Method for generating a parking light of a motor vehicle using a lighting device, and motor vehicle comprising a lighting device for generating a parking light

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for generating a parking light of a motor vehicle (1) using at least one lighting device (2) in order to generate the parking light. The motor vehicle (1) has a vehicle-side communication device (17), and a mobile electronic terminal (6) of a user has a user-side communication device (18), wherein a communication connection (16), via which at least one user signal (36) generated by the user by means of the terminal (6) is transmitted from the terminal (6) to the motor vehicle (1), is established between the motor vehicle (1) and the terminal (6) via the communication devices (17, 18), and the at least one lighting device (2) is controlled using the at least one user signal (36) in order to generate the parking light.

Description

[0001] Method for generating a parking light of a motor vehicle with a lighting device and motor vehicle with a lighting device for generating a parking light

[0002] The present invention relates to a method for generating a parking light of a motor vehicle having at least one lighting device for generating the parking light. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a motor vehicle having at least one lighting device for generating a parking light and a control device for controlling the at least one lighting device.

[0003] A parking light is typically a light that illuminates one side of a parked vehicle, allowing the vehicle to remain clearly visible to moving traffic, even at night or in adverse weather conditions. Parking lights are typically generated by a lighting device located on the side of the vehicle facing the road. To turn on the parking light, the driver usually operates a turn signal lever. However, there is room for improvement in this regard, for example, because turning on the parking light is often forgotten.

[0004] DE 102013 206 208 A1 proposes a concept in which position data or environmental data relating to a vehicle are used to determine whether it is parked at the side of a road. Based on this data, the vehicle's parking lights are automatically switched on.

[0005] DE 10 2020 111 476 A1 discloses a concept for executing a driverless driving maneuver, such as an automated parking maneuver. Before the driving maneuver is executed, the presence of an operating action required to initiate the driving maneuver, such as activating a vehicle lock, by a user located outside the motor vehicle, is checked. Furthermore, based on admissibility requirements and / or the presence of the operating action, a state is determined from a group of possible states, for example, regarding the feasibility or impossibility of the driving maneuver. Depending on this, a signal directed at the respective existing state is output via the vehicle's lights.It is also conceivable that information associated with a non-fulfilled admissibility requirement is sent to the smartphone so that the user is informed of this.

[0006] DE 10 2017 213 774 A1 relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle in which a light on a trailer coupled to the motor vehicle is activated and / or deactivated depending on an operator input made via a smartphone. This makes it possible to check the correct functioning of the trailer's light before starting the journey. The user can position themselves behind the trailer and, from this position, specifically activate individual light sources on the trailer to check their function.

[0007] The present invention has for its object to provide an improved concept in connection with the generation of a parking light in a motor vehicle.

[0008] According to the invention, the object is achieved in a method of the type mentioned at the outset in that the motor vehicle has a vehicle-side communication device, wherein a mobile electronic terminal of a user has a user-side communication device, wherein a communication connection is established between the motor vehicle and the terminal via the communication devices, via which communication connection at least one user signal generated by the user and by means of the terminal is transmitted from the terminal to the motor vehicle, wherein the control of the at least one lighting device for generating the parking light takes place on the basis of the at least one user signal.

[0009] The invention is based in particular on the idea of ​​providing the user with

[0010] To provide the ability to control the parking light even when the user is not currently in or directly adjacent to the motor vehicle. For this purpose, the user signal is generated by the user and transmitted via the communications connection to the motor vehicle or, more precisely, to a control device of the motor vehicle, wherein at least one control signal is generated by means of the control device and as a function of the user signal, wherein the lighting device for generating the parking light is controlled based on the control signal. Thus, the user signal and / or the control signal can merely switch the parking light on and / or off. Furthermore, corresponding signals can change an operating parameter of the parking light, for example relating to its brightness.This allows the user, for example, to turn on the parking lights if they forgot to do so when parking the vehicle. Furthermore, if the weather has deteriorated or night has fallen, the user can also trigger the parking lights or change the parking light's operating parameters.

