Patent Publication Number: US-2023150425-A1

Title: Motor Vehicle

Description:
The invention relates to a motor vehicle which can be operated in a self-driving mode, wherein the motor vehicle includes an adaptive illumination system for generating adaptive light signal messages to individual road users, which illumination system includes at least one lighting device and a control device for controlling the at least one lighting device. 
     Communication between other road users and vehicles steered by humans always takes place by way of eye contact, gestures or visual/auditory (warning) signals such as flashing lights or horn. 
     The illumination functions of vehicles as safety-relevant measures and as means of communication for communicating with other road users will increasingly gain importance when vehicles are no longer steered by a human but act completely autonomously or partly autonomously for example via an autonomous self-driving mode relieving the driver. The illumination functions will then no longer orient themselves by the perception of the human road users, but by the requirements for technical installations (sensors, camera systems, etc.) of the self-driving vehicle. These technical installations can in a desirable manner reliably detect surrounding conditions present so that based on the detected situation, in particular a hazard situation, corresponding communication signals are transmitted to the other road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and non-autonomous vehicles. A particular challenge with respect to the use of autonomous vehicles is also constituted by road users which do not actively concentrate on the traffic or incorrectly assess a traffic situation, for example pedestrians and children. These road users can easily overlook vehicles or their illumination functions. 
     The term “self-driving vehicle” (herein also referred to as “autonomous vehicle” relates to vehicles, in particular to motor vehicles, which are equipped to be moveable even without intervention of a driver, typically in a computer-controlled manner. The self-driving vehicle can be for example completely autonomous or it can be a vehicle that can be switched over from an active driver-operated driving mode for relieving the driver into an autonomous self-driving mode. The self-driving vehicle can be of the single-track or double-track type. For example, this can be a passenger motor vehicle, a commercial vehicle or an agricultural vehicle such as a tractor or the like. In particular, the self-driving vehicle is a passenger car or a commercial vehicle. 
     The term “road user” relates to all objects. Typically present in road traffic, such as other vehicles and human road users such as pedestrians or cyclists. 
     It is an object of the invention to provide an improved motor vehicle. 
     This object is solved in that the at least one illumination device includes
     at least one light source,   at least one optical diffuser assigned to the light source, which is equipped to diffuse the light that can be emitted by the at least one light source by way of diffraction in order to make possible a diffuse illumination impression of the optical diffuser,   a carrier element, on which the at least one light source is arranged, wherein the carrier element includes a cable conduit for conducting at least one electrical line, which connects the at least one light source with the control device, and a first fastening means for fastening the carrier element or the lighting device to the motor vehicle,   a cover, which can be fastened to the carrier element by means of a second fastening means, wherein the cover, combined with the carrier element in a state as fastened to the carrier element is equipped to hold the optical diffuser,   
 and wherein the at least one lighting device is arranged encircling the motor vehicle in such a manner that when the at least one lighting device is switched on, the optical diffuser is perceptible as visually continuously shining light ring.
     It can be provided that the lighting device is arranged horizontally encircling the motor vehicle. 
     The term “horizontally encircling” is to mean to that the at least one lighting device extends over the two longitudinal sides and also the two wide sides of the motor vehicle, for example along the roof rail. Here, the at least one lighting device need not be oriented exactly horizontally to the respective road surface on which the vehicle is located (during the operation), but can also have steps for the connection of which in turn a portion of the at least one lighting device runs at an angle to the road surface or no longer horizontally. 
     “Horizontally encircling” does not mean that the at least one lighting device runs over the floor plate and over the roof of the motor vehicle, which would correspond to a vertically encircling arrangement. 
     The at least one lighting device can be for example a part of the body of the motor vehicle, for example as replacement for ornamental mouldings which are usually present on the vehicle doors below the windows or the roof rail of the motor vehicle. 
     The at least one lighting device and the control device can be operated by way of the already existing motor vehicle electrical system. 
     It can be provided that the carrier element has a longitudinal extension wherein the cable conduit extends along the longitudinal extension of the carrier element. 
     It can be provided that the illumination system includes at least two or more lighting devices, wherein the at least two or more lighting devices are arranged encircling the motor vehicle in such a manner that with each lighting device switched on simultaneously, the optical diffusers of the lighting devices are perceptible as visually continuously shining light ring. 
