METHOD FOR OPERATING A LIGHTING DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE, LIGHTING DEVICE AND MOTOR VEHICLE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for operating a lighting device for a motor vehicle, wherein the lighting device comprises at least one exterior light and a control device, the exterior light having a luminous surface with at least two independently controllable segments, each comprising at least one light source. The invention further relates to a lighting device and a motor vehicle with such a lighting device.

[0002] Motor vehicles typically have multiple exterior lights, designed at least in part to improve the vehicle's visibility during the day and / or at night, to enhance the visibility of an occupant, and / or to signal to other road users. Examples of such exterior lights include taillights (also called rear lights or rear lights), daytime running lights, headlights, brake lights, and turn signals. Exterior lights on motor vehicles are now designed to comply with any applicable local or country-specific legal requirements regarding luminous intensity, mounting height, switching logic, and other parameters, which can be collectively referred to as light values.

[0003] However, many exterior lights, especially those that improve visibility to other road users, are also used as a differentiating design feature by vehicle manufacturers and / or designers. This development has been particularly driven by new exterior light concepts that utilize light-emitting diodes (LEDs), organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), and / or lasers. These lighting technologies for the exterior light sources make it possible to combine, for example, legally mandated requirements for lighting function, specifically light output, with design requirements to provide a customized exterior lighting design for motor vehicles.

[0004] This means that current exterior lights for motor vehicles are designed to meet both legal requirements for lighting functions, such as daytime running lights or taillights, and comfort and / or driver assistance functions, such as glare-free high beams, cornering lights, and dynamic turn signals, all within a fixed optical design. However, with increasing functional complexity and digitalization, it is a disadvantage that existing lighting systems for motor vehicles only allow for one fixed, predetermined lighting design. This means that design differentiations, particularly regarding the geometric appearance of an exterior light, are achieved through various hardware variants that utilize differently arranged and / or different types of light sources.The most visually appealing design is usually paired with the highest equipment variant.

[0005] EP 1 488 447 B1 describes an electrically illuminated flame simulator that can be used decoratively or as a warning device or emergency lighting in road traffic. The flame simulator comprises at least two light sources that can be illuminated randomly, sequentially, or semi-randomly to produce a flickering and moving light effect that corresponds to a real flame.

[0006] US 2007 / 0183152 A1 concerns an animated light source comprising a plurality of solid-state emitters and a control circuit. The emitters can be selectively energized to create the appearance of moving light within the generated beam.

[0007] US Patent 8,378,781 B1 discloses a system for controlling a string of lights, wherein each light or group of lights has an assigned microcontroller. Using unique identification numbers, brightness and color information can be specifically assigned to individual lights.

[0008] A method for generating a chasing light effect on an optical fiber structure is described in AT 512 544 A1. The optical fiber structure is to have at least two light injection positions, each with its own associated light source. The optical fiber is configured to guide the injected light and to emit light due to defects formed on the optical fiber. The brightness of the injecting light sources can be controlled according to predefined dimming curves over time.

[0009] DE 10 2015 119 549 A1 relates to a vehicle with flashing lights and a method for generating a direction indicator for following traffic. It is proposed that, to generate a direction indicator for following traffic to avoid the vehicle, an optical sweeping effect is produced by a first flashing light and an optical sweeping effect is produced by a second flashing light, both in the same sweeping direction.

[0010] DE 10 2016 101 103 A1 discloses a luminous, prismatic badge for a vehicle, comprising a housing containing a light source and having a visible part. The light source directs light towards the visible part. Light emitted by the light source exhibits multiple colors, which can create a prismatic appearance.

[0011] An emblem for a motor vehicle, comprising a housing with a visible section and several light sources arranged behind the visible section, configured to light up at staggered intervals, is known from DE 20 2017 101 348 U1.

[0012] The invention is therefore based on the objective of providing a way to improve the visibility and attract greater attention to the exterior lights of a motor vehicle.

[0013] To solve this problem, the features of claim 1 are provided according to the invention in a method of the type mentioned at the outset.

[0014] A control scheme can therefore be understood as a control pattern that determines the appearance of the outdoor light, preferably by specifying which segments of the illuminated surface of the outdoor light are to be operated at what brightness. This means that target values ​​for brightness (target brightness levels) are assigned to the individual segments, at least those that are to be illuminated. The control schemes change over time with a pseudo-randomized or randomized component. The pseudo-randomization or randomization can particularly preferably relate at least to the selection of the segments to be illuminated and / or the segments whose brightness is to be varied, i.e., operated with variable brightness. In some embodiments, the pseudo-randomization or randomization can additionally or alternatively relate to the target brightness levels.In general, it can be said that the segments are preferably at least partially dimmable, meaning that their brightness can be controlled by the control device by assigning target brightness levels to the control scheme.

[0015] The temporal variation achieved through the temporal sequence of control patterns creates a dynamic light signature within the scope of the present invention, in the sense of a temporal change in the appearance of the outdoor luminaire, specifically its illuminated surface. While it may be conceivable outside the scope of this invention to use a fixed, predetermined, or predefinable sequence of control patterns, the present invention provides for a particularly dynamic, appealing, and attention-grabbing effect by determining the control patterns at least partially pseudorandomly or randomly. The pseudorandomized or randomized control by the control unit therefore means, in particular, that for at least some of the time steps in which the control unit activates the segments, it is selected by pseudorandomness or randomness whether and / or at what brightness each segment of the dynamic group is to be operated.

[0016] In principle, within the scope of the present invention, the illuminating surface is divided into individually controllable segments. The outdoor luminaire thus has an illuminating surface that can be formed by one or more illuminating units of the outdoor luminaire, for example, by at least one OLED and / or at least one LED matrix. The illuminating surface is in turn divided into segments, each of which is formed by at least one (individual) light source and defines partial areas of the illuminating surface. If, as is particularly preferred according to the invention, a segmented OLED is used, the segments result from the segmentation of the segmented OLED; in other words, each segment is formed by a partial OLED as a light source. If an LED matrix is ​​used, segments can have one LED as a light source, but additionally or alternatively, several LEDs can be combined to form a segment.

[0017] Therefore, the segments can specifically be formed by a segmented OLED in the exterior light and / or at least an LED matrix in the exterior light. Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) have been proposed for use in motor vehicles for some time. Known techniques allow, in particular, planar OLEDs to be divided into a specific number of segments that can be controlled independently. Matrices of conventional light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have already been proposed, especially for headlights, for example, to implement cornering light functions or similar features.

