Device and method for determining an occupied state of a parking space of a parking area, and parking area

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for determining an occupied state of a parking space of a parking area, comprising: - a light for one or for a plurality of lighting means, - a parking space occupation detector integrated into the light, for determining an occupied state of a parking space of the parking area, - a motion sensor integrated into the light, for monitoring surroundings of the parking space, and - a control device integrated into the light, for controlling an operating state of at least one of the one or the plurality of lighting means and the parking space occupation detector, depending on the monitoring procedure. The invention also relates to a corresponding method, and to a corresponding parking area for motor vehicles.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device and a method for detecting the occupancy status of a parking space in a parking lot. The invention further relates to a parking lot for motor vehicles. State of the art

[0002] Parking occupancy sensors for detecting the occupancy status of a parking space in a parking lot are well-known. These sensors are typically mounted on the ceiling of the parking lot and use different colored lights to indicate whether a parking space monitored by the sensor is occupied or unoccupied.

[0003] Furthermore, it is common to install motion detectors within the parking lot, which, for example, control the lighting of the parking lot depending on the presence or absence of people or motor vehicles within the parking lot.

[0004] To equip a parking lot with parking occupancy sensors, motion detectors, and parking lot lighting, three independent installations are carried out: one installation of the motion detectors, one installation of the parking occupancy sensors, and one installation of the parking lot lighting.

[0005] The patent application US 2014 / 375206 A1 discloses a luminaire comprising fluorescent tubes. The luminaire further comprises a parking space occupancy sensor designed as an ultrasonic sensor. The luminaire further comprises an occupancy indicator for displaying the occupancy status of a parking space. The luminaire also includes an occupancy sensor. Several such luminaires are arranged, for example, within a parking lot.

[0006] The patent application DE 10 2005 034 372 A1 discloses an operating procedure for an occupancy monitoring device.

[0007] The patent application EP 2 500 888 A1 discloses that a lighting unit projects a fan of light onto the floor of a parking lot.

[0008] The patent application DE 10 2011 052 373 A1 discloses a traffic area monitoring device whose object sensor utilizes an energy-saving operating state to minimize the electrical energy requirement of the entire traffic area monitoring device. Disclosure of the invention

[0009] The object underlying the invention is to provide a concept that enables efficient mounting of a parking occupancy detection unit and a motion detector.

[0010] This problem is solved by means of the respective subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of dependent claims.

[0011] The invention is based on the realization that the above problem can be solved by integrating both the parking occupancy detection unit and the motion detector into the luminaire. Thus, the parking occupancy detection unit and the motion detector are mounted simultaneously with the luminaire, reducing installation time compared to three separate installations by eliminating two installation steps. This results in the particular technical advantage of enabling the efficient installation of a parking occupancy detection unit and a motion detector.

[0012] A luminaire within the meaning of the present invention refers to a device in which a light source can be installed.

[0013] A light source within the meaning of the present invention refers to an electrical device or electrical consumer that is designed to generate light. The light source thus constitutes a light source.

[0014] A light source within the meaning of the present invention is, for example, one of the following light sources: incandescent lamp, gas discharge lamp, neon lamp, energy-saving lamp, fluorescent lamp, cold cathode tube, low-pressure sodium vapor tube, high-pressure mercury vapor lamp, high-pressure sodium vapor lamp, metal halide lamp, xenon arc lamp, induction lamp, light-emitting diode.

[0015] For the purposes of the present invention, an operating resource may, for example, be an electrical component, an assembly or a device of an electrical system.

[0016] In an embodiment not covered by the claimed invention, it is provided that the lamp comprises one or more light sources.

[0017] By providing a control device designed to control an operating state of at least one of the one or more light sources and the parking occupancy detection unit depending on the monitoring, the particular technical advantage is achieved that efficient control of the light source(s) or the parking occupancy detection unit can be carried out.

[0018] An operating state within the meaning of the present invention is a switched-off operating state. An operating state within the meaning of the present invention is a standby state. An operating state within the meaning of the present invention is an switched-on or turned-on operating state.

[0019] This means that the control device is designed to switch one or more light sources on or off, or to reduce or increase the brightness of the light emitted by one or more light sources.