     In the presence of two or more lighting devices, the lighting devices can be physically spaced apart from one another for as long as, when each light source, for example light emitting diode (LED) is switched on, they form a visually continuously shining light ring. 
     In this context, “continuous” is to mean that a closed light ring is formed, i.e. that in the switched-on state of the light sources, the light ring appears or is perceptible visually continuously or closed continuously about the motor vehicle. Here, the lighting devices can physically be spaced apart as mentioned above. It can also be provided that the lighting devices physically also form a continuous or closed light ring. 
     With two or more lighting devices, these can be arranged relative to one another or on one another in such a manner that the cable conduit of a lighting device follows the cable conduit of the immediately adjacent lighting device so that a continuous cable conduit is made possible. 
     It can be provided that the at least one light source is formed as LED. 
     It can be provided that the at least one LED is arranged on a circuit board, which circuit board is arranged on the carrier element. 
     It can be provided that the at least one light source is formed as a light guide with an LED into which light guide light of the LED can be fed. 
     It can be provided that the first fastening means includes screws and associated bore openings, wherein the bore openings are arranged on the carrier element, via which bore openings the carrier element can be fastened to the motor vehicle by means of the screws. 
     It can be provided that the second fastening means includes screws and associated bore openings, wherein the bore openings are arranged on the carrier element, via which bore openings the cover can be fastened to the carrier element by means of the screws. 
     It can be provided that the at least one light source of the at least one lighting device are controlled and activated by the control device when the motor vehicle is in the self-driving mode. 
     It can be provided that the at least two or more lighting devices can be controlled by the control device independently of one another. 
     It can be provided that the motor vehicle includes at least one sensor device which is equipped in each case to individually detect road users that are present in the vicinity of the motor vehicle and take into account changes of the relative position between the motor vehicle and the individual road users. 
     It can be provided that the at least one sensor device is an image sensor-supported camera, a near field infrared sensor or an ultrasound sensor. 
     The at least one sensor device for individually detecting other road users present in the vehicle vicinity can be realised for example as image sensor-supported camera, infrared sensor and/or radar scanner. In addition to this, LiDAR or ultrasound systems can also be employed. Such devices are known from the state of the art and can also be employed combined with one another in order to utilise the various advantages. The image sensor-supported camera can include the functions of a normal camera, a night-vision camera and/or a fog-vision camera, so that in any light conditions and weather a reliable and detection of the vehicle surroundings and of the road users involved of adequate quality is possible. It can be provided that the camera has an additional infrared camera function in order to be able to even better detect humans and animals on the basis of their body temperature. 
     It can be provided that the sensor device on detecting at least one road user transmits a signal to the control device so that the control device controls that lighting device which is closest to the at least one detected road user. 
     It can be provided that the controlled light sources radiate a coloured light, for example green and/or red light. 
     It can be further provided that the light colour of the light distribution generated by the light sources, which is transmitted to the respective detected road user, informs the road user as to how the traffic situation is evaluated by the self-driving vehicle. Conveniently, colours can be employed here which have become accepted in road traffic as generally recognised signals for certain situations. For example, the colour “green” could signal to the road user that he has been detected by the self-driving vehicle, the situation thus is in the “green range” and the road user need not take any actions. The colours “yellow” or “orange” could signal to the road user that the traffic situation does not pose any danger as yet but that any action of the road user (e.g. standing still, braking) is anticipated. The colour “red” could signal a hazard situation which requires actions both on the part of the road user and also on the part of the self-driving vehicle in order to prevent a potentially dangerous traffic situation or an accident. 
     It can be provided that the respective detected road user is made aware of the self-driving vehicle by means of an intensity modulation of the generated signal light distribution. The intensity modulation can include flashing, strobe flashing, a constant brightness with superimposed strobe flashes or a combination thereof. The intensity modulation of the generated signal light distribution represents an efficient measure in order to be able to avert concrete and immediate dangers. 
     It can also be provided that the light ring can be utilised in order to indicate travelling directions. For example, a wipe effect in the case of an intended forward or reverse movement of the vehicle can be generated with the help of the lighting devices of the light ring. In the following, the invention is explained in more detail by way of exemplary drawings. Here it shows 
    