[0018] A particular advantage is that all segments can have the same luminance and / or emission characteristics. In other words, the outer surface can be designed to form a so-called Lambertian emitter, in which the luminance and emission behavior (angular distribution) of each segment are identical. Such an implementation can be particularly advantageous using an OLED as a homogeneous surface light source, which can, for example, be divided into equally sized segments.

[0019] In summary, the invention, based on segmented exterior lights, relates to the realization of a dynamic light signature that changes at least partially and pseudo-randomly over time. In other words, the exterior light appears vibrant, making it possible to generate new optical effects and provide vehicle lighting with a high-quality look and feel. The dynamic operating mode produces dynamic light signatures that are more easily recognizable and attract greater attention, particularly without causing glare. The at least pseudo-randomized light function can, in particular, indicate specific vehicle equipment, a specific vehicle condition, or a specific driving mode, for example, a partially autonomous vehicle, an energy-efficiency mode, or the like.In general, it can therefore be said that at least one of the at least one dynamic operating mode can indicate an operating state of the motor vehicle, in particular at least partially autonomous operation and / or the activity of a specific driver assistance system.

[0020] The dynamic operating mode can be used when the vehicle is stationary, for example for so-called coming-home and / or leaving-home functions, but is particularly advantageous when the vehicle is in motion. When using it while driving, it is advisable to consider certain requirements for the lighting function that the exterior light is intended to perform, whether these are defined by the lighting function itself and / or manufacturer-specified or legally mandated regulations, especially those relevant to vehicle registration (homologation).

[0021] In other words, when operating the at least one exterior light in dynamic operating mode, the control device can be configured to fulfill at least one requirement of a set of requirements, wherein the requirement can be implemented as at least one boundary condition relating to the appearance of the exterior light and / or limiting the determination of the control schemes. In other words, the present invention can be used to generate a dynamic, vibrant light signature using hardware with a segmented luminous surface, which nevertheless still meets all requirements, particularly those related to type approval, and can therefore be used without problems during the operation of the motor vehicle.According to the invention, at least one of the at least one boundary condition (and thus requirement) is the maintenance of at least one fixed overall brightness value of all illuminated segments over the course of time. Furthermore, at least one additional boundary condition (and thus requirement) may be the use of a predetermined geometric extent of the geometric appearance of the group defined by the illuminated segments. This means that it can be ensured that in each time step, i.e., by each control scheme, the overall brightness, for example, the overall luminous intensity, remains constant in dynamic operating mode, with the at least one overall brightness value preferably lying within a range limited by a minimum and a maximum value. This range may, for example, result from legal and / or other requirements.A particularly advantageous aspect of this dynamic operating mode is that the overall brightness remains unchanged. Instead, the appearance is dynamically modified, at least pseudo-randomly, in such a way that the overall brightness emanating from the illuminated surface of the outdoor luminaire, especially the total luminous intensity for at least one solid angle and / or solid angle interval, remains constant. This results in a dynamic, vibrant light signature without altering the fundamental external appearance of the outdoor luminaire. In other words, the improved visibility of the outdoor luminaire draws attention without impairing its purpose, i.e., its lighting function, and in particular, ensures compliance with legal requirements.The at least one total brightness value can refer in particular to a specific solid angle or solid angle range, and in exemplary embodiments several total luminous intensity values ​​can also be used for different solid angles and / or solid angle ranges.

[0022] In addition to boundary conditions related to overall brightness requirements, compliance with other requirements by the control unit can, of course, also be ensured. These requirements can be formulated as boundary conditions for determining control schemes. Other requirements may relate to different light values, particularly homologation-relevant parameters of the outdoor luminaire. For example, requirements may relate to the geometric dimensions of the illuminated area, where the geometric shape is defined by the illuminated segments and thus their illuminated light sources. For instance, a requirement may be that the continuous geometric area defined by the illumination of segments does not fall below or exceed a certain minimum or maximum dimension.

[0023] In summary, the requirements of a set of requirements for the exterior light can be fulfilled by means of boundary conditions, even in the dynamic, at least pseudo-randomized lighting operation described here. The present invention is particularly proposed for use with exterior lights whose lighting functions are not affected by dynamic changes in appearance and which are therefore particularly suitable for dynamic light signatures, i.e., especially exterior lights that serve to improve the visibility of the vehicle itself. In particular, the at least one exterior light can be a rear light and / or a daytime running light.Such outdoor lights usually do not include additional lighting functions, such as adjustable lighting areas, although the concept proposed here is also suitable for other outdoor lights, such as spotlights, if it is used as part of a standard function, such as normal low beam and / or coming-home / leaving-home.

[0024] The inventive method and the corresponding lighting device thus make it possible to meet the requirements, particularly those related to approvals and / or laws, and to provide a high-quality, dynamic design in order to increase visibility and / or attract attention, and / or to provide a particularly appealing exterior for the vehicle, even at night, especially while driving. The necessary fundamental lighting technologies, such as segmented OLEDs and / or LED matrices, are already available as state of the art.Random number generators, which may include hardware components and / or software components, already exist in the prior art and can be used within the scope of the present invention, for example a deterministic random number generator for pseudo-random numbers, a non-deterministic random number generator and / or a hybrid form.

[0025] According to the invention, the control schemes, particularly those of the control unit, are determined according to at least one boundary condition relating to the appearance of the outdoor luminaire and / or limiting the determination of the control schemes. Apart from the boundary condition concerning the maintenance of at least one fixed overall brightness value for all illuminated segments over time, boundary conditions need not necessarily relate to the described requirements of a set of requirements, but can also be set to configure the dynamics of the appearance, and thus the dynamic light signature, in such a way as to create a desired overall impression.For example, it can be stipulated that at least one additional boundary condition describes a minimum and / or a maximum and / or a fixed number of segments to be operated as illuminated and / or variably illuminated within the dynamic group, and / or a minimum and / or a maximum brightness of the segments to be operated as illuminated, and / or a minimum and / or a maximum and / or a fixed step size of the brightness from one control scheme to the next, and / or a specification of segments to be operated at constant brightness. Boundary conditions can thus be used, for example, to define the framework within which the pseudo-randomization or randomization takes place. Numerous possible implementation examples are conceivable, some of which will be presented in more detail below.