[0011] The lighting device can be or comprise a headlight. The motor vehicle preferably has at least two headlights or lights arranged at the front and at least two at the rear as lighting devices. For example, two front headlights can be provided, which are arranged on the left and right of the motor vehicle and with which, in particular, white light can be generated. Furthermore, two rear headlights can be provided, which are arranged on the left and right of the motor vehicle and with which, in particular, red or orange light can be generated. The lighting device can preferably be used to illuminate the surroundings of the motor vehicle, in particular during ferry operation. The parking light can have a lower brightness than the light generated by the respective lighting device for illuminating the surroundings during ferry operation.The parking light can be generated by switching on only the lighting device(s) located on the left or right side of the motor vehicle. The wireless communication connection implements a remote connection, or can be described as such. This means that, within the scope of this transmission, the relevant information is transmitted via means outside the motor vehicle and outside the terminal device. The wireless communication connection is preferably established via the internet. In particular, the wireless communication connection is established via a mobile network that complies with at least the LTE or 4G standard, for example, and / or a wireless local area network.

[0012] With regard to the user signal, it can be provided that the user can generate it by means of an operating action on the end device. Specifically, the end device can be a smartphone on which an application for generating the user signal can be implemented. The application can enable the execution of the operating action and the subsequent generation of the user signal. For this purpose, a user-friendly user interface, for example, comprising control buttons and / or sliders, can be displayed on a display unit of the end device using the application.

[0013] Preferably, at least one item of status information relating to a current circumstance of the motor vehicle and / or the surroundings of the motor vehicle is determined. For this determination, signals or data, for example, sensor-based, can be detected that represent the respective information or on the basis of which this information is determined. Furthermore, corresponding information or data can be retrieved from outside the motor vehicle, in particular via the internet. The detection or determination of the status information can occur regularly or cyclically, for example, once per minute.

[0014] The control of the at least one lighting device for generating the parking light can be based on the at least one piece of status information. Accordingly, in addition to the user signal, current circumstances concerning the motor vehicle and / or the surroundings can be taken into account for controlling the parking light. If the status information is acquired in a timed manner, the parking light is always controlled based on a control basis based on current data.

[0015] It is also conceivable for the at least one item of status information to be transmitted to the terminal device via the communication connection and output to the user. Accordingly, at least one user output informing the user of the status information can be output via the terminal device, in particular via the display unit or an optical or acoustic output unit of the terminal device. If the status information is continuously updated, it is preferably transmitted to the terminal device regularly or cyclically in order to constantly provide the user with information regarding the current situation. The user can use the user output as a basis for deciding whether he or she wishes to change the status of the parking light and, if necessary, initiate this, for example by generating the user signal.

[0016] If the control of the at least one lighting device is based on the at least one piece of status information, then the fulfillment of at least one change condition can be checked based on this, which is fulfilled when the at least one piece of status information indicates the expediency of changing the status of the parking light, wherein, if the change condition is fulfilled, the change in the status of the parking light occurs automatically. The status information can therefore be evaluated automatically and without user intervention, during which it is checked whether changing the status of the parking light is expedient. Consequently, in addition to the possibility for the user to control the parking light in their absence, automatic control of the parking light is realized, which can be carried out by the motor vehicle or the control device.This control can also be carried out semi-automatically or semi-automatically, which is explained in detail below.

[0017] The change condition or one of the change conditions can be a switch-on condition, which is fulfilled when the at least one piece of status information indicates the appropriateness of switching on the parking light, whereby the parking light is switched on when the switch-on condition is fulfilled. In this case, the status information implies that switching on the parking light is indicated due to the current circumstances, for example due to the onset of darkness and / or the occurrence of fog and / or a change in the traffic situation. When the switch-on condition is fulfilled, a control signal causing the parking light to be switched on can be generated by the control device and output to the lighting device.

[0018] The change condition or one of the change conditions can be a switch-off condition, which is fulfilled when the at least one item of status information indicates the appropriateness of switching off the parking light, whereby the parking light is switched off when the switch-off condition is fulfilled. In this case, the status information implies that switching off the parking light is indicated due to the current circumstances, for example due to sunrise or the switching on of street lighting and / or a change in the traffic situation. The switch-off condition can also be fulfilled if the switch-on condition is not fulfilled. When the switch-off condition is fulfilled, a control signal causing the parking light to be switched off can be generated by the control device and output to the lighting device.

