such as LCD systems. These and other devices provide light in which the shape of the emitted light beam, and thus the illuminated area on the road and the immediate surroundings, as well as the provided light intensity and / or light color, can be individually controlled. The light provided by such devices is also referred to as "digital light".

[0011] The basis for adjusting the vehicle's lighting to the visibility conditions is the detection of these conditions while driving, using the vehicle's own environmental perception system. This system typically includes sensors and / or cameras that can determine, among other things, ambient brightness, the scattering of light by rain, snow, fog, or particles in the air, and / or visibility range.

[0012] Ambient brightness, or lighting conditions, are influenced by various factors, including the weather, the environment surrounding the vehicle, the vehicle's lighting, and light scattering. External influences can include geography, such as the route's location in a valley, trees along an avenue, tunnel passages, narrow streets in urban areas, and similar conditions. The location of the vehicle can also have a very localized impact on the weather, for example, due to local fog banks near rivers or the direction of rain falling near cliffs. Therefore, ambient brightness should be recorded in general. The scattering of light by fog, rain, and / or snow, as well as by particles in the air, such as in the sandstorms mentioned above, can also affect ambient brightness.The aim is to predictively determine the influence of such factors on adjusting the lighting.

[0013] The available visibility, especially the individual visibility, also influences visibility conditions. It can be determined, among other things, by the vehicle's own cameras and sensors (i.e., the vehicle's own environmental perception), which are typically used to determine the distance to other road users, objects, and the like. Examples include ultrasound, LiDAR, or radar. If visibility is limited because spray is kicked up by a wet road surface or because of fog, this affects the range of the sensors or cameras, allowing the lighting to be adjusted accordingly.

[0014] In addition to the recorded visibility conditions, driving information and / or additional environmental information should be used to adjust the lighting.

[0015] Driving information includes, for example, navigation data, the vehicle's speed, the distance to at least one other road user, and / or traffic density. Driving information is therefore information that describes the vehicle's journey itself and, where applicable, its interaction with surrounding traffic. Navigation data includes map data and thus, among other things, the course of roads and the presence and position of junctions or intersections. The route planning generated from the navigation data specifies the planned route and thus also indicates where the driver needs to turn, and so on.

[0016] The vehicle's speed plays a crucial role in adapting the lighting to the perceived visibility conditions. In particular, the intensity of the lighting can be adjusted based on speed, so that, for example, the brightness of the lighting increases with the vehicle's speed to improve the driver's visibility and / or range.

[0017] Another criterion can be the vehicle's distance to other road users. This aims not only at better visibility and / or the driver's own field of vision, but also at avoiding dazzling other road users. Therefore, if the presence of other road users is detected while driving, the lighting intensity can be adjusted. Depending on traffic density, the lighting can and should also be adjusted to avoid dazzling other road users while still ensuring sufficient visibility.

[0018] Additional environmental information indicates the vehicle's surroundings. As already mentioned, the environment influences, among other things, the ambient light level during driving, as well as the lighting requirements in terms of brightness, range, and the like. Environmental information includes geography, such as the location of the route; the type of environment, i.e., whether it is urban, rural, or a highway; the road type; the buildings and / or vegetation along the route; and can also include weather data. Additional environmental information can also include the condition of the road surface, particularly if it has damage such as potholes that could impair or endanger the vehicle's driving.

[0019] The recorded visibility conditions, as well as the driving information and / or additional environmental information, are used to adaptively adjust the vehicle's lighting depending on the situation, specifically regarding light distribution, at least one focal point, and / or light intensity. Visibility conditions and other information are therefore continuously recorded and evaluated, or at least at sufficiently short intervals, to constantly assess the visibility conditions and the influences on them, and thus continuously adjust the lighting. This is important because visibility conditions can vary significantly locally and can therefore change within a short time. For example, patches of fog can be very localized, making a rapid adjustment of the vehicle's lighting desirable.

[0020] Adjusting the lighting includes adjusting the light distribution, at least one focal point, and / or the light intensity. Light distribution is defined as the extent and shape of the light cone emitted by a lighting device. The extent of the light cone, or the illumination, is also determined by its range.