[0026] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention, it can be provided that several unrelated, and in particular spatially related, dynamic groups of an exterior light with different boundary conditions are used, especially dynamic groups oriented towards different sides of the vehicle. For example, different requirements can thus be placed on different dynamic groups, as is known, for instance, from rear lights that extend from the rear of the vehicle to a right or left side. For example, there may be requirements that at least the portion of the illuminated area oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle should be operated at a lower brightness, in particular at lower overall luminous intensities.Such a configuration, as described here, makes it possible to define, for example, maximum total luminous intensities and / or total luminous intensities to be maintained at a constant level, or more generally, total brightness, differently for different dynamic groups in such and similar cases. Advantageously, the underlying pseudo-randomization algorithm or randomization algorithm, usually at least part of a determination algorithm for the control schemes for which at least two dynamic groups are selected identically, can optionally also serve as a common determination algorithm in order to provide a consistent overall appearance for the outdoor luminaire. In this context, it can also be particularly advantageous if at least one common boundary condition is used for at least two of the multiple dynamic groups of an outdoor luminaire.This approach offers the distinct advantage of dividing the individually controllable segments of the outdoor luminaire into spatially coherent dynamic groups. The benefit lies in the ability to configure, for example, the contribution of each group to the overall brightness of the luminaire in a differentiated manner. This allows for the compensation of varying contributions to the overall brightness from the segments, such as those resulting from different beam angles, and ensures a consistent overall brightness despite the dynamic control.

[0027] It should be noted at this point that, in the case of a boundary condition describing a total brightness value to be maintained for the entire dynamic group and in the case of pseudorandomized or randomized determination of the target brightnesses for the various luminaire segments to be operated, a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention may provide that, after the determination of the target brightnesses for the segments of the dynamic group to be illuminated, a sum of all target brightnesses is formed and compared with the specified total brightness value to determine a deviation value, wherein the deviation value is distributed uniformly for all target brightnesses, optionally taking into account a minimum and / or a maximum brightness as a further boundary condition, to produce the specified total brightness value as a sum over all target brightnesses on the segments to be illuminated.

[0028] The present invention provides that in at least one of the at least one dynamic operating mode, the control device controls the segments in successive time steps, wherein a switching interval is defined as a multiple of the time step, and to determine the temporal control schemes of the sequence assigned to each time step: For each switching interval, a first subgroup of the segments of the dynamic group with inactive segments to be operated statically for the switching interval and a second subgroup with active segments to be operated in a time-varying manner for the switching interval are pseudorandomly or randomly selected, in each switching interval the brightness is changed for each time step exclusively for the active segments, in particular within the switching interval monotonically increasing and / or decreasing and / or according to a fixed step size specified as a boundary condition.

[0029] According to the invention, during the switching time interval for a second subgroup of illuminated segments, wherein the segments of the first subgroup are also illuminated, and the second subgroup is determined pseudorandomly or randomly, a gradual change in their brightness takes place, resulting in an overall dynamic and vibrant, yet calm and pleasing image. The brightness change, which is limited by at least one boundary condition as described (which can, of course, also apply to the absolute target brightness levels), can, within the degrees of freedom remaining due to the boundary conditions, naturally also be chosen pseudorandomly or randomly to further enhance the dynamic and varied impression.

[0030] The system is designed so that, given a fixed overall brightness value specified as a boundary condition, changes over the time steps of a switching interval occur in such a way that the brightness increases and decreases cancel each other out, particularly for each pair of active segments. In the latter case, the number of active segments is chosen to be even. Thus, if, for example, a step size is specified as a boundary condition, it can be implemented that whenever the brightness of a particular active segment increases at the next time step, the brightness of another active segment, at least temporarily assigned to that segment, is reduced according to the specified fixed step size. This ensures that the specified, fixed overall brightness value is maintained within the switching interval.

[0031] An initial brightness distribution at the beginning of the first switching interval, in particular an initial control scheme, can be predefined, but is preferably determined pseudorandomly or randomly, especially with regard to limiting boundary conditions for overall brightness, as described above, by uniform distribution of the deviation value. Various approaches are conceivable for subsequent switching intervals.

[0032] A further, more concrete development of this implementation variant could involve using the brightness levels used in the last time step of the preceding switching interval as the starting point for the first time step of a subsequent switching interval, at least for the now active segments, and in particular for all segments of the dynamic range. Alternatively, new brightness levels could be determined pseudorandomly or randomly as the starting point for each switching interval, and especially for at least the active segments. A variant in which the target brightness levels are reused between switching intervals exhibits a certain continuity and a somewhat calmer dynamic appearance, while a greater degree of liveliness can be achieved through pseudorandomized or randomized re-selection of brightness levels for at least some of the segments of the dynamic range.

[0033] Before discussing further specific variants of the present invention, it should be noted that the control unit can, of course, be configured to utilize several different dynamic operating modes, for example, to allow user selection or, in a more preferred embodiment, to indicate different operating states of the motor vehicle, in particular at least partially autonomous operation and / or the activity of a specific driver assistance system, by using several different dynamic operating modes. Nevertheless, for the sake of readability, the method components and parameters that ultimately function identically for the specific variants of dynamic operating modes presented here will be designated in the same way, even though several different variants of these dynamic operating modes can be implemented in a single control unit and thus be available for use.

[0034] In a second, advantageous, specific embodiment of a dynamic operating mode of the method according to the invention, it can be provided that in at least one of the at least one dynamic operating mode, the control device controls the segments in successive time steps, wherein a switching interval is defined as comprising several time steps, and for each switching interval, a control scheme is determined pseudorandomly or randomly with a first subgroup of the segments of the dynamic group, consisting of segments that are switched off and not illuminated for the switching interval, and a second subgroup consisting of segments that are switched on and illuminated for the switching interval. It can advantageously be provided that the brightness of the switched-on segments is also selected pseudorandomly or randomly for each switching interval.In this simple, concrete implementation variant, a new, pseudo-random or random appearance is ultimately generated for each switching interval, which can also correspond to one of the time steps. In particular, a random or pseudo-random target brightness can be specified for each of the existing segments to be illuminated. In other words, in each switching interval, a certain number of illuminated, switched-on segments of a second subgroup are assigned at least a pseudo-randomized target brightness value, while the remaining, switched-off segments, which are not to be illuminated, are assigned the target brightness of "zero".It is also advantageous to use boundary conditions here to specify at least a framework for the pseudo-randomization or randomization, for example, a minimum and / or a maximum brightness of segments to be illuminated and / or a fixed number of segments to be illuminated. In this context, it is also advantageous to use some kind of animation, which is conceivable with a switching interval spanning several time steps. Then it can be provided that the switching on and / or off of the illuminated elements occurs gradually to a maximum brightness or from the maximum brightness over several time steps of the switching interval. For example, the brightness can decrease linearly from the current target brightness to zero (or a new target brightness if the segment is also a member of the new second subgroup) (in the case of a new target brightness, possibly...(also ascending) can be regulated.