[0020] This means, in particular, that the control device is designed to switch the parking occupancy detection unit on or off, or to put it into a standby state or to wake it up from a standby state.

[0021] Control by the control device is therefore dependent on monitoring. This means that control is implemented depending on whether the presence or absence of a moving object in the vicinity of the parking area has been detected.

[0022] An object within the meaning of the present invention is, for example, a motor vehicle, a person, or an animal. Where the singular is used for the object, the plural should always be implied, and vice versa.

[0023] A motion detector within the meaning of the present invention is, for example, a motion sensor based on electromagnetic waves (e.g., RF or Doppler radar), or based on ultrasound, based on the reception of infrared radiation, or based on combinations of the aforementioned sensor types.

[0024] For the purposes of this invention, a motion detector is understood to be, in particular, a sensor that detects the presence of a person or living being, regardless of whether that person or living being is moving or not. Such a presence sensor can, for example, be formed by an infrared sensor.

[0025] According to an embodiment not covered by the claimed invention, the control device is integrated into the motion detector. This offers the particular technical advantage that the integration of the control device into the luminaire can be efficiently achieved by integrating the motion detector.

[0026] According to the invention, the parking occupancy detection unit comprises at least one environmental sensor for monitoring the parking area, wherein the control device is configured to switch off the environmental sensor or put it into a standby mode when the monitoring by means of the motion detector has revealed the absence of an object, in particular a moving object, in the environment, and wherein the control device is configured to switch on the environmental sensor or wake it up from a standby mode when the monitoring by means of the motion detector has revealed the presence of an object, in particular a moving object, in the environment.

[0027] This offers the particular technical advantage of reducing or even completely eliminating the energy consumption of the environmental sensor. This is because, as long as there is no moving object in the vicinity, the occupancy status of the monitored parking space typically remains unchanged. Usually, a person drives a parked vehicle away from the parking space, and only then would the occupancy status change accordingly. If a vehicle drives away from the parking space autonomously or remotely, i.e., without manual driver input, the occupancy status of the parking space changes. This change would be detected by the environmental sensor, provided the motion detector registers the departing vehicle, allowing the control unit to activate the environmental sensor accordingly.Similarly, the motion detector detects, for example, a motor vehicle approaching the parking area, so that the control unit activates the environment sensor accordingly.

[0028] According to the invention, the control device is configured to switch off at least one of the one or more light sources and / or reduce the brightness of the light emitted by the one or more light sources when monitoring has detected the absence of an object, in particular a moving object, in the environment, and furthermore, the control device is configured to switch on at least one of the one or more light sources and / or increase the brightness of the light emitted by the one or more light sources when monitoring has detected the presence of an object, in particular a moving object, in the environment.

[0029] This offers the particular technical advantage of reducing or even completely eliminating the electrical energy consumption of the light source(s). Therefore, if there are no moving objects in the vicinity, lighting is unnecessary, as no object would benefit from it. The light sources would thus illuminate a parking area and / or its surroundings unnecessarily. However, because the area around the parking area is monitored by the motion detector, it can be efficiently determined whether or not lighting is required.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the control device is designed to control at least one of the one or more light sources based on the detected occupancy state when an object, in particular a moving object, is present in the vicinity, in order to visually signal the detected occupancy state of the parking area by means of the at least one light source.

[0031] This offers the particular technical advantage that one or more of the luminaire's light sources can be used efficiently for optical signaling of the detected occupancy status. Optical signaling includes, for example, the emission of multiple light signals. This means, for instance, that flashing light sources can indicate an unoccupied state.

[0032] According to one embodiment, a parking occupancy lighting device for displaying an indication of the occupancy status is integrated into the luminaire, wherein the control device is designed to control an operating state of the parking occupancy lighting device depending on the monitoring, in order to be able to display the indication of the occupancy status when an object, in particular a moving object, is present in the vicinity.

[0033] This offers the particular technical advantage of efficiently displaying the operating status. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to use the light source(s) of the luminaire for the visual indication of occupancy. However, this can be provided for in one embodiment. This means that both visual signaling via the light source(s) of the luminaire and the display of a message via the parking occupancy lighting device are provided.