[0021] A focal point of light should be an area where the light intensity is higher than in the immediately surrounding area of ​​illumination and / or where a special lighting effect can be achieved through a specific light color or other lighting design, such as a projection onto the road or an object. This is particularly useful for marking objects and / or hazards to draw the driver's attention and adjust their driving accordingly. However, in poor visibility conditions, it is also advisable to move the focal point, or at least one, closer to the vehicle so that the driver can better perceive their immediate surroundings. Similarly, it can be beneficial to provide multiple focal points of light, for example, to mark road damage and simultaneously indicate the road's course.

[0022] The light intensity, the color of the light and optionally also the temporal course of its provision in the sense of a pulsing or as a uniformly sustained or continuous illumination are to be summarized below under the term "light value".

[0023] Alternatively or additionally, the light intensity should be adjusted, which most likely involves adjusting the brightness. Adjusting the light intensity explicitly includes switching the lighting device(s) on or off.

[0024] The adjustment of the aforementioned parameters should be chosen in such a way that the road's course is displayed predictively and / or the driver's attention is influenced. The predictive display of the road's course aims to show the driver where the road runs, even in very poor visibility conditions, so that they can follow the road even if visibility is severely limited. In particular, this allows for the early indication of a curve.

[0025] The primary goal of influencing the driver's attention is to increase it and focus it spatially. The driver should be alerted that increased attention is or may be required and where it should preferably be directed. For example, this could focus the driver's attention on an intersection or junction they are approaching.

[0026] Furthermore, the lighting is adjusted to the visibility conditions, taking into account the driver's condition. The driver's condition affects their ability to drive and their ability to cope with difficult or limited visibility. The driver's condition is influenced by factors such as stress, fatigue, and their perception of their surroundings, including their individual perception of visibility. For example, the latter can frighten a driver, thus impairing their driving.

[0027] The driver's condition can be assessed, for example, through observation of the vehicle's interior, as is generally known. Repeated yawning, squinting, and / or a slumped posture can indicate driver fatigue. Leaning forward and squinting can suggest insufficient visibility. Sensors, such as those on the steering wheel, can also detect the driver's condition, for example, their heart rate or perspiration, which can indicate stress and / or anxiety. Driving behavior itself, such as drifting out of the lane or erratic driving, can also provide clues about the driver's condition.

[0028] In addition to assessing a driver's condition based on their behavior and / or driving style, data from the driver's mobile devices can help estimate their state. For example, analyzing the driver's calendar or daily activity on their smartphone can provide clues about their condition. A high number of appointments, for instance, can indicate stress and / or fatigue, as can a long period of time the driver has already been active that day. Mobile devices can also include smartwatches or fitness trackers that collect and analyze health data, thus helping to determine the driver's condition. They can, for example, provide and analyze information on sleep duration, heart rate, and similar metrics.

[0029] Naturally, the inclusion of data from mobile devices should be optional and only take place with the driver's consent.

[0030] If the driver's condition is known, the lighting can be adjusted with regard to its light distribution, at least one focal point, and / or light intensity. For example, if a driver is tired, early and repeated warnings of hazards via the lighting, particularly with a time-varying display of objects and / or hazards, may be advisable. Adjusting the light color to include more blue light can also counteract fatigue. In stressful situations, switching to a calming light color can help reduce stress levels. Higher light intensity and a wider light distribution can improve illumination in front of the vehicle, thus enhancing the driver's perceived visibility.

[0031] Furthermore, for the method according to the invention, the interaction of detected visibility conditions, information on the driver's condition, as well as driving information and / or additional environmental information with the adaptive adjustment of the lighting is detected and evaluated by means of an evaluation unit in order to optimize the adaptive adjustment of the lighting based on the evaluation results.

[0032] As previously explained, visibility conditions, driving information, and / or additional environmental information are constantly monitored, and the lighting is continuously adjusted. This also allows for the recording of how adjustments to the lighting affect visibility conditions, particularly when considering driving information and / or additional environmental information.

[0033] For example, increasing light intensity in fog can be counterproductive if scattering due to moisture in the air causes the driver to be blinded, which in turn leads to stress. Conversely, if predictive display of the road's course and simultaneous good illumination of the rest of the roadway make the driver feel safe, this can be recognized by the driving information, such as their speed and / or driving style, environmental information, and their condition.