[0035] In a suitable embodiment of this variant, it can also be provided that several time-staggered switching intervals are used in such a way that, despite a stepwise switching on and / or off, a fixed overall brightness value for the dynamic range is maintained. Thus, offset switching intervals can be used in such a way that, for example, linear ramps complement each other during switching on and off, ensuring that even though, for example, visual elements (drive images) transition smoothly into one another, a constant, fixed overall brightness, in particular overall luminous intensity, is maintained.

[0036] In a third variant, conceivable within the scope of the present invention for the specific determination of control schemes in a dynamic operating mode, it can be provided that in at least one of the at least one dynamic operating mode, the control device controls the brightness of pseudorandomly and / or randomly selected, variably illuminated segments according to at least two temporally offset triangular pulses, in particular such that a fixed overall brightness value for the dynamic group is maintained by the offset of the triangular pulses. The at least two triangular pulses, according to which the brightness of an illuminated segment is first increased and then decreased, or first decreased and then increased, within a brightness interval, can be defined by a few parameters.It can be stipulated that the at least two triangular pulses do not begin simultaneously, although different durations can lead to at least two of the at least two triangular pulses starting or ending at the same time. As soon as a segment completes a triangular pulse, another segment can be pseudorandomly or randomly selected and initialized with the triangular pulse, after which the process repeats. In other conceivable variations, other functions can also determine the brightness profile, for example, sine pulses or the like, which, however, can make it more complicated to achieve a fixed overall brightness at any given time.

[0037] In a convenient, general embodiment of the present invention, it can be provided that, in addition to the at least one dynamic group, at least one static group comprising at least one segment and unrelated to the at least one dynamic group is used, the segments of which are permanently switched on or off, in particular with a constant target brightness. This makes it possible, so to speak, to predefine a certain basic structure, which, for example, acts as a kind of static framework for the temporally dynamic activity of the dynamic group. Such static groups can also be used, however, to fulfill or simplify the fulfillment of various requirements already mentioned at the outset, such as those related to regulatory approval.If, for example, certain geometric dimensions of the geometric appearance are to be implemented, a useful further development in this context can provide that at least one of the at least one static group always comprises illuminated segments indicating the edge of the illuminated area, in particular its corners. In this way, the boundaries of the illuminated area of ​​the outdoor light are generally visible. It should be noted here that, of course, within the scope of the present invention, it is also possible to integrate the static group into the dynamic group for control purposes, for example, as segments within the dynamic group that can be operated at a fixed brightness or permanently switched off, as explained above as a boundary condition.

[0038] When multiple exterior lights are used, it is particularly advantageous to consider the overall design of the vehicle, and thus especially the arrangement of these exterior lights on the vehicle and, in the case of exterior lights arranged on the same or adjacent sides, its overall appearance. A particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention may therefore provide that the lighting device comprises two exterior lights, arranged symmetrically with respect to at least one axis of symmetry and / or spatially adjacent, with corresponding dynamic groups, for which common control schemes are determined. This means that at least two of the exterior lights can be operated in a coordinated manner. For example, the same boundary conditions and the like may apply to the exterior lights.In a specific, advantageous example, the two corresponding exterior lights may be arranged symmetrically on one side of the vehicle, with the control schemes being determined in such a mirrored manner that the resulting appearances are symmetrical to the vehicle centerline on the respective side. This could, for example, apply to two daytime running lights and / or two taillights.

[0039] In general, it can be said that the functional logic described here can be implemented for each side of the vehicle, for example, including all exterior lights and thus all surface lighting units within a vehicle side or even on adjacent vehicle sides in the control operation. This means that a determination algorithm can, for example, determine the control schemes for each vehicle side, in particular the segments to be illuminated and their brightness levels. For example, with so-called four-part lights, the two exterior lights per vehicle side can be considered a logical lighting group.However, it is particularly preferred if the functional design is axially symmetrical between the right and left sides of the vehicle, meaning that the overall light pattern provided by the dynamic operating mode for the entire vehicle is axially symmetrical to the vehicle center at all times, so that symmetry requirements, such as those that may be relevant for type approval, can be met at any time, specifically for each time step.

[0040] In general, and particularly regarding the variants presented, it should be noted again that the working area of ​​the pseudo-randomization or randomization, as already mentioned, can be parameterized by boundary conditions. This means that the range of permissible segment brightnesses can be defined, in particular as 0 to 100% of the usable brightness or any other arbitrary combination of usable brightness levels, globally or for individual segments. The functional logic described here can be implemented separately for each existing area lighting unit, or, especially for luminaires with multiple lighting units, for each outdoor luminaire, and so on. Of course, dynamic groups can also be applied to only partial areas of a lighting unit, or...The total illuminated area can be defined as a sub-area of ​​this luminaire and / or across multiple luminaires, without necessarily having to correspond to a specific luminaire unit.

[0041] In addition to the method, the present invention also relates to a lighting device for a motor vehicle, wherein the lighting device comprises at least one exterior light and a control unit, the exterior light having a luminous surface with at least two independently controllable segments, each comprising at least one light source, which is characterized in that the control unit is configured to carry out the method according to the invention. A motor vehicle according to the invention has such a lighting device according to the invention. All embodiments relating to the method according to the invention apply accordingly to the lighting device and the motor vehicle, so that the advantages already mentioned can also be obtained with them.