[0019] The change condition or one of the change conditions can be a brightness change condition, which is fulfilled when the at least one piece of status information indicates the desirability of changing the brightness of the parking light, wherein the brightness of the parking light is changed when the brightness change condition is fulfilled. In this case, the status information implies that an increase or decrease in the brightness of the parking light is indicated due to the current circumstances. Increasing the brightness of the parking light is appropriate, for example, when the ambient brightness of the motor vehicle increases or when existing fog becomes denser. Reducing the brightness of the parking light is appropriate, for example, when the ambient brightness of the motor vehicle decreases and dazzling other road users by the parking light should be avoided.When the brightness change condition is met, a control signal causing the change in the brightness of the parking light can be generated by means of the control device and output to the lighting device.

[0020] Preferably, it is provided that upon fulfillment of at least one change condition, the fulfillment of an enable condition is additionally checked, wherein the automatic change in the state of the parking light only occurs upon fulfillment of the enable condition, wherein the enable condition is fulfilled when the user signal representing an enable signal is present, wherein the enable signal is generated by an operating action on the terminal device performed by the user and directed at enabling the change in the state of the parking light. Thus, it can be provided that upon fulfillment of the change condition, the change in the parking light does not initially occur automatically, but rather the user is first informed that a change in the state of the parking light is currently expedient. To implement this change, the enable signal is required, i.e. the user's consent to this change.This embodiment implements the semi- or half-automatic control already mentioned above.

[0021] Specifically, if at least one change condition is met, a user output can be output via the device, informing the user of the appropriate and therefore suggested change to the status of the parking light. The user output can be output visually or acoustically. In addition to this information, a confirmation and rejection button can be displayed, for example, via the application. The approval signal is generated when the confirmation button is tapped.

[0022] The state information relating to the motor vehicle or one of the state information items relating to the motor vehicle can be state of charge information relating to a current and / or predicted state of charge of an electrical energy storage device of the motor vehicle and is determined by means of a state of charge detection device. According to this embodiment, the motor vehicle is an electric or hybrid vehicle, wherein the electrical energy storage device is a high-voltage battery of the motor vehicle in which electrical energy intended for driving the motor vehicle is stored. It is conceivable that the electrical energy storage device is a low-voltage battery of the motor vehicle in which electrical energy intended for starting an internal combustion engine of the motor vehicle is stored.

[0023] If the state of charge information indicates that the electrical energy storage device or the high-voltage battery currently has or will have a low state of charge or will have one at a future point in time when a journey with the motor vehicle is expected to begin, it may be expedient not to switch on the parking lights, even if the switch-on condition is met based on additional state information. It is also conceivable that, based on such state of charge information, the brightness change condition is met, and the brightness of the parking lights is reduced to conserve the energy storage device.

[0024] The charge state detection device can be a control device of the motor vehicle configured to control the operation of the electrical energy storage device, which is configured to control a charging or discharging process of the electrical energy storage device. The charge state detection device can be a charge state sensor connected to the electrical energy storage device.

[0025] The status information relating to the motor vehicle or one of the status information items can be road side information relating to a side of the road on which the motor vehicle is currently parked. This can be used to determine on which side of the motor vehicle the parking lights should be switched on. The road side information can be determined using a camera on the motor vehicle. Image data of the motor vehicle's surroundings captured by the camera can be transmitted for evaluation to the control device, which has corresponding image evaluation software implemented on it. Additionally or alternatively, the road side information can be determined using a navigation device on the motor vehicle. The navigation device can be used to determine the current location of the motor vehicle, for example using GPS data.

[0026] The status information relating to the surroundings of the motor vehicle or one of the status information relating to the surroundings of the motor vehicle can be ambient brightness information relating to the current brightness in the surroundings of the motor vehicle. The ambient brightness information can be used to determine whether there is currently sufficient brightness in the surroundings of the motor vehicle for other road users to easily recognize the motor vehicle. Accordingly, depending on this, it can be determined whether the parking lights should be switched on, switched off, or whether the brightness should be changed. The ambient brightness information can be determined using a brightness sensor of the motor vehicle, which is in particular the camera or a camera. The ambient brightness information can be determined using a data exchange interface of the motor vehicle.This allows data regarding the current brightness to be retrieved and evaluated by the control system. The data exchange interface can be configured to retrieve this data from the internet. Furthermore, or in addition, it is conceivable that a communication connection with other vehicles could be established via the data exchange interface, with the relevant data being transmitted from the other vehicles, such as a vehicle fleet, to the motor vehicle.