[0034] The evaluation of the effects of the lighting adjustment, whether based on the driver's condition or reactions and / or the visibility conditions, environmental and / or driving information determined after a lighting adjustment, is carried out by recording the relevant information or observation using the data collection methods already described above, as well as by evaluating the respective information and documenting the results of the overall effects with each adjustment already made in relation to the prevailing visibility conditions. The results of the evaluations are stored at least temporarily.

[0035] Such an evaluation allows for an assessment of whether the selected adjustment(s) had a positive or negative impact on the journey, the driver, and the visibility conditions, particularly the individually perceived visibility conditions. It also determines whether the selected adjustment(s) can or should be repeated, given the overall circumstances. If a previously selected adjustment had a negative impact, the evaluation described here indicates that a different adjustment should or must be made in the future under the same circumstances. If the evaluation shows a positive impact from a lighting adjustment but also reveals that further improvement is possible, varying the lighting adjustment and continuously adjusting and fine-tuning it can contribute to optimizing the lighting adaptation.

[0036] The evaluation is performed by an evaluation unit, which thus forms a higher-level instance or "intelligence" and uses the evaluation to optimize the lighting adjustment. The evaluation unit can be part of the aforementioned control unit, implemented within it, or provided separately. In summary, the system learns to select the best possible adjustment for the respective visibility conditions during the current journey and environment.

[0037] The inventive method, as designed in this way, allows for the individual, situation-dependent adjustment of a vehicle's lighting with so-called digital lighting to the weather conditions, in particular limited visibility conditions such as those resulting from rain, snow, spray, and especially fog, thereby generating an additional functional benefit. This eliminates the need for separate fog lights or rear fog lights, thus saving costs and installation space, and also reducing design constraints in the vehicle's appearance.

[0038] The method according to the invention can and is expressly intended to replicate the functionality of a vehicle's fog lights. Intermediate lighting states can also be created, allowing adaptation to prevailing visibility conditions. The active, dynamic adjustment of the lighting while the vehicle is in motion improves safety for the driver and other road users, as it enhances the driver's visibility and the vehicle's visibility to other road users. Since the method can preferably be provided as a software solution, retrofitting vehicles with compatible lighting systems will also be possible.

[0039] The method can be implemented by a control unit specifically designed for this purpose, or by a control unit already provided in the vehicle, which is designed and configured to execute the method according to the invention, i.e., to evaluate the necessary information (visibility conditions as well as driving information and / or additional environmental functions) and, based on the evaluation, to control the lighting devices so that they provide the lighting adapted according to the method according to the invention.

[0040] According to a first embodiment of the method according to the invention, driving information and / or environmental information are to be acquired and provided by at least one vehicle-integrated system and / or exchanged with external systems.

[0041] Vehicle-integrated systems can include sensors and / or cameras, as well as the vehicle's control and / or evaluation units, which are used to control and / or monitor the vehicle's journey. For example, a vehicle's position can be determined using a device such as a GPS receiver. The vehicle's speed can also be derived from position data, as well as from the vehicle's own monitoring and control systems. Information regarding the nature of the environment or its buildings can be incorporated through locally stored map or navigation data. To determine the presence of other road users, vehicle-integrated sensors or systems, such as ultrasound, LiDAR, radar, or cameras, can be used. The number of road users in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle allows conclusions to be drawn about traffic density.

[0042] Driving information and / or environmental information can be acquired by one or more vehicle-integrated systems and transmitted to the control unit, which performs the adjustment of the lighting according to the inventive method.

[0043] Alternatively or additionally, driving information and / or supplementary environmental information can be exchanged with external systems. This can be achieved in particular through so-called C2C or C2X communication (C2C - Car-to-Car communication, communication between vehicles; C2X - communication between the vehicle and its environment, such as infrastructure). In this way, for example, the traffic density in the vicinity of the vehicle can be determined and taken into account. The information provided via C2X communication can be made available, for example, at traffic lights, bridges, overhead sign gantries, and similar locations. The provision of driving information and / or supplementary environmental information can also be carried out via server-based services or cloud systems.