[0042] Further advantages and details of the present invention will become apparent from the exemplary embodiments described below and from the drawing. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a schematic diagram of a motor vehicle according to the invention, Fig. 2 an embodiment of an exterior light, Fig. 3 a possible initial control scheme for a first embodiment of the method according to the invention, Fig. 4 control schemes for a switching interval in the first embodiment variant, Fig. 5 control schemes for a third embodiment of the method according to the invention, Fig. 6 an initial control scheme for a fourth embodiment of the method according to the invention, Fig. 7 usable offset triangular pulses, Fig. 8 possible definitions of dynamic ranges and static ranges in a first variant, and Fig. 9 a possible definition of a static range in a second variant.

[0043] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention. The motor vehicle 1 has a lighting device 2 according to the invention, which in this case comprises, in addition to a control unit 3, two rear lights 5 and two daytime running lights 6 as exterior lights 4. The control unit 3, which may, for example, comprise at least one control module, is configured to communicate with other vehicle systems 7.

[0044] Each of the outdoor luminaires 4 comprises a luminous surface with multiple segments, each segment having at least one light source. The segments can be controlled independently of one another by the control unit 3, for example in time steps whose length can be, for example, 5 to 30 ms, and which can be defined by the clock of a bus used for communication with the outdoor luminaires. The luminous surface of the outdoor luminaires 4 can be formed by one or more luminaire units of the respective outdoor luminaire 4, wherein the luminaire units can be implemented, for example, as segmented OLEDs whose segments can be controlled independently, and / or as LED matrices in which segments can be formed from one or more individual relays.Preferably, one or more OLEDs are used that act as Lambertian emitters, in which the luminance and the emission characteristics (angle distribution) are the same for all segments.

[0045] The control unit 3 is designed to carry out the method according to the invention, that is, in particular, to operate the exterior lights 4 in at least one dynamic operating mode. Whether, or, in the case of several dynamic operating modes, which dynamic operating mode is used, can depend, for example, on a signal from another vehicle system 7 and indicate, for example, its activity or, more generally, an operating state of the motor vehicle. For example, it is conceivable to use the dynamic operating mode or modes in a motor vehicle 1 that is operated at least partially autonomously.

[0046] In dynamic operating mode, the appearance of the luminaire, defined by illuminated segments and their brightness (since the segments are dimmable), changes over time, creating a dynamic light signature. This temporal change is defined by a sequence of control schemes, each containing information for each segment about whether it should be illuminated and at what brightness (target brightness). The control scheme can thus be understood as a kind of control image that results in a specific appearance, with the individual segments being image points or pixels.

[0047] The special feature here is that the control schemes are determined at least partially in a pseudo-randomized, i.e., randomized, manner. For this purpose, the control unit 3 includes a random number generator 8 that provides pseudo-random numbers or random numbers. Numerous configurations of such random number generators 8, which can be implemented, for example, as corresponding software and / or hardware components, are already known in the prior art; these need not be described in detail here.

[0048] In a determination unit 9 of the control device 3, the control schemes to be used for control can be determined, whereby at least partially the pseudorandomization or randomization possible via the random number generator 8 is used, which will be discussed in more detail below. When determining the control schemes or defining the time frame, boundary conditions can be taken into account, which can, for example, be stored in a storage medium 10 of the control device 3. A control unit 11 uses the determined control schemes to control the outdoor lights 4 accordingly.Furthermore, boundary conditions can be diverse and, for example, implement requirements of a set of requirements, such as that the overall brightness, in particular described by total luminous intensity, remains within at least one brightness interval, in particular respective luminous intensity intervals, that a certain geometric appearance of the exterior light 4, in particular certain geometric dimensions, is maintained, and so on. Such requirements of the set of requirements ultimately ensure that the desired lighting function, in the case of the daytime running light 6 and the rear light 5, the perceptibility by other road users, can be fulfilled, for example, in accordance with legal and / or approval requirements.According to the invention, the control schemes are determined according to at least one boundary condition relating to the appearance of the outdoor luminaire 4 and / or restricting the determination of the control schemes, wherein at least one of the at least one boundary condition is the maintenance of at least one fixed overall brightness value of all illuminated segments 15 over the temporal sequence. Boundary conditions can also define the framework within which the pseudo-randomization or randomization can take place, or define certain appearance properties obtained for all control schemes, particularly again within the framework of the requirements set.For example, boundary conditions can describe a minimum and / or a maximum and / or a fixed number of luminaire segments to be operated in the dynamic group used for the dynamic light signature and / or a minimum and / or a maximum brightness of luminous and / or variable luminous segments to be operated and / or a minimum and / or maximum and / or fixed step size of the target brightness from one control scheme to the next and / or a specification of segments to be operated with constant brightness.

[0049] The dynamic operating mode can have different spatial extents with respect to the outdoor luminaires 4, their lighting units, and illuminated areas. For example, the dynamic group of segments addressed by the dynamic operating mode can be defined such that the functional logic is executed separately for each existing lighting unit. This means that the detection unit 23 determines control schemes for each existing lighting unit. Of course, it is also conceivable to define only partial areas of individual lighting units or to define dynamic groups that describe partial areas of the respective lighting units across multiple lighting units. Furthermore, it is conceivable to determine the control schemes for each outdoor luminaire 4, thus determining a control scheme for each outdoor luminaire 4 with every change, whereby all segments and all lighting units within an outdoor luminaire 4 can be included.It is also conceivable to determine the control schemes on a vehicle-side basis, so that, for example, all exterior lights 4 on one side of the vehicle, such as the rear or front, are considered simultaneously. However, specific embodiments are particularly preferred in which the determination of the control schemes is carried out axially symmetrically between the left and right sides of the vehicle. This means that the overall appearance of the dynamic operating mode of the entire vehicle 1 or the entire lighting system 2 is always axially symmetrical to the vehicle's center (longitudinal axis), so that symmetry requirements can also be met. This can, for example, apply to the reversing lights 5 and the daytime running lights 6, respectively.

[0050] As will be explained in more detail later, the plan is to specify a fixed, constant overall brightness over time as a boundary condition, for example, in the form of total luminous intensity values ​​for different solid angles or solid angle ranges. This ultimately creates a kind of quasi-static light signature or appearance that fulfills the requirement of constant photometric values ​​while still exhibiting a dynamic quality that significantly improves perceptibility and recognizability.

[0051] Fig. 2 Figure 1 shows a specific, exemplary embodiment of an outdoor luminaire 4, which comprises a segmented OLED 12 arranged in a housing 13 and defines the luminous surface 14 as the sole luminaire unit. The partial OLEDs of the segmented OLED 12 form the segments 15.