[0027] The status information relating to the surroundings of the motor vehicle or one of the status information items relating to the surroundings of the motor vehicle can be weather information relating to the current weather at the location of the motor vehicle. The weather information can be used to determine whether adverse weather conditions, such as dense fog or heavy precipitation, currently prevail in the surroundings of the motor vehicle, in which case switching on the parking lights may be advisable. The weather information can be determined using a humidity sensor in the motor vehicle. The humidity sensor is preferably a rain sensor, which is used to determine the presence and, if applicable, the intensity of current precipitation. The weather information can be determined using the brightness sensor(s) or the camera and / or the data exchange interface(s) of the motor vehicle.This allows data about the current weather to be retrieved, for example from the Internet or from other motor vehicles.

[0028] The status information relating to the surroundings of the motor vehicle or one of the status information items relating to the surroundings of the motor vehicle can be road type information relating to the type and / or condition of the road on which the motor vehicle is currently parked. The road type information can be used to determine whether the road on which the motor vehicle is currently located has street lighting and / or is a road with limited visibility, possibly with many potholes and bends, or whether it is a clear, well-developed, multi-lane, and essentially straight road. Switching on the parking lights can be useful, for example, if the road type information indicates that there is no street lighting and the road is in a confusing and poor structural condition.The road type information can be determined by means of the camera(s) and / or the data exchange interface(s) and / or the navigation device(s) of the motor vehicle.

[0029] The status information concerning the surroundings of the motor vehicle or one of the status information concerning the surroundings of the motor vehicle can be traffic information concerning the current traffic situation regarding moving and / or stationary traffic at the location of the motor vehicle. Thus, switching on the parking lights or increasing their brightness may be appropriate if the traffic information indicates that there is currently heavy traffic at the location of the motor vehicle and / or that numerous vehicles are parked there, making the situation confusing. The traffic information can be determined using a radar sensor on the motor vehicle.Based on data from the radar sensor, which is evaluated for this purpose by the control unit, information about other vehicles in the vicinity of the motor vehicle can be determined, such as their direction, distance, and / or relative speed. Additionally or alternatively, traffic information can be obtained using the vehicle's camera(s) and / or data exchange interface(s).

[0030] Furthermore, the object is achieved in a motor vehicle of the type mentioned at the outset in that, according to the invention, the vehicle has a vehicle-mounted communication device, wherein a communication connection can be established between the motor vehicle and the terminal via the vehicle-mounted communication device and via a user-mounted communication device of a user's mobile electronic terminal, via which communication connection at least one user signal generated by the user and by means of the terminal can be transmitted from the terminal to the control device, wherein the control device is configured to control the at least one lighting device for generating the parking light based on the at least one user signal. The control processes taking place on the part of the motor vehicle above in connection with the method according to the invention can, preferably all, take place on the part of the control device.All advantages, features and aspects explained in connection with the method according to the invention are transferable to the motor vehicle according to the invention and vice versa.

[0031] Further advantages and details of the present invention will become apparent from the following exemplary embodiments and from the figures, which schematically show:

[0032] Fig. 1 : a schematic diagram of a motor vehicle according to the invention according to an embodiment,

[0033] Fig. 2: a schematic diagram of a mobile device of a user of the

[0034] Motor vehicle of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3: a flowchart of a method according to the invention according to an embodiment, for the implementation of which the motor vehicle of Fig. 1 and the terminal of Fig. 2 are provided.

[0035] Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a motor vehicle 1 according to the invention according to an exemplary embodiment. The motor vehicle 1 comprises lighting devices 2 for generating a parking light. The lighting devices 2 comprise front headlights 3 arranged on the left and right sides of the motor vehicle 1 and rear headlights 4 arranged on the left and right sides of the motor vehicle 1. In driving mode, light for illuminating the surroundings of the motor vehicle 1 can be generated by means of the front headlights 3 and a rear light can be generated by means of the rear headlights 4. To control the lighting devices 2, a control device 5 of the motor vehicle 1 is provided, by means of which the lighting devices 2 can be individually controlled. A user of the motor vehicle 1 has a mobile electronic terminal 6, namely the smartphone shown in Fig. 2.