[0044] Information captured by an initial vehicle-integrated system can optionally be verified by capturing data from another vehicle-integrated system and / or by exchanging data with external systems, and vice versa.

[0045] The exchange with external systems also allows the vehicle to transmit information to other road users or the surrounding environment, such as visibility, visibility conditions, traffic density, existing glare from another road user, and so on. This also applies to the previously mentioned road condition monitoring. In this way, a vehicle can transmit damage it has detected, so that other road users can be warned.

[0046] In a second embodiment of the method, the lighting is adjusted to mark objects and / or hazards, whereby the marking is carried out by adjusting the light intensity, a light color, a temporal variation of the lighting and / or at least one visual piece of information in the lighting area and is adapted to the visibility conditions.

[0047] Objects to be marked can be signs, markings, but also intersections or junctions that the vehicle will pass or use during its journey.

[0048] Hazards encompass all types of obstacles located on or near the roadway that pose a danger to the vehicle and its occupants. This includes damage to the road surface, as well as wrecked vehicles, fallen trees, lost cargo, animals crossing the road, and the like. The objects and / or hazards to be marked may be identified through the vehicle's own detection system and / or through data exchange with external systems.

[0049] Marking can be achieved in various ways. For example, a specific area can be marked by locally intensifying the lighting and / or by illuminating it with a different light color. Temporal variation of the lighting can take the form of pulsing or flashing, and can increase in frequency, especially as the danger intensifies.

[0050] When an object and / or hazard is marked with visual information, this means that information legible or understandable to a driver is conveyed using symbols, pictograms, characters, or the like by projecting it onto the roadway or the object and / or hazard. For example, directional arrows can be displayed to guide drivers around an obstacle, or a warning sign can be projected onto the roadway to indicate an approaching pothole.

[0051] It is essential that this marking is adapted to the visibility conditions. This is reflected in the light intensity, the position of the marking, especially its distance from the vehicle, and / or the light distribution of the marking, which are always dependent on the visibility conditions as described above. The necessary adjustments to the lighting based on the visibility conditions, which have already been determined, can therefore also be used to adjust the markings.

[0052] The procedure can also be further developed in such a way that the driver's own glare is detected by means of an interior monitoring system of the vehicle and / or determined by means of the vehicle's own environmental recognition system, and the lighting is adjusted to reduce the glare to the driver.

[0053] Driver glare occurs when the headlights are strongly scattered by rain, snow, fog, and / or airborne particles, particularly if the direction or focus of the light and / or its intensity is poorly chosen or adjusted. It can be detected, among other things, by the driver's reaction, which is recorded by the vehicle's interior monitoring system. Driver glare typically, or at least frequently, leads to squinting, covering the eyes with a hand, and / or changing the direction of gaze. The pupillary response of the driver also indicates glare.

[0054] Alternatively or additionally, self-glare can be inferred from the recording of visibility conditions and the light values ​​determined, especially with regard to the intensity and scattering of the light emitted by the vehicle.

[0055] By designing the inventive method with a learning system, it is also possible to estimate, based on previous adjustments of the lighting and the information acquired for this purpose, whether self-glare exists or could exist.

[0056] If self-glare is detected, or if it is highly likely that the driver is experiencing self-glare, the lighting is adjusted to reduce or eliminate it. This may involve modifying previously used lighting parameters until the assessment of visibility conditions, driver reactions, and, if applicable, learned light values ​​indicate that self-glare is either absent or highly unlikely.

[0057] In addition to preventing the driver from being dazzled, the glare from other road users should also be avoided. Other road users could be pedestrians or other drivers. To this end, the lighting, and in particular the light distribution, should be adjusted to prevent dazzling at least one other road user. Whether one or more other road users are dazzled depends on their position or movement in relation to the glare provided by the inventive method. Using the vehicle's own environmental perception system, other road users—that is, their position and direction of movement—can be detected, and, by comparing this with the provided lighting, it can be determined whether at least one other road user is or could be dazzled. Glare can also be determined based on reflections and scattering of light from surfaces, especially wet surfaces.Alternatively or additionally, C2C communication can be used to transmit information from at least one other road user about whether glare is present.

