METHOD AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

While a motor vehicle is travelling, a selected offer of entertainment for a vehicle occupant is output by use of a display device arranged in the motor vehicle. Driving characteristics of the motor vehicle are adapted by a control device of the motor vehicle to the offer of entertainment output at a given moment and the motor vehicle is autonomously controlled in a way corresponding to the adapted driving characteristics.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A method for operating a motor vehicle, the method comprising: while the motor vehicle is travelling, outputting by a display device arranged in the motor vehicle, a selected offer of entertainment for a vehicle occupant; when a plurality of routes to a destination are available, selecting a route among the plurality of routes that best matches the selected offer of entertainment, the selecting the route being based on a respective height profile and/or curve profile of the plurality of routes; adapting driving characteristics of the motor vehicle to the selected offer of entertainment output at a given moment and according to a virtual movement of the vehicle occupant within a virtual environment of the selected offer of entertainment output at the given moment; and autonomously controlling the motor vehicle in a way corresponding to the adapted driving characteristics.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the display device is virtual reality glasses, augmented reality glasses, or mixed reality glasses.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein adapting the driving characteristics of the motor vehicle includes adapting longitudinal acceleration characteristics of the motor vehicle to the selected offer of entertainment output at the given moment.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein adapting the driving characteristics of the motor vehicle includes adapting transverse acceleration characteristics of the motor vehicle to the selected offer of entertainment output at the given moment.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein adapting the driving characteristics of the motor vehicle includes adapting overtaking characteristics of the motor vehicle to the selected offer of entertainment output at the given moment.

16. A control device for operating a motor vehicle, the control device comprising: a memory configured to store instructions; and a processor configured to execute the instructions to: when a plurality of routes to a destination are available, select a route among the plurality of routes that best matches a selected offer of entertainment output by a display device arranged in the motor vehicle, the selection of the route being based on a respective height profile and/or curve profile of the plurality of routes, adapt driving characteristics of the motor vehicle to the selected offer of entertainment output by the display device, and autonomously control the motor vehicle in a way corresponding to the adapted driving characteristics.

17. The control device of claim 16, wherein the selected offer of entertainment output by the display device is a virtual reality experience having a virtual environment, a vehicle occupant wears the display device and is shut off completely from an actual environment or is partially shut off from the actual environment while viewing the virtual environment via the display device, and the processor is configured to adapt the driving characteristics of the motor vehicle to the selected offer of entertainment output at a given moment and according to a virtual movement of the vehicle occupant within the virtual environment at the given moment.

18. The control device of claim 17, wherein the display device is virtual reality glasses, augmented reality glasses, or mixed reality glasses.

19. The control device of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to adapt the driving characteristics of the motor vehicle by adapting longitudinal acceleration characteristics of the motor vehicle to the selected offer of entertainment output at the given moment.

20. The control device of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to adapt the driving characteristics of the motor vehicle by adapting transverse acceleration characteristics of the motor vehicle to the selected offer of entertainment output at the given moment.

21. The control device of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured to adapt the driving characteristics of the motor vehicle by adapting overtaking characteristics of the motor vehicle to the selected offer of entertainment output at the given moment.

22. A motor vehicle, comprising: a vehicle body; and a control device configured to: when a plurality of routes to a destination are available, select a route among the plurality of routes that best matches a selected offer of entertainment output by a display device arranged in the motor vehicle, the selection of the route being based on a respective height profile and/or curve profile of the plurality of routes, adapt driving characteristics of the motor vehicle to the selected offer of entertainment output by the display device, and autonomously control the motor vehicle in a way corresponding to the adapted driving characteristics.

23. The motor vehicle of claim 22, wherein the selected offer of entertainment output by the display device is a virtual reality experience having a virtual environment, a vehicle occupant wears the display device and is shut off completely from an actual environment or is partially shut off from the actual environment while viewing the virtual environment via the display device, and the control device is configured to adapt the driving characteristics of the motor vehicle to the selected offer of entertainment output at a given moment and according to a virtual movement of the vehicle occupant within the virtual environment at the given moment.

24. The motor vehicle of claim 23, wherein the display device is virtual reality glasses, augmented reality glasses, or mixed reality glasses.

25. The motor vehicle of claim 23, wherein the control device is configured to adapt the driving characteristics of the motor vehicle by adapting longitudinal acceleration characteristics of the motor vehicle to the selected offer of entertainment output at the given moment.