[0036] Fig. 3 shows a flowchart of the method according to the invention, which comprises steps 7 to 15. On the motor vehicle side, the control device 5 is provided or configured to carry out the method. As an initial situation, it is assumed that the motor vehicle 1 has been parked to the side of a road, all lighting devices 2 are switched off, and the user of the motor vehicle 1 has left the parking location.

[0037] In the first step 7, a wireless communication connection 16 is established between the motor vehicle 1 and the terminal 6. For this purpose, a vehicle-side communication device 17 of the motor vehicle 1 and a user-side communication device 18 of the terminal 6 are provided. The wireless communication connection 16, established via the Internet, is established via a mobile radio network that uses the LTE standard and / or via a wireless local area network. In the next step 8, status information 19 is determined, each relating to a current circumstance of the motor vehicle 1 and / or its surroundings. This determination takes place periodically, in the present case, for example, once per minute, so that the status information 19 is continuously updated.

[0038] As status information 19 relating to the motor vehicle 1, charge state information 20 is determined, which relates to a current charge state of an electrical energy storage device 21 of the motor vehicle 1. The electrical energy storage device 21 is a high-voltage battery in which electrical energy for the traction of the motor vehicle 1 designed as an electric or hybrid vehicle is stored. It is also conceivable that the energy storage device 21 is a low-voltage battery. In any case, the parking light is generated using electrical energy provided by the energy storage device 21. The charge state information 20 indicates the current charge state of the electrical energy storage device 21. It is also conceivable that the charge state information 20 indicates a future charge state of the electrical energy storage device 21 based on the data from the charge state detection device 22.The charge state information 20 is detected by means of a charge state detection device 22, which is a control device and / or a charge state sensor configured to control the operation of the electrical energy storage device 21.

[0039] As further status information 19 relating to motor vehicle 1, road side information 23 is determined, which relates to the side of the road on which motor vehicle 1 is currently parked. The road side information 23 indicates whether motor vehicle 1 is parked on the left or right side of the road. The road side information 23 is determined using a camera 24 of motor vehicle 1. For this purpose, camera images of the surroundings of motor vehicle 1 are transmitted to control device 5, on which image analysis software is implemented, by means of which road side information 23 can be determined based on the image data. To verify this result, GPS-based data from a navigation device 25 of motor vehicle 1 is used. As status information 19 relating to the surroundings of motor vehicle 1, ambient brightness information 26 is determined, which relates to a current brightness in the surroundings of motor vehicle 1.For this purpose, data from a brightness sensor 27 of the motor vehicle 1 is used, with the camera 24 being used as the brightness sensor 27. Furthermore, the ambient brightness information 26 is determined based on data retrieved from the Internet via a data exchange interface 28 of the motor vehicle 1. For this purpose, the current position of the motor vehicle 1 is determined via the navigation device 25, with data being retrieved from the Internet relating to the brightness currently expected based on the current position of the sun and the current weather conditions at the location of the motor vehicle 1. In this case, the communication device 17 is used as the data exchange interface 28. Specifically, the ambient brightness information 26 is available as a numerical value that is greater the greater the current brightness in the surroundings of the motor vehicle 1.

[0040] As a further item of status information 19 relating to the surroundings of the motor vehicle 1, weather information 29 is determined, which relates to the current weather at the location of the motor vehicle 1. The weather information 29 is determined in this case via the brightness sensor 27 or the camera 24. Thus, the brightness alone can represent information relevant to the current weather. Specifically, image data from the camera 24 is evaluated by the control device 5 to determine the weather information 29. Furthermore, data from a rain or humidity sensor 30 is used in this context. In addition, information from the Internet relating to the weather is retrieved via the data exchange interface 28. The weather information 29 indicates whether precipitation is currently occurring and, if so, what type and how heavy it is. Furthermore, the weather information 29 indicates whether the visibility conditions are currently clear or foggy.