[0058] In the event of existing glare, the lighting should be adjusted to eliminate it. This can be achieved by adjusting the light intensity and / or at least one focus of the light, but primarily by adjusting the light distribution. The light distribution can thus be modified to avoid dazzling road users.

[0059] Situations may arise where the lighting cannot be adjusted, meaning that sufficient illumination cannot be provided for the prevailing visibility conditions and driving style. This is particularly the case when the vehicle's speed is too high for the prevailing visibility. In this embodiment of the inventive method, acoustic and / or visual warnings are provided to the driver, and / or the vehicle control system is intervened, if the lighting cannot be adjusted for the current driving style.

[0060] If a driver is traveling too fast in poor visibility, and an assessment of the visibility conditions indicates that the range and lighting conditions are insufficient for driving at that speed, the driver should be informed by acoustic signals such as warning tones or a voice assistant announcement that they are traveling too fast and should adjust their speed. Alternatively or additionally, visual signals should convey the same information. Visual signals can include warning lights, displays on a vehicle instrument panel, and / or warning signals projected onto the road.

[0061] Alternatively or additionally, intervention in the vehicle control system may be provided, particularly if the driver has not adjusted the speed. Intervention in the vehicle control system should be understood primarily as the vehicle adjusting its speed and thus overriding the driver's driving decisions.

[0062] The aim should be to adjust the speed and / or driving style so that it is appropriate to the visibility conditions and the possible or technically feasible adjustment of the lighting under the prevailing conditions.

[0063] In light of the increasing need for sustainability in individual mobility, and also with regard to vehicle range, especially for electric vehicles, lighting should be adjusted with energy consumption in mind. For example, a light that functions as a rear fog light could be switched off or at least reduced to a legally permissible minimum level when no other road users are following the vehicle. This reduces energy consumption while driving. At the same time, less waste heat is generated by the lighting system. This design therefore primarily aims to temporarily reduce the vehicle's lighting to a reasonable level when certain lighting functions are not absolutely necessary.This can also include indicating a change of direction, which could be omitted or reduced with regard to the specific lighting provided for the direction indicator if no other road users are in sight. For example, when using the turn signal, the indicator light on one side of the vehicle could not be activated if no other vehicle is detected nearby. Similarly, with an animated turn signal, where individual lighting segments are illuminated sequentially to indicate the desired or intended direction of travel, the number of illuminated segments could be reduced or the animation omitted altogether.

[0064] According to the invention, a vehicle is also claimed that has a lighting device which provides illumination by means of individually controllable light points. This vehicle is further claimed to have a system, for example in the form of a control unit, which can control the vehicle's lighting device(s) and which is designed and configured to carry out the method according to the invention.

[0065] The inventive method and its use in vehicles allow the vehicle's lighting to be adjusted based on visibility conditions and other information, thereby improving visibility. This can, among other things, replace the function of fog lights, eliminating the need for fog lights and / or rear fog lights on the vehicle. Since the acquisition of visibility conditions and other information is continuously repeated, the system can react quickly to changing visibility and external influences to always provide optimal lighting. Because the inventive method can predictively display the road's course and / or influence the driver's attention to support their driving task, safety when driving in fog, rain, or spray is increased, and the vehicle's visibility is improved.

[0066] Unless otherwise stated in individual cases, the various embodiments of the invention mentioned in this application can be advantageously combined with one another.

[0067] The invention is explained below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show: Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of the method according to the invention based on existing visibility conditions and a lighting scheme, and Figure 2 shows a schematic traffic situation with adapted lighting.

[0068] Figure 1 The diagram schematically shows a scenario for illuminating a street with and without the method according to the invention. Figure 1a The view from vehicle 10 is shown, where a bank of fog 14 impairs visibility. Behind the fog bank 14, another road user 12, an oncoming vehicle, is visible.

[0069] Figure 1bFigure 18 shows an unadapted light distribution in which a uniform light intensity is set across the entire illuminated area. Consequently, the fog bank 14 is directly illuminated ( Figure 1a ), which, due to the reflection and scattering of light by the moisture in the fog, leads to self-glare for the driver, making it difficult to see the other road user 12 behind.