[0034] Displaying a message is, for example, a visual signal indicating that the parking space is free or occupied, for instance by means of one or more lights. Displaying a message includes, for example, displaying an arrow pointing towards the parking space. This means that, according to one embodiment not covered by the claimed invention, when a parking space is free and an object, particularly a moving object, is detected in the vicinity, an arrow pointing towards the free parking space is displayed.

[0035] If the absence of an object, particularly a moving object, is detected in the environment, the control device is provided, for example, to switch off the parking occupancy lighting device or to put it into standby mode. Similarly, if the presence of an object, particularly a moving object, is detected in the environment, an embodiment not covered by the claimed invention provides that the control device wakes up or switches on the parking occupancy lighting device from standby mode.

[0036] According to one embodiment, the parking occupancy lighting device comprises one or more light sources for optical signaling of the occupancy status, wherein the control device is configured to switch off at least one of the one or more light sources of the parking occupancy lighting device and / or to reduce the brightness of the light emitted by the one or more light sources of the parking occupancy lighting device when the monitoring has detected the absence of an object, in particular a moving object, in the vicinity, wherein the control device is further configured to switch on at least one of the one or more light sources of the parking occupancy lighting device and / or to increase the brightness of the light emitted by the one or more light sources of the parking occupancy lighting device when the monitoring detects the presence of an object,This has resulted in a particular advantage in the detection of a moving object in the environment. This offers the significant technical benefit of efficiently reducing the electrical energy consumption of the controlled components. In particular, it enables an efficient display of the occupancy status.

[0037] For example, the lights are designed to emit different colors depending on whether the parking area is free or unoccupied. For example, the light source(s) emit red light when the parking area is occupied. For example, the light source(s) emit green light when the parking area is free, i.e., unoccupied.

[0038] In another embodiment, the control device is designed to control at least one of the one or more light sources of the parking occupancy lighting device based on the detected occupancy state when an object, in particular a moving object, is present in the vicinity, in order to optically signal the detected occupancy state of the parking area by means of the at least one light source of the parking occupancy lighting device.

[0039] This offers the particular technical advantage of efficiently signaling the operating status visually. Visual signaling includes, for example, the emission of multiple light signals. For instance, one or more lights may flash when the parking space is free. For example, one or more lights may remain illuminated when the parking space is occupied. For instance, the lights may be switched off when the parking space is occupied.

[0040] According to one embodiment, the parking occupancy lighting device includes a projection device configured to project an optical indication of the detected occupancy status onto a roadway, wherein the control device is configured to control the projection device in the presence of an object, in particular a moving object, in the vicinity in order to project the optical indication of the detected occupancy status onto the roadway.

[0041] This offers the particular technical advantage that the recorded occupancy status can be efficiently detected or recognized by a road user. The visual indicator is, for example, an arrow pointing towards the parking area.

[0042] The projection system includes, for example, a video projector. The projection system is, for example, integrated into the light fixture.

[0043] The projection device is, for example, integrated into or encompassed by the parking occupancy detection unit.

[0044] According to an embodiment not covered by the claimed invention, it is provided that the projection device is controlled by the control device in such a way that the message is projected only when there is a free parking space and a moving object is present.

[0045] According to an embodiment not covered by the claimed invention, the device has four functionally separate units integrated into the luminaire: the parking occupancy detection unit as the first unit, the light source(s) of the luminaire as the second unit, the parking occupancy lighting device as the third unit, and the motion detector with the control device integrated in the motion detector as the fourth unit.

[0046] In an embodiment not covered by the claimed invention, the control device and the motion detector are functionally separate units. For example, the device may then have five functionally separate units.

[0047] In an embodiment not covered by the claimed invention, the parking occupancy detection unit and the parking occupancy lighting device form a single unit. Preferably, the parking occupancy detection unit comprises the parking occupancy lighting device as a subunit, as an independent functional unit.