    
     
         FIG.  1    an extract of an exemplary motor vehicle having an illumination system which comprises multiple lighting devices which are arranged on the motor vehicle in a horizontally encircling manner, 
         FIG.  2    an exemplary lighting device in a perspective view, 
         FIG.  3    the exemplary lighting device from  FIG.  2    in a perspective view from below, 
         FIG.  4 A  a schematic cross-section of an exemplary lighting device on a motor vehicle, 
         FIG.  4 B  a schematic cross-section of a further exemplary lighting device on a motor vehicle, 
         FIG.  4 C  a schematic cross-section of a further exemplary lighting device on a motor vehicle, 
         FIG.  4 D  a schematic cross-section of a further exemplary lighting device on a motor vehicle, and 
         FIG.  4 E  a schematic cross-section of a further exemplary lighting device on a motor vehicle. 
     
    
    
       FIG.  1    shows an exemplary motor vehicle  10 , which can be operated in a self-driving mode, wherein the motor vehicle  10  includes an adaptive illumination system  50  for generating adaptive light signal messages to individual road users, which illumination system  50  includes multiple lighting devices  100  and a control device for controlling the lighting devices  100 . The lighting devices  100  are arranged horizontally encircling the motor vehicle  10  in such a manner that when each lighting device  100  is switched on simultaneously, the optical diffuser  120  of the lighting devices  100  are perceptible as visually continuously shining light ring. 
     The illumination system  50  of the exemplary motor vehicle  10  is configured so that the light source  110  of the lighting devices  100  are controlled and activated by the control device when the motor vehicle is in the self-driving mode. Further, the lighting devices  100  can be controlled by the control device independently of one another. 
     Further, the motor vehicle  10  can include at least one sensor device which is equipped in each case to individually detect road users present in the vicinity of the motor vehicle  10  and take into account changes of the relative position between the motor vehicle  10  and the individual road users. Here, the sensor device can be an image sensor-supported camera, a nearfield infrared sensor or an ultrasound sensor. On detecting at least one road user, the sensor device can transmit a signal to the control device so that the control device controls that lighting device or those lighting devices  100  which is/are nearest to the at least one detected road user. 
     A detailed view of an exemplary lighting device  100  is shown in  FIG.  2   , wherein the lighting device  100  includes a light source  110 , which can be formed as LED or multiple LEDs on a circuit board or an LED with a light guide. 
     Further, the lighting device  100  includes an optical diffuser  120  assigned to the light source  110  which is equipped to diffuse by diffraction the light that can be emitted by the at least one light source  110  in order to make possible a diffuse light impression of the optical diffuser  120 . 
     In addition to this, the lighting device includes a carrier element  130  on which the light source  110  is arranged, wherein the carrier element  130  includes a cable conduit  140  for conducting at least one electrical line, which connects the light source  110  with the control device, and a first fastening means  150  for fastening the carrier element  130  or the lighting device  100  to the motor vehicle. In the shown example, the first fastening means  150  includes screws and associated bore openings  151 , wherein the bore openings  151  are arranged on the carrier element  130 , via which bore openings  151  the carrier element  130  can be fastened to the motor vehicle by means of the screws, wherein the first fastening means  150  or the bore openings  151  are visible in  FIG.  3   . 
     The lighting device  100  further includes a cover  160  which can be fastened to the carrier element  130  by means of a second fastening means  170 , wherein the cover  160  combined with the carrier element  130  is equipped in a state as fastened to the carrier element  130  to hold the optical diffuser  120 . 
     The second fastening means  170  includes screws and associated bore openings  171 , wherein the bore openings  171  are arranged on the carrier element  130  via which bore openings  171  the cover  160  can be fastened to the carrier element  130  by means of the screws, wherein the second fastening means  170  or the bore openings are visible in  FIG.  3   . 
       FIGS.  4 A,  4 B,  4 C,  4 D and  4 E  additionally show further exemplary embodiments of a lighting device  100  in a schematic cross-sectional view. In  FIGS.  4 A,  4 B and  4 E , the light sources are designed as LED on a circuit board, wherein in  FIG.  4 E  the optical diffuser  120  additionally comprises an optical coupling unit for the light that can be emitted from the light source, which optical coupling-in unit can be designed for example as collimator, wherein the light coupled into the collimator is decoupled from the optical diffuser by way of a deflection region of the optical diffuser. The LED or the circuit board with the LED/LEDs is arranged in such a manner that the main radiation direction of the imitable light is directed in the direction of the cover or in a properly fastened state of the lighting device on a motor vehicle, towards the top. 
     “Main radiation direction” is to mean the direction in which the light emitting diode or the light emitting diodes as a consequence of their directional action radiates/radiate the brightest or the most light. 
       FIGS.  4 C and  4 D  show exemplary embodiments of a lighting device, in which the light sources are formed as light guides with at least one LED, into which light guide light of the at least one LED can be fed.