[0070] Figure 1c Figure 1 shows, however, what a customized lighting system 20, determined using the inventive method, can look like. To obtain this lighting scheme, the visibility conditions in front of and around the vehicle 10 were first detected using the vehicle's environmental detection system. This determined that fog was present and that it was otherwise dark. The necessity of providing fog lighting functionality, in particular a fog light, was also determined.

[0071] Furthermore, driving information and additional environmental information are analyzed. The driving information draws on the vehicle's navigation data and speed, provided by the vehicle's own systems. Additionally, the vehicle's sensors and cameras can determine that traffic density is low.

[0072] Regarding environmental information, the lighting adjustment takes into account that the route runs through a rural area and therefore has no dedicated lighting. The road is a rural road with two lanes. Furthermore, the proximity of a body of water to the road can be considered, increasing the risk of fog under certain weather conditions. This information can be obtained, for example, from map or navigation data.

[0073] Based on the visibility conditions, the driving information, and the additional environmental information, an adapted lighting system 20 can be determined, in which a light distribution 21 is selected that takes the aforementioned information into account. Thus, the light distribution 21 has areas of low light intensity 30, areas of medium light intensity 28, and areas of high light intensity 26. The areas 26, 28, and 30 are each composed of a multitude of sub-areas, which are illustrated by rectangles in a simplified and exemplary manner. These individual sub-areas can each be illuminated individually, since the vehicle's lighting system 10 is designed to provide digital light, i.e., to illuminate individual light points, with this being controlled by a control unit.

[0074] Areas 26, 28, and 30 are selected and arranged so that only light of medium intensity 28 reaches the fog bank 14 to prevent the driver from being dazzled. Additionally, light of medium intensity 28 is provided to illuminate the oncoming lane 34 to avoid dazzling other road users 12. Only the area of ​​the driver's own lane 32 directly in front of the vehicle 10 is illuminated with high-intensity light 26, so that the driver of the vehicle 10 can see the road ahead and, if necessary, detect any hazards or road damage.

[0075] If the roadway 32 curves, this is known from the navigation data and the planned route, so that the area of ​​high intensity light 26 can be shifted laterally and the curve's path is displayed predictively. This allows the driver to recognize early on, even in short visibility, that the road curves.

[0076] As the vehicle continues to move, the system continuously re-evaluates visibility, driving, and environmental information to determine if and how the lighting should be further adjusted. During this process, the other road user 12 also approaches, and glare for them must be prevented. Therefore, the vehicle's environmental perception system 10 detects and analyzes the reflections and scattering of the emitted light to determine whether the other road user 12 is being glared. Additionally, the other road user 12 can transmit information via C2C communication if glare is present.

[0077] When glare occurs, the intensity distribution of the adapted lighting 20 is then changed so that the lighting in the area of ​​the other road user 12 is of low intensity or is even switched off in some areas (not shown) in order to avoid glare.

[0078] Furthermore, as the vehicle approaches the fog bank 14, the interior monitoring system, and in particular pupil tracking of the driver, is used to check whether the adjusted lighting 20 causes the driver to be blinded. This can occur due to approaching the fog bank 14 or due to increasingly dense fog. If the driver's reaction, possibly with the support of the vehicle's own environmental perception system, indicates that the driver is blinded, the lighting is adjusted so that less light reaches the fog bank 14 and the risk of blindness is reduced.

[0079] The acquisition of visibility conditions, driving information, and additional environmental information, the resulting adjusted lighting 20, and the effect on visibility conditions observed during continuous acquisition are evaluated taking into account the temporal context and the driver's reaction. Based on this evaluation, it is determined whether adjusting the lighting in relation to the prevailing light conditions had a positive or negative effect. This evaluation forms the basis for optimizing the lighting adjustment of the method according to the invention.

[0080] Figure 2 Figure 12 shows a road shrouded in fog, with another road user 12 driving ahead at some distance. In this situation as well, the lighting is to be adjusted using the method according to the invention. This is done analogously to the previous embodiment; therefore, only the differences and special features are described.