[0052] In other embodiments, the segments 15 can also be formed by individual LEDs or groups of LEDs in an LED matrix. As already explained, multiple lighting units, for example multiple OLEDs 12, can also be used.

[0053] The following section explains in more detail, using a first concrete example, how a randomized light signature with a constant, fixed overall brightness value for the dynamic group can be generated. The boundary condition of a fixed, constant overall brightness value means that the sum of all target brightness values ​​of the control schemes remains constant over time. In other words, the average of the target brightness values ​​for all segments 15 should be constant, i.e., correspond to a target average value. It should also be noted here that the dimmability of segments 15 can be achieved, for example, via pulse-width modulation by the drivers.

[0054] In the present first embodiment, the following parameters are defined as boundary conditions: a minimum brightness of segments 15 to be illuminated, thus a minimum permissible target brightness for each segment 15, a maximum brightness of segments 15 to be illuminated, thus a maximum permissible target brightness for each segment 15, the fixed overall brightness value, a duration of a switching interval in time steps, thus the duration of an interval for which certain segments 15 remain active, here are operated with variable illumination, a fixed number of segments 15 to be operated with variable illumination, thus the number of possible active segments 15, a fixed step size of the brightness from one control scheme to the next, which defines by what value the target brightnesses of the individual active segments 15 can change per time step.

[0055] In variants of this first embodiment, constant segments 15 can also be defined, i.e., illuminated segments 15 that are to be controlled with a constant, always the same target brightness.

[0056] The fixed overall brightness value does not necessarily have to be expressed as such, since, for example, if the number of segments is 15, it may be sufficient to define a target average for the desired brightness levels, compliance with which will of course always result in the same fixed overall brightness value.

[0057] It should be noted that the boundary conditions must, of course, be coordinated for a solution to exist at all. For example, the maximum brightness must be greater than the target mean value, which in turn should be greater than the minimum brightness. Furthermore, it should be noted that it is also conceivable to define minima and maxima of the target brightness values ​​segment-specifically, which can also apply to other parameters or boundary conditions, such as the step size. In this case, however, the boundary conditions are defined for all segments 15 of the dynamic group.

[0058] In dynamic operating mode, an initial control scheme is used at the beginning. An initial control scheme for the in Fig. 2 The outdoor light 4 shown, in which all segments 15 were defined as part of the dynamic group, shows Fig. 3 The numbers shown in the grid represent brightness values, for example on a scale from 0 to 255, with which segments 15 are to be controlled at the corresponding position. The different hatching patterns indicate the resulting appearance of the outdoor light 4. The initial control scheme can either be fixed or determined randomly or pseudo-randomly using the detection unit 9, naturally in such a way that the boundary conditions are met. The in Fig. 3 The initial control scheme shown is an example for a minimum brightness of 50, a maximum brightness of 250 and a fixed overall brightness value described by a target mean of 120.

[0059] With the initial control scheme of the Fig. 3 The first switching interval also begins. For this first and all subsequent switching intervals, statically operated, inactive segments 15 from a first subgroup of segments 15 and active, time-varying segments 15 from a second subgroup are pseudorandomly or randomly selected, specifically the aforementioned fixed number of time-varying segments 15 according to the boundary condition. In other words, at the beginning of each switching interval, a number of active segments 15 defined in the parameter "fixed number (of active segments 15)" is pseudorandomly or randomly selected. The necessary random numbers are generated by the random number generator 8.During the switching interval, the target brightness of the active segments 15 of the second subgroup is changed in each call, i.e., for each time step, so that the target average (and thus the fixed overall brightness value) remains constant. This is exemplified by the sequence of control schemes of the . Fig. 4 A switching interval 16 comprises, for example, five time steps 17, whereby, for the sake of simplicity, the fixed number of active segments 15 was chosen to be four, and the fixed step size 20. In the control diagrams, the target brightness levels 18 for the active segments 15 are highlighted.

[0060] In this process, two segments 15 of the even number of active segments 15 (due to the fixed step size) are assigned to each other. This assignment can be chosen pseudo-randomly or randomly, as can the fixed direction of change of the target brightness 18 (increasing or decreasing), so that changes in the target brightness 18 always cancel each other out, and the overall brightness remains at the fixed total brightness value. Within the switching interval 16, the remaining target brightness 19 (not highlighted) remain constant, i.e., completely unchanged (inactive segments 15).

[0061] After completion of the switching interval 16, the first and second subgroups, i.e., the inactive and active segments, are redefined. In a first variant, which creates a calmer yet dynamic impression, the target brightnesses 18 and 19 from the last time step 17 of the preceding switching interval 16 are used as the basis. In a more dynamic second variant, the target brightnesses 18 and 19, particularly for the new active segments 15 (target brightnesses 18), can be redefined pseudorandomly or randomly. Naturally, the changes from one control scheme to the next occur within the predefined limits (defined by the minimum and maximum brightness).

[0062] In a second embodiment, several spatially related but unrelated dynamic groups can be defined for the segments 15 of the outdoor luminaire 4. The advantage of this local dynamic grouping is that an entry can be configured differently for a total brightness of the individual dynamic groups, which is fixed by a fixed overall brightness value. This makes it possible to compensate for the different contributions to the total brightness by the different segments 15, e.g., due to different beam angles, and to achieve a constant overall brightness despite the dynamic control.

[0063] The following parameters can be used in this second embodiment to define boundary conditions and dynamic groups: Group definition, i.e., the number of dynamic groups and the assignment of segments 15 to the dynamic groups, whereby each segment 15 may only be assigned to one dynamic group; constant segments 15, i.e., those segments 15 that are to be controlled with a target brightness that is constant over time, whereby these segments 15 may also be assigned dynamic groups, so that ultimately all segments 15 of an outdoor luminaire are assigned to 4 dynamic groups; initial values ​​for segments 15 to be operated with variable brightness, which define the initial target brightness for all non-constant segments 15 at the beginning of the dynamic operating mode and can be defined individually or globally for each segment 15 to be operated with variable brightness;Alternatively, a pseudorandomized or randomized determination of target brightness levels for the initial control scheme, as in the first embodiment, can of course also be used; update time, i.e., the number of time steps between two changes in the target brightness levels of a dynamic group, which can be defined individually for each dynamic group or globally for all dynamic groups; fixed overall brightness values, which can be defined individually for each dynamic group or globally for all dynamic groups; ideally, a fixed overall brightness specified for all dynamic groups is divided into fixed overall brightness values ​​applicable to the dynamic groups; minimum and maximum brightness of illuminated segments 15 as already defined above, whereby here too a dynamic group-specific definition or a global definition is possible.