[0048] Preferably, the parking occupancy detection unit comprises one or more environmental sensors as a further subunit. This means that, according to an embodiment not covered by the claimed invention, the parking occupancy detection unit comprises two functionally separate subunits or assemblies: the environmental sensor(s) as one subunit and the parking occupancy lighting device as a further subunit.

[0049] An environmental sensor within the meaning of the present invention is, for example, one of the following environmental sensors: radar sensor, ultrasonic sensor, lidar sensor, magnetic sensor, infrared sensor, laser sensor and video sensor.

[0050] According to an embodiment not covered by the claimed invention, the parking occupancy detection unit comprises several environmental sensors, which may be identical or different, for example.

[0051] The phrase "of at least one of the one or more light sources and the parking occupancy detection unit" stands for "of the one or more light sources and / or the parking occupancy detection unit".

[0052] In an embodiment not covered by the claimed invention, it is provided that the luminaire includes a communication interface, or in other words, that a communication interface is integrated into the luminaire, which is configured to receive a control command for at least one of the electronic components integrated in the luminaire from a parking management system for managing the parking space via a communication network and / or to send data from at least one of the electronic components integrated in the luminaire to the parking management system for managing the parking space via the communication network.

[0053] This offers the particular technical advantage of efficient control via the communication network. It thus advantageously enables remote control. Specifically, this allows data to be made available remotely.

[0054] An electronic component within the meaning of the present invention is intended for

[0055] Example of one of the following electronic components: light source of the luminaire, parking occupancy detection unit, motion detector, control unit, light source of the parking occupancy lighting unit, projection unit, environmental sensor.

[0056] Data includes, for example, the occupancy status of the parking area. Data also includes, for example, the current operating status of the electronic components. Thus, the parking management system knows, for instance, whether the individual electronic components are in standby mode or switched on or off.

[0057] According to an embodiment not covered by the claimed invention, the communication network comprises a wireless and / or a wired communication network. For example, the communication network comprises a WLAN communication network. For example, the communication network comprises an Ethernet communication network. For example, the communication network comprises a bus system.

[0058] According to an embodiment not covered by the claimed invention, the luminaire has a housing for one or more light sources, with the parking occupancy detection unit being arranged inside the housing.

[0059] This offers the particular technical advantage that the parking occupancy detection unit can be supported by the housing. This allows, for example, the efficient use of existing installation space within the housing, both for mounting or installing the light source and the parking occupancy detection unit.

[0060] According to a further embodiment, which is not covered by the claimed invention, the control device is arranged inside the housing. The resulting technical advantages are analogous to those described in connection with the parking occupancy detection unit located inside the housing.

[0061] In one embodiment, which is not covered by the claimed invention, the motion detector is arranged on or inside the housing. This also advantageously provides good and efficient mechanical protection for the motion detector.

[0062] The occupancy status of a parking area indicates, in particular, whether the parking area is occupied or unoccupied. An unoccupied parking area can also be described as a free parking space.

[0063] A motion detector within the meaning of the present invention refers in particular to an electronic sensor that can detect movements in its environment and can therefore, for example, advantageously operate as an electrical switch.

[0064] A motion detector according to the present invention can, for example, operate actively using electromagnetic waves (high frequency or Doppler radar) and / or with ultrasound (ultrasonic motion detector) and / or passively using the infrared radiation of the environment.

[0065] This means that a motion detector within the meaning of the present invention comprises, for example, an ultrasonic sensor and / or a radar sensor and / or an infrared sensor.

[0066] For example, a motion detector includes a high-frequency sensor and / or a radar sensor and / or an ultrasonic sensor and / or an infrared sensor.

[0067] In one embodiment, multiple motion detectors are provided. Statements made in connection with one motion detector apply analogously to multiple motion detectors and vice versa.

[0068] The technical functionalities of the process result analogously from corresponding technical functionalities of the device, and vice versa. This means that the device characteristics result analogously from corresponding process characteristics, and vice versa.

[0069] According to one embodiment, which is not covered by the claimed invention, the parking area comprises several devices. The devices are, for example, identical in design. In another embodiment, which is not covered by the claimed invention, the several devices are designed differently.

[0070] A parking space within the meaning of the present invention is a parking space for motor vehicles.