[0041] As further status information 19 relating to the surroundings of motor vehicle 1, road type information 31 is determined, which relates to the type and condition of the road on which motor vehicle 1 is currently parked. To determine road type information 31, the data from camera 24 are evaluated by control device 5. Furthermore, the position of motor vehicle 1 determined via navigation device 25 is used to retrieve data from the internet via data exchange interface 28 that provides information about the type and condition of the road. Specifically, road type information 31 indicates whether the road in question is a confusing road with possibly numerous potholes and curves, or whether it is a clear, well-developed, multi-lane, and essentially straight road.

[0042] As a further item of status information 19 relating to the surroundings of motor vehicle 1, traffic information 32 is determined, which relates to the current traffic situation regarding moving and stationary traffic at the location of motor vehicle 1. Traffic information 32 is determined using data from radar sensors 33 of motor vehicle 1. This data is evaluated with regard to vehicles passing motor vehicle 1 and vehicles parked in the vicinity of motor vehicle 1. In addition, data from camera 24 is used to determine traffic information 32, wherein vehicles present in the vicinity of motor vehicle 1 can also be determined from the camera data. Furthermore, traffic information 32 is determined using data, for example traffic reports, which are retrieved from the internet via data exchange interface 28.Traffic information 32 relates to the density of the traffic currently flowing at the location of motor vehicle 1. Furthermore, traffic information 32 relates to whether other vehicles are parked in front of and / or behind motor vehicle 1.

[0043] Additionally, the data exchange interface 28 can also be used to retrieve data from other vehicles that may belong to a vehicle fleet. Thus, data from which the ambient brightness information 26, the weather information 29, the road type information 31, and the traffic information 32 can be determined, or the respective information itself, can be provided by other vehicles in the fleet and transmitted to the motor vehicle 1 via the data exchange interface 28.

[0044] In the next step 9 of the method, the status information 19 is transmitted to the terminal 6 via the communication connection 16. This information is processed by an application 34 implemented on the terminal 6, so that user outputs are provided to the user via a display unit 35 of the terminal 6, designed as a touchscreen, via which the user is informed about the circumstances described by the status information 19. Since the status information 19 is continuously updated, it is transmitted to the terminal 6 and its output is also continuously updated.

[0045] In the next step 10, the user is enabled to generate a user signal 36 via the terminal device 6, which is transmitted from the terminal device 6 via the communication connection 16 to the motor vehicle 1, more precisely to the control device 5, wherein the lighting devices 2 are controlled based on the user signal 36. Since such specification or generation of the user signal 36 by the user is not mandatory and therefore only optional, this method step is represented in the flowchart of Fig. 3 as a dashed box.

[0046] The application 34 thus gives the user the option of generating a user signal, for example by tapping at least one button and / or moving at least one slider, which is used to control the parking light, such as switching it on or off or changing the brightness. Furthermore, the user can thereby specify whether the parking light should be switched on on the left or right side and / or only at the front or only at the rear of the motor vehicle 1. The user specifications are transmitted as the user signal 36 to the control device 5, which generates control signals directed thereto and outputs them to the lighting devices 2. In the next step 11 of the method, a check is carried out to determine whether a user signal 36 has been generated by the user and is present at the control device 5.If this is the case, then in step 15, the control device 5 generates at least one control signal 37 and outputs it to the lighting device(s) 2, thereby implementing the change in the parking light desired by the user and specified by the user signal 36. The method then continues in step 8, in which the status information 19 is re-recorded and thus updated.

[0047] If the check in step 11 reveals that no user signal 36 is present, the method continues in step 12. In this step, the status information 19 is used to check whether change conditions are met. Although the flowchart only indicates the checking of one change condition, the fulfillment of three change conditions is specifically checked. Thus, one of the change conditions is met if at least one of the status information 19 implies that a change in the status of the parking light is expedient or indicated due to current circumstances. In principle, checking the aforementioned change conditions can lead to different results for different lighting devices 2.