[0064] At the beginning of the dynamic operating mode, an initial control scheme is used, which, as described above, can be predefined or determined pseudorandomly or randomly, in which, if certain segments 15 are to be controlled with a constant target brightness, this constant target brightness is of course assigned to them.

[0065] In this second embodiment, the determination of new target brightness levels for each dynamic group, and thus an update of the control schemes, is performed cyclically after the parameterized update time of the dynamic group has elapsed. For each segment to be operated with variable brightness, a new random number is generated as the target brightness by the random number generator 8. Here, as generally, the random number generator 8 can be a non-deterministic generator, a deterministic generator, or a hybrid approach (for example, a deterministic generator with an initial value that depends, for instance, on the current time). Any distribution of the random numbers can be used, for example, a uniform distribution or a normal distribution.

[0066] Returning to the second embodiment, when updating the control scheme for at least one dynamic group, the random numbers to be used as target brightness values ​​are, of course, limited by the minimum and maximum brightness values, optionally specific to the dynamic group. If, during the determination of a new control scheme for at least one dynamic group, it is found that the sum of the target brightness values ​​of all segments of the dynamic group determined in this way does not correspond to the fixed overall brightness value for this dynamic group, the resulting deviation value is the brightness to be compensated. This brightness to be compensated is distributed evenly across all segments of the dynamic group that are to be operated with variable brightness.

[0067] It should be noted that the newly determined target brightness levels, and thus the newly determined control schemes, can be applied immediately after determination to control the segments of the dynamic group. In However, in one variant, it is also conceivable, especially if the update time includes several time steps, to dim the target brightness up or down from a target brightness value of the last control scheme to the newly determined target brightness value within the update time in order to bring about smooth transitions.

[0068] In In a third embodiment of the method according to the invention, a new pseudo-random or random appearance with partially deactivated segments 15 can also be generated for each control scheme. The following parameters describing the boundary conditions can be advantageously used here: minimum and maximum brightness, as described above, the duration of a switching interval in time steps, i.e., an interval in which the same switched-on segments 15 are to be operated in illumination, fixed number of segments 15 to be operated in illumination, i.e., the number of segments 15 per switching interval that are to be operated in illumination.

[0069] In this third embodiment, a predetermined, fixed number of illuminated segments 15 are selected pseudorandomly or randomly and assigned a pseudorandomly or randomly determined target brightness, while the remaining segments 15, a first subgroup, remain switched off, specifically assigned a target brightness of 0. The target brightness for the switched-on segments 15, which form a second subgroup, lies between the minimum and maximum brightness specified as a boundary condition. In one variant of this third embodiment, the switching on and off can be animated, for example, from the last target brightness or from the switched-off state in a linear ramp to the new target brightness or the switched-off state.

[0070] Fig. 5 This is illustrated by a sequence of control schemes for an illuminated area, in this case a square, consisting of 8 x 8 segments 15. A switching interval 16 comprises three time steps 17, during which the control scheme remains completely unchanged. Entries with numbers, i.e., target brightness levels, correspond to target brightness levels for switched-on segments 15 of the second subgroup, while empty fields correspond to switched-off segments 15 of the first subgroup, i.e., a target brightness of zero. The control scheme changes, just like the switched-on segments 15, at the beginning of a subsequent switching interval 16.

[0071] In a fourth embodiment of the method according to the invention, at least two offset triangular pulses can be used to generate opposing light movements, meaning that while one segment 15 is dimmed up, another is simultaneously dimmed down to produce a constant, fixed overall brightness.

[0072] The following parameters, for example, can be used: minimum and maximum target brightnesses that connect the ramps of the respective triangular pulses, ramp intervals for the respective triangular pulses, thus the duration of an interval in which an affected segment 15 changes from the minimum target brightness to the maximum target brightness and back or from the maximum target brightness to the minimum target brightness and back, fixed number of active segments 15, thus segments 15 to be adjusted in their target brightness at any time due to a triangular pulse.

[0073] In this fourth embodiment, pseudorandomization or randomization is achieved by selecting specific segments 15 of the dynamic group that are to be affected by a triangular pulse. As an initial control scheme at the start of the dynamic operating mode, a fixed number of segments 15 are selected randomly or pseudorandomly, and each is assigned one of the triangular pulses. The initial target brightness is defined randomly or pseudorandomly between the minimum and maximum target brightness of the triangular pulse to prevent all triangular pulses from starting simultaneously. An example of an initial control scheme is shown in Fig. 6 shown. Fig. 7 Figure 25 shows an example of the progression of triangular pulses 25 and 26, with half the ramp interval duration 20 being shown as an example for triangular pulse 24. At time 21, an instance of ramp pulse 26 ends, resulting in a pseudorandomized or randomized transition from a previous segment in period 22 to a new segment in period 23.

[0074] Although exemplary embodiments have been shown so far in which the dynamic group comprises all segments 15 of the luminaire surface 14 of a respective outdoor luminaire 4, it is also conceivable to exclude at least some segments 15 from the dynamic groups, so that these form static groups. An example for the OLED 12 of the Fig. 2 shows Fig. 8 , in which hatched segments 15a belong to at least one static group, and unhatched segments 15b belong to at least one dynamic group. For example, a conventional, static light signature can be maintained in this way, which is supplemented by a dynamic light signature, and so on. In the example of the Fig. 9 , which refers to a square OLED 24, the statically operated segments 15a (again shown hatched) of a static group are chosen as edge segments, so that a certain geometric extent of the luminous area 14 is always present, since these segments 15a are always luminous.

[0075] However, it should be noted that, as explained in particular in the first and second embodiments of the method according to the invention, such "static segments" can also be included in dynamic groups via corresponding boundary conditions.