[0071] A parking lot, as defined in the present invention, serves as a parking area for motor vehicles. The parking lot thus forms, in particular, a contiguous area that comprises several parking spaces (in the case of a parking lot on private land) or parking bays (in the case of a parking lot on public land). The parking lot is, for example, designed as a parking garage. The parking lot is, for example, designed as a multi-story parking facility.

[0072] This means that a parking space in the parking lot corresponds to a parking space or a parking stand, depending on whether the parking lot is a public or a private parking lot.

[0073] The phrase "respectively" includes in particular the phrase "and / or".

[0074] According to an embodiment of the parking lot that is not covered by the claimed invention, it is provided that at least one of the devices, for example several of the devices, in particular all of the devices, is / are arranged on one or more ceilings of the parking lot above a parking area.

[0075] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to preferred embodiments. Here, we will show... Fig. 1 a device for detecting the occupancy status of a parking space in a parking lot, Fig. 2 a flowchart of a method for detecting the occupancy status of a parking space in a parking lot and Fig. 3 a parking lot for motor vehicles.

[0076] Fig. 1 Figure 101 is an illustrative example that is not covered by the scope of protection of the claims and shows a device 101 for detecting the occupancy status of a parking area in a parking lot.

[0077] Device 101 comprises: a luminaire 103 for one or more light sources, a parking occupancy detection unit 105 integrated in the luminaire 103 for detecting the occupancy status of a parking space in the parking lot, a motion detector 107 integrated in the luminaire 103 for monitoring the area around the parking space, and a control device 109 integrated in the luminaire 103 for controlling the operating state of at least one of the one or more light sources and the parking occupancy detection unit 105 depending on the monitoring.

[0078] In an embodiment not covered by the claimed invention, it is provided that the lamp 103 comprises one or more light sources.

[0079] In another embodiment, which is not covered by the claimed invention, it is provided that the control device 109 is integrated into the motion detector 107.

[0080] In one embodiment, the luminaire 103 comprises a communication interface 110 configured to receive a control command for at least one of the electronic components integrated in the luminaire from a parking management system for managing the parking space via a communication network and / or to send data from at least one of the electronic components integrated in the luminaire to the parking management system for managing the parking space via the communication network.

[0081] Fig. 2 Figure 101 is an illustrative example that is not within the scope of the claims and shows a flowchart of a method for detecting the occupancy status of a parking space in a parking lot using the device for detecting the occupancy status of a parking space in a parking lot. For example, it is provided that the device 101 of the Fig. 1 is used.

[0082] The process includes the following steps: Monitoring 201 of the surroundings of the parking area by means of the motion detector, detecting 203 an occupancy status of the parking area of ​​the parking lot by means of the parking occupancy detection unit and controlling 205 an operating status of at least one of the one or more light sources and the parking occupancy detection unit depending on the monitoring by means of the control device.

[0083] Fig. 3 shows parking space 301 for motor vehicles.

[0084] Parking space 301 comprises a floor 303 and a ceiling 305 opposite the floor 303.

[0085] On floor 303, several adjacent parking spaces 307 are provided. The parking spaces 307 are separated from each other, for example, by lines or other markings.

[0086] Above parking areas 307, there are several devices 101 of the Fig. 1arranged on the ceiling 305.

[0087] Thus, a parking space 307 can be efficiently monitored for its occupancy status using the parking occupancy detection unit 105, while simultaneously the area surrounding the parking space 307 is monitored using the motion detector 107. Depending on the monitoring, the parking occupancy detection unit 105 can, for example, be switched on or off, put into standby mode, or woken up from standby mode.

[0088] The concept according to the invention is based in particular on integrating a motion detector, a parking space occupancy detection unit, and a control device into a luminaire. This results in particularly efficient assembly of the individual components. In particular, it is advantageously sufficient to run only a single power cable or data cable to the luminaire to supply the individual electronic elements or components with electrical energy or to connect the individual electronic components to a communication network. This also advantageously reduces the assembly effort for power and data cables.In particular, this can save on cable material, since only one power cable or one data cable needs to be laid to the light and several power cables or several data cables no longer need to be laid to the individual electronic components if these are distributed individually in the parking lot and are not integrated into the light.