[0048] One of the three change conditions is a switch-on condition, which is met when at least one of the status information items 19 indicates the appropriateness of switching on the parking light. This is the case, for example, when the ambient brightness information 26 indicates that the brightness has fallen below a predetermined limit. This limit can indicate a brightness below which it is no longer easily possible for other road users to recognize the motor vehicle 1. Furthermore, the switch-on condition can be met if the weather information 29 indicates that adverse weather conditions currently exist. Furthermore, the road type information 31 can be taken into account with regard to the switch-on condition, namely in such a way that the aforementioned limit values ​​regarding brightness or weather are tightened if this information indicates that the road is unclear.The same applies to traffic information 32, whereby the limit values ​​in this regard can be tightened if there is currently heavy traffic and / or many other vehicles parked next to motor vehicle 1. In the context of traffic information 32, it can also be checked whether there are other vehicles parked in front of and / or behind motor vehicle 1, since in this case, switching on the parking lights using the lighting device 2 obscured by these vehicles is not appropriate, so that the fundamentally fulfilled switch-on condition for the concealed lighting device 2 is still not met. Furthermore, the charge state information 20 can be taken into account with regard to the switch-on condition. Thus, it is assumed that, based on the remaining status information 19, the switch-on condition is fundamentally fulfilled.However, if the state of charge information 20 indicates that the state of charge of the energy storage device 21 is low, the activation condition may still not be met due to this circumstance. Specifically, in this situation, it can be checked whether the state of charge of the energy storage device 21 or the traction battery is sufficiently high so that, after the parking light is switched on, a sufficient state of charge is still present at a later time, allowing a journey to be started accordingly.

[0049] Another change condition is a switch-off condition. This condition is only checked if the parking light is currently switched on. This condition is met if status information 19 indicates that it is appropriate to switch off the parking light. The switch-off condition can be met if the switch-on condition is not met.

[0050] Another change condition is a brightness change condition, which is met when the status information 19 indicates the appropriateness of changing the brightness of the parking light. This condition is only checked if the parking light is currently switched on. Thus, during the check of this condition, the charge level information 20 is checked to determine whether a reduction in the brightness of the parking light is indicated due to a decreasing charge level. Furthermore, this condition is met if a change in brightness, a change in the weather, or a change in the traffic situation implies that increasing or decreasing the brightness of the parking light is necessary or advisable.

[0051] If none of the change conditions are met, the method continues in step 8, in which the status information 19 is newly recorded and thus updated. If at least one of the change conditions is met, a signal is transmitted from the motor vehicle 1 or the control device 5 to the terminal 6 via the communication connection 16 as part of the next step 13. This signal causes the user to be given a user output via the display unit 35 indicating that a corresponding change, i.e., switching the parking light on or off or changing its brightness, is appropriate. Information is also provided regarding the circumstances why this is the case. During this information output, the user is shown a confirmation and denial button, whereby the user can tap the former if they agree to the change in the status of the parking light.Otherwise, the user can press the deny button. If the user taps the confirmation button, a user signal 36 representing an approval signal is generated by the application and transmitted to the control device 5 via the communication connection 16.

[0052] In the next step 14, the fulfillment of an enable condition is checked. This condition is fulfilled when the user signal 36 representing the enable signal is present on the control device 5. If this is not the case, i.e., the user does not agree with the proposed change in the state of the parking light, the method continues in step 8, in which the state information 19 is re-recorded and thus updated. Alternatively, the method can also be definitively terminated in this case. If the check of the enable condition shows that it is fulfilled, the control signal 37 is generated in step 15 such that the proposed change in the state of the parking light is implemented. The parking light is thus switched on or off, or its brightness is changed.Following this, the method is continued in step 8, in which the status information 19 is newly recorded and thus updated.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A method for generating a parking light of a motor vehicle (1) with at least one lighting device (2) for generating the parking light, characterized in that the motor vehicle (1) has a vehicle-side communication device (17), wherein a mobile electronic terminal (6) of a user has a user-side communication device (18), wherein a communication connection (16) is established between the motor vehicle (1) and the terminal (6) via the communication devices (17, 18), via which communication connection at least one user signal (36) generated by the user and by means of the terminal (6) is transmitted from the terminal (6) to the motor vehicle (1), wherein the control of the at least one lighting device (2) for generating the parking light takes place on the basis of the at least one user signal (36).

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one item of status information (19) relating to a current circumstance of the motor vehicle (1) and / or an environment of the motor vehicle (1) is determined, wherein the control of the at least one lighting device (2) for generating the parking light is carried out on the basis of the at least one item of status information (19) and / or the at least one item of status information (19) is transmitted to the terminal (6) via the communication connection (16) and output to the user.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the control of the at least one lighting device (2) is carried out on the basis of the at least one item of status information (19), characterized in that the fulfillment of at least one change condition is checked as a function of the at least one item of status information (19), which then is fulfilled when the at least one item of status information (19) indicates the expediency of changing the status of the parking light, wherein the change in the status of the parking light occurs automatically when the change condition is fulfilled.