26. The motor vehicle of claim 23, wherein the control device is configured to adapt the driving characteristics of the motor vehicle by adapting transverse acceleration characteristics of the motor vehicle to the selected offer of entertainment output at the given moment.

27. The motor vehicle of claim 23, wherein the control device is configured to adapt the driving characteristics of the motor vehicle by adapting overtaking characteristics of the motor vehicle to the selected offer of entertainment output at the given moment.

28. The motor vehicle of claim 22, further comprising a navigation system configured to provide information regarding the respective height profile and/or curve profile of the plurality of routes to the control device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] These and other aspects and advantages will become more apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the example embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying single drawing which is a schematic representation of a motor vehicle, which has a control device for autonomously controlling the motor vehicle, there being arranged within the motor vehicle a display device by use of which different offers of entertainment when traveling in the motor vehicle can be output.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Reference will now be made in detail to examples which are illustrated in the accompanying single drawing, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

[0023] A motor vehicle 1 is shown in a highly schematized form in the single drawing. The motor vehicle 1 includes a control device 2 (for example, having a memory storing instructions and a processor to execute the instructions) for operating the motor vehicle 1. The control device 2 is designed to adapt driving characteristics of the motor vehicle 1 to an offer of entertainment output by use of a display device 3 arranged in the motor vehicle 1 and to control the motor vehicle 1 autonomously in a way corresponding to the adapted driving characteristics.

[0024] While traveling in a motor vehicle 1, an offer of entertainment selected by a vehicle occupant not represented here is therefore output by use of the display device 3 arranged in the motor vehicle 1. The display device 3 may be for example virtual reality glasses, augmented reality glasses, or else mixed reality glasses. Moreover, it is also possible that the display device 3 is for example a display device fixed to the vehicle, such as for example a display unit or the like.

[0025] The driving characteristics of the motor vehicle 1 are adapted to the offer of entertainment output at a given moment, with the motor vehicle 1 being autonomously controlled by use of the control device 2 in a way corresponding to the adapted driving characteristics. Thus, it is for example provided that the driving characteristics of the motor vehicle 1 are adapted to a virtual movement of the vehicle occupant within a virtual environment of the offer of entertainment output at a given moment.

[0026] If for example the vehicle occupant is wearing virtual reality glasses in the form of the display device 3, it is possible by use of these glasses to output for example a virtual space battle, in which the vehicle occupant virtually moves relatively dynamically up and down and also back and forth sideways within a virtual environment. Moreover, it may also be envisaged that it is provided within the limits of the virtual space battle that relatively rapid or strong acceleration processes and deceleration processes occur within the virtual environment.

[0027] It may thus be provided that the longitudinal acceleration characteristics and the transverse acceleration characteristics of the motor vehicle 1 are adapted to the offer of entertainment output at a given moment, in the specific case therefore to the virtual space battle. Also, overtaking characteristics of the motor vehicle 1 may be adapted to the offer of entertainment output at a given moment. If for example, on the basis of his or her visual perception within the virtual space battle, the vehicle occupant performs many evasive maneuvers, the overtaking characteristics of the motor vehicle 1 may take place correspondingly dynamically—to the extent that is legally admissible and also safe in view of the traffic situation.

[0028] If on the other hand it is provided by use of the display device 3 arranged in the motor vehicle 1 that the vehicle occupant is for example transported into a kind of virtual cinema in order to watch a film, the driving characteristics of the motor vehicle 1 may be made particularly smooth. As a result, it can for example be ensured that the vehicle occupant does not become nauseous when watching the film.

[0029] Moreover, it may also be provided that, should there be several routes to a destination, the one of the routes that best matches the selected offer of entertainment is chosen. For example, a respective height profile and/or curve profile of the routes may be taken into account in the selection. Thus, it is possible for example that the motor vehicle 1 has a built-in navigation system, which provides corresponding information on the height profile and/or curve profile of various alternative routes to a destination. Depending on what kind of offer of entertainment the vehicle occupant has selected, the one of the routes that best matches the selected offer of entertainment can be selected, in particular with regard to the virtual movement of the vehicle occupant within a virtual environment of the offer of entertainment output at a given moment.

[0030] By use of the control device 2 and the method explained, it is therefore possible to adapt the driving characteristics of the motor vehicle 1 to a respective offer of entertainment that is played by use of the display device 3 arranged in a motor vehicle 1. In the context, it may for example also be provided that the offer of entertainment as such is likewise adapted to respective