[0089] According to an embodiment not covered by the claimed invention, it is provided that one or more light sources of the lamp, in particular at least a part of one or more light sources of the lamp, are used for a parking occupancy signal indicator.

[0090] The motion detector's primary function is to conserve electrical energy, which is consumed by individual electronic components when they are not in use. For example, the components are not needed when no vehicles or people are present.

[0091] The motion detector, therefore, uses the control unit to switch, depending on the monitoring, for example, an environment sensor of the parking occupancy detection unit on or off, or one or more light sources of the parking occupancy lighting device on or off, or one or more light sources of the light fixture on or off.

[0092] The motion detector is designed, for example, to monitor a roadway in the vicinity of the parking area. Specifically, the motion detector is designed to monitor access to the parking area. For example, the motion detector is designed to monitor an access path to the parking area.

[0093] According to one embodiment, a reduction in the brightness, i.e. the luminous flux, of the light emitted by the light source is provided if, based on monitoring, it has been determined that there is no moving object in the vicinity.

[0094] According to an embodiment not covered by the claimed invention, it is provided that one or more of the electronic components are put into a stand-by mode when the absence of an object, in particular a moving object, is detected in the environment.

[0095] According to one embodiment, data from the electronic components is sent to a parking management system for managing the parking lot via a communication network.

[0096] Data includes, for example, the occupancy status of the parking area. Data also includes, for example, the operating status of the electronic components. Thus, the parking management system knows, for example, whether the individual electronic components are in standby mode or switched on or off.

[0097] According to an embodiment not covered by the claimed invention, the individual electronic components are controlled by a parking management system to manage the parking space. This is done, for example, by sending one or more control commands via a communication network.

[0098] Thus, for example, the parking management system can use appropriate control commands to switch off individual electronic components or put them into standby mode. This is useful, for instance, when the parking lot is closed, as there are usually no longer any moving objects within it.

[0099] In an embodiment not covered by the claimed invention, the parking management system is provided that the motion detector is put into standby mode or switched off via a corresponding control command. This is particularly useful, for example, when the parking lot is closed. This is because, as a rule, there can no longer be any moving objects within the parking lot that could be detected by the motion detector. The motion detector is therefore no longer needed.

[0100] This means that, according to an embodiment not covered by the claimed invention, the motion detector is designed to enter a standby state or switch itself off depending on a control command sent via a communication network by means of a parking management system.

[0101] In a further embodiment, which is not covered by the claimed invention, the parking management system is provided that it wakes up or switches on the motion detector from a standby mode via a corresponding control command. This is particularly useful, for example, when the closed parking lot is reopened. This is because moving objects may then be present within the parking lot again, which can be detected by the motion detector. The motion detector is therefore needed again at that point.

[0102] This means that, according to an embodiment not covered by the claimed invention, the motion detector is configured to wake up from a standby state or switch itself on depending on a control command sent via a communication network by a parking management system. The motion detector thus has, in particular, Wake-on-LAN functionality.

[0103] According to an embodiment not covered by the claimed invention, the parking management system is designed to switch on the individual electronic components or wake them up from a standby mode via corresponding control commands. This is particularly useful, for example, when the closed parking lot is reopened. This is because moving objects may then be present within the parking lot, which can be detected by the motion detector. The electronic components are then needed again. The electronic components thus exhibit, in particular, a Wake-on-LAN functionality.

[0104] Alternatively or additionally, a self-initialization of the device including active status reporting after power restoration can be provided.