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that the change condition or one of the change conditions - a switch-on condition which is fulfilled when the at least one item of status information (19) indicates the appropriateness of switching on the parking light, the parking light being switched on when the switch-on condition is fulfilled, and / or - a switch-off condition which is fulfilled when the at least one item of status information (19) indicates the expediency of switching off the parking light, the parking light being switched off when the switch-off condition is fulfilled, and / or - a brightness change condition which is fulfilled when the at least one item of status information (19) indicates the desirability of changing the brightness of the parking light, the brightness of the parking light being changed when the brightness change condition is fulfilled.

5. Method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that when the at least one change condition is fulfilled, the fulfillment of an enable condition is additionally checked, wherein the automatic change in the state of the parking light only takes place when the enable condition is fulfilled, wherein the enable condition is fulfilled when the user signal (36) representing an enable signal is present, wherein the enable signal is generated by an operating action on the terminal (6) carried out by the user and directed at enabling the change in the state of the parking light.

6. Method according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the state information (19) relating to the motor vehicle (1) or one of the state information (19) relating to the motor vehicle (1) is a state of charge information (20) which relates to a current and / or predicted state of charge of an electrical energy store (21) of the motor vehicle (1) and is determined by means of a state of charge detection device (22).

7. Method according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the status information (19) relating to the motor vehicle (1) or one of the status information (19) relating to the motor vehicle (1) is road side information (23) relating to a road side on which the motor vehicle (1) is currently parked and is determined by means of a camera (24) and / or a navigation device (25) of the motor vehicle (1).

8. Method according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that the state information relating to the surroundings of the motor vehicle (1) or one of the state information (19) relating to the surroundings of the motor vehicle (1) is ambient brightness information (26) which relates to a current brightness in the surroundings of the motor vehicle (1) and is determined by means of a brightness sensor (27) and / or a data exchange interface (28) of the motor vehicle (1).

9. Method according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the status information (19) relating to the surroundings of the motor vehicle (1) or one of the status information (19) relating to the surroundings of the motor vehicle (1) is weather information (29) which relates to current weather at the location of the motor vehicle (1) and is determined by means of a humidity sensor (30) and / or the brightness sensor (27) and / or the data exchange interface (28) of the motor vehicle (1).

10. Method according to one of claims 2 to 9, characterized in that the state information (19) relating to the surroundings of the motor vehicle (1) or one of the state information (19) relating to the surroundings of the motor vehicle (1) is road type information (31) which relates to a type and / or a state of the road on which the motor vehicle (1) is currently parked and is determined by means of the camera (24) and / or the data exchange interface (28) and / or the navigation device (25) of the motor vehicle (1).

11. Method according to one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that the status information (19) relating to the surroundings of the motor vehicle (1) or one of the status information (19) relating to the surroundings of the motor vehicle (1) is traffic information (32) which relates to a current traffic situation relating to the moving and / or stationary traffic at the location of the motor vehicle (1) and is determined by means of a radar sensor (33) and / or the or a camera (24) and / or the or a data exchange interface (28) of the motor vehicle (1).

12. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wireless communication connection (16) is formed via a mobile radio network and / or a wireless local area network.

13. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that that the terminal (6) is a smartphone on which an application (34) for generating the at least one user signal (36) is implemented.

14. Motor vehicle with at least one lighting device (2) for generating a parking light and a control device (5) for controlling the at least one lighting device (2), characterized in that the motor vehicle (1) has a vehicle-side communication device (17), wherein a communication connection (16) can be established between the motor vehicle (1) and the terminal (6) via the vehicle-side communication device (17) and via a user-side communication device (18) of a user's mobile electronic terminal (6), via which communication connection at least one user signal (36) generated by the user and by means of the terminal (6) can be transmitted from the terminal (6) to the control device (5), wherein the control device (5) is set up to control the at least one lighting device (2) for generating the parking light based on the at least one user signal (36).

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