Claims

1. Method for operating a lighting device (2) for a motor vehicle (1), the lighting device (2) having at least one exterior lamp (4) and a control device (3), the exterior lamp (4) having a luminous surface (14) with multiple independently activable segments (15, 15a, 15b) that each comprise at least one light source, wherein, in at least one dynamic operating mode of the control device (3), for at least one dynamic group of the segments (15, 15a, 15b), which comprises at least two segments (15, 15a, 15b), a pseudo-randomized or randomized, time-variable lighting mode of the segments (15, 15a, 15b) of the dynamic group, which lighting mode is described by a time sequence of activation schemes, is effected, each activation scheme describing for each segment (15, 15a, 15b) of the dynamic group whether and / or at what brightness it is supposed to be operated, wherein in at least one of the at least one dynamic operating mode the control device (3) activates the segments (15, 15a, 15b) in successive time steps (17), characterized in that a switching interval (16) is defined as a multiple of the time step (17) and, to determine the activation schemes of the time sequence that are each assigned to a time step (17), - for each switching interval (16), a first subgroup of the segments (15, 15a, 15b) of the dynamic group containing inactive segments (15, 15a, 15b) that are intended to be operated statically for the switching interval (16) and a second subgroup containing active segments (15, 15a, 15b) that are intended to be operated variably over time for the switching interval (16) are selected in a pseudo-randomized or randomized manner, - for each time step (17) in each switching interval (16), the brightness is varied exclusively for the active segments (15, 15a, 15b), wherein the activation schemes are determined in accordance with at least one boundary condition that is related to the appearance of the exterior lamp (4) and / or restricts the determination of the activation schemes, wherein at least one of the at least one boundary condition used is compliance with at least one fixed total brightness value of all lit segments (15, 15a, 15b) over the time sequence, and the variation over the time steps (17) of a switching interval (16) is effected in such a way that the brightness increases and decreases cancel each other out.

2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that at least one additional boundary condition used is at least one specified geometric extent of the geometric appearance of the dynamic group, as defined by the lit segments (15, 15a, 15b).

3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one additional boundary condition is described by a minimum and / or maximum and / or fixed number of segments (15, 15a, 15b) to be lit and / or variably lit in the dynamic group and / or by a minimum and / or maximum brightness of segments (15, 15a, 15b) to be lit and / or by a minimum and / or maximum and / or stipulated increment of brightness from one activation scheme to the next and / or by a stipulation of segments (15, 15a, 15b) to be operated at constant brightness.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that multiple, in particular spatially contiguous, dynamic groups of an exterior lamp (4) that have no common elements and different boundary conditions are used, in particular dynamic groups aligned with different sides of the motor vehicle (1).

5. Method according to Claim 4, characterized in that at least one common boundary condition is also used for at least two of the multiple dynamic groups of an exterior lamp (4).

6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the brightness variation within the switching interval (16) is effected so as to monotonously rise and / or fall over time and / or in accordance with a fixed increment specified as a boundary condition.

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the brightness increases and decreases for each pair of active segments (15, 15a, 15b) cancel each other out.

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the starting point used for a first time step (17) of a subsequent switching interval (16), at least for the now active segments (15, 15a, 15b), in particular for all segments (15, 15a, 15b) of the dynamic group, are the brightnesses used in the last time step (17) of the preceding switching interval (16), or new brightnesses are determined in a pseudo-randomized or randomized manner for each switching interval (16), in particular at least for the active segments (15, 15a, 15b), as the starting point.

9. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in at least one of the at least one dynamic operating mode the control device (3) activates the segments (15, 15a, 15b) in successive time steps (17), wherein a switching interval (16) is defined as comprising multiple time steps (17) and for each switching interval (16) an activation scheme with a first subgroup of the segments (15, 15a, 15b) of the dynamic group containing segments (15, 15a, 15b) that are not lit and are switched off for the switching interval (16) and a second subgroup containing segments (15, 15a, 15b) that are to be lit and are switched on for the switching interval is determined in a pseudo-randomized or randomized manner.

10. Method according to Claim 9, characterized in that the brightnesses of the switched-on segments (15, 15a, 15b) are also each selected in a pseudo-randomized or randomized manner for each switching interval (16) and / or in that the switching-on and / or switching-off of the switched-on segments (15, 15a, 15b) to a maximum brightness or from the maximum brightness is effected gradually over multiple time steps (17) of the switching interval (16).

11. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in at least one of the at least one dynamic operating mode the control device (3) controls the brightness of segments (15, 15a, 15b) to be variably lit that have been selected in a pseudo-randomized and / or randomized manner in accordance with at least two out-of-phase triangular-waveform pulses (25, 26), in particular in such a way that the offset between the triangular-waveform pulses (25, 26) maintains a fixed total brightness value for the dynamic group.

12. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the segments (15, 15a, 15b) are formed by a segmented OLED (12, 24) of the exterior lamp (4) and / or by at least one LED matrix of the exterior lamp (4) and / or in that at least one of the at least one exterior lamp (4) is a rear light (5) and / or a daytime running light (6) and / or in that all segments (15, 15a, 15b) have the same luminance and / or radiation characteristics.

13. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dynamic operating mode is used when the motor vehicle (1) is at a standstill and / or when the motor vehicle (1) is moving, and / or at least one of the at least one dynamic operating mode indicates an operating state of the motor vehicle (1), in particular at least partially autonomous operation, and / or the activity of a particular driver assistance system.

14. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in addition to the at least one dynamic group, at least one static group that comprises at least one segment (15, 15a, 15b) and has no common elements with the at least one dynamic group is used, the segments (15, 15a, 15b) of which are permanently switched on or permanently switched off.

15. Method according to Claim 14, characterized in that at least one of the at least one static group comprises always lit segments (15, 15a, 15b) at the edge of the luminous surface (14), which in particular indicate the corners thereof.

16. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting device comprises two mutually assigned exterior lamps (4), which are in particular arranged symmetrically with respect to at least one axis of symmetry and / or spatially adjacent, with corresponding dynamic groups, for which common activation schemes are determined.

17. Method according to Claim 16, characterized in that the two mutually assigned exterior lamps (4) are provided symmetrically on one side of the motor vehicle (1), wherein the activation schemes are determined so as to be mirrored such that the resulting appearances are symmetrical about the vehicle centre of the respective side.

18. Lighting device (2) for a motor vehicle (1), the lighting device (2) having at least one exterior lamp (4) and a control device (3), the exterior lamp (4) having a luminous surface with multiple independently activable segments (15, 15a, 15b) that each comprise at least one light source, characterized in that the control device (3) is designed to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims.

19. Motor vehicle (1), comprising a lighting device (2) according to Claim 18.