[0081] The road has at least two defects or potholes 16.1 and 16.2. These are known from communication with external systems (C2C, C2X) and map data, but were also detected by the vehicle's own environmental perception system. The adapted lighting 20 also has a light distribution 21 with low-intensity areas 30, medium-intensity areas 28, and high-intensity areas 26. The distribution 21 is regulated so that the vehicle 12 in front is not dazzled by its mirrors by illuminating the roadway behind it with low intensity 30. For the journey of vehicle 10, the area directly in front of vehicle 10 is illuminated with high intensity 26 across its entire width, since the road, as described, has at least two defects.

[0082] To enable the driver of vehicle 10 to recognize the known potholes 16.1 and 16.2 early and adjust their driving accordingly, these are marked with light focal points 22. These focal points 22 correspond to markings 24 and are created by a local increase in intensity compared to the surrounding intensity level. Thus, light with a medium intensity 28 is already provided around pothole 16.2, as otherwise the fog could cause the driver to be blinded. In the area of ​​pothole 16.2, the marking 24 is implemented with high-intensity light 26. The marking 24 at this pothole 16.2 could alternatively or additionally be highlighted in a different color and / or with a pulsing effect.

[0083] Pothole 16.1 is located further away and therefore in an area with low-intensity illumination 30. The marking 24 of pothole 16.1 there is therefore done with medium-intensity light 28 to avoid dazzling the driver and other road users 12.

[0084] Since driving on such a damaged stretch of road in fog and darkness can potentially lead to stress and / or anxiety for the driver, thereby impairing their driving, their condition is continuously monitored by the vehicle's interior monitoring system and sensors on the steering wheel. To reduce stress levels, the light color can be adjusted as needed. Furthermore, an acoustic or visual signal can be transmitted to prompt the driver to reduce their speed. The latter should be implemented particularly when the fog becomes denser and the necessary visibility for the prevailing speed can no longer be ensured by adjusting the lighting.

[0085] Since no other road user is following vehicle 10, the rear fog lights (not shown) can be switched off to save energy. Reference symbol list

[0086] 10 Vehicle 12 Other road user 14 Fog bank 16 Road damage 18 Inappropriate lighting 20 Adapted lighting 21 Light distribution 22 Focus of light 24 Marking 26 Higher intensity light 28 Medium intensity light 30 Lower intensity light 32 Own lane 34 Oncoming lane

Claims

1. Method for providing lighting (20) of a vehicle (10) that is adapted to visibility conditions, which vehicle comprises a lighting device which provides lighting by means of individually controllable light points, the visibility conditions being detected during the journey of the vehicle (10) by means of an in-vehicle environmental detection system, and the lighting being adaptively adjusted regarding a light distribution (21), at least one light center position (22) and / or a light intensity from the detected visibility conditions, as well as journey information and / or additional environmental information, to predictively display a roadway course and / or to influence the attention of a driver of the vehicle (10), characterized in that the lighting is adjusted to the visibility conditions taking into account a condition of the driver using information from mobile terminals, and the interaction of the detected visibility conditions and information about the condition of the driver, as well as journey information and / or additional environmental information with the adaptive adjustment of the lighting is detected and evaluated by means of an evaluation unit to optimize the adaptive adjustment of the lighting based on the evaluation results.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the journey information and / or environmental information - is detected and provided by at least one in-vehicle system and / or - is exchanged with external systems.

3. Method according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the lighting is adjusted to mark objects and / or hazard points, the marking (24) being carried out by means of adjusting the light intensity, a light color, a temporal variation of the lighting and / or at least one piece of visual information in the lighting region and being adapted to the visibility conditions.

4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the glare experienced by the driver is detected by means of an interior monitoring system of the vehicle (10) and / or determined by means of the in-vehicle environmental detection system and in that the lighting is adjusted to reduce the glare experienced by the driver.

5. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting, in particular the light distribution (21), is adjusted to avoid dazzling at least one other road user (12).

6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that acoustic and / or visual signals are transmitted to the driver and / or an intervention takes place in the on-board vehicle control if the lighting cannot be adjusted given the existing driving style.

7. Method according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting is adjusted taking energy consumption into account.

8. Vehicle (10) having a lighting device which provides lighting by means of individually controllable light points and having a system which is designed and configured to carry out a method according to any of the preceding claims.