Claims

1. Apparatus (101) for detecting an occupancy state of a parking area (307) of a parking lot (301), comprising: a luminaire (103) for one or more illuminants, a parking occupancy detection unit (105) integrated in the luminaire (103) for detecting an occupancy state of a parking area (307) of the parking lot (301), a motion detector (107) integrated in the luminaire (103) for monitoring an environment of the parking area (307), and a control device (109) integrated in the luminaire (103) for controlling an operating state of the parking occupancy detection unit (105) depending on the monitoring by means of the motion detector (107), wherein the parking occupancy detection unit (105) comprises at least one environment sensor for monitoring the parking area (307), wherein the control device (109) is designed to switch off the environment sensor or to drive it into a standby mode if the monitoring by means of the motion detector (107) has revealed an absence of an object, in particular a moving object, in the environment, wherein the control device (109) is designed to switch on the environment sensor or to wake it up from a standby mode if the monitoring by means of the motion detector (107) has revealed a presence of an object, in particular a moving object, in the environment, wherein the control device (109) is designed to switch off at least one of the one or more illuminants and / or to reduce a brightness of the light emitted by means of the one or more illuminants if the monitoring has revealed an absence of an object, in particular a moving object, in the environment, wherein the control device (109) is furthermore designed to switch on at least one of the one or more illuminants and / or to increase the brightness of the light emitted by means of the one or more illuminants if the monitoring has revealed a presence of an object, in particular a moving object, in the environment.

2. Apparatus (101) according to claim 1, wherein the control device (109) is designed to actuate at least one of the one or more illuminants based on the detected occupancy state in the presence of an object, in particular a moving object, in the environment, in order to optically signal the detected occupancy state of the parking area (307) by means of the at least one illuminant.

3. Apparatus (101) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a parking occupancy lighting device for displaying an indication of the occupancy state is integrated in the luminaire (103), wherein the control device (109) is designed to control an operating state of the parking occupancy lighting device depending on the monitoring, in order to be able to display the indication of the occupancy state in the presence of an object, in particular a moving object, in the environment.

4. Apparatus (101) according to claim 3, wherein the parking occupancy lighting device comprises one or more illuminants for optical signaling of the occupancy state, wherein the control device (109) is designed to switch off at least one of the one or more illuminants of the parking occupancy lighting device and / or to reduce a brightness of the light emitted by means of the one or more illuminants of the parking occupancy lighting device if the monitoring has revealed an absence of an object, in particular a moving object, in the environment, wherein the control device (109) is furthermore designed to switch on at least one of the one or more illuminants of the parking occupancy lighting device and / or to increase the brightness of the light emitted by means of the one or more illuminants of the parking occupancy lighting device if the monitoring has revealed a presence of an object, in particular a moving object, in the environment.

5. Apparatus (101) according to claim 4, wherein the control device (109) is designed to actuate at least one of the one or more illuminants of the parking occupancy lighting device based on the detected occupancy state in the presence of an object, in particular a moving object, in the environment, in order to optically signal the detected occupancy state of the parking area (307) by means of the at least one illuminant of the parking occupancy lighting device.

6. Apparatus (101) according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the parking occupancy lighting device comprises a projection device which is designed to project an optical indication of the detected occupancy state onto a roadway, wherein the control device (109) is designed to control the projection device in the presence of an object, in particular a moving object, in the environment, in order to project the optical indication of the detected occupancy state onto the roadway.

7. Apparatus (101) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the luminaire (103) comprises a communication interface (110) which is designed to receive a control command for at least one of the electronic components integrated in the luminaire (103) from a parking lot management system for managing the parking lot (301) via a communication network and / or to send data from at least one of the electronic components integrated in the luminaire (103) to the parking lot management system for managing the parking lot (301) via the communication network.

8. Method for detecting an occupancy state of a parking area (307) of a parking lot (301) using the apparatus (101) according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: monitoring (201) the environment of the parking area (307) by means of the motion detector (107), detecting (203) an occupancy state of the parking area (307) of the parking lot (301) by means of the parking occupancy detection unit (105), and controlling (205) an operating state of the parking occupancy detection unit (105) depending on the monitoring by means of the motion detector (107) by means of the control device (109), switching off the environment sensor or driving the environment sensor into a standby mode by means of the control device (109) if the monitoring by means of the motion detector (107) has revealed an absence of an object, in particular a moving object, in the environment, switching on the environment sensor or waking up the environment sensor from a standby mode by means of the control device (109) if the monitoring by means of the motion detector (107) has revealed a presence of an object, in particular a moving object, in the environment.

9. Parking lot (301) for motor vehicles, comprising a parking area (307) and the apparatus (101) according to one of claims 1 to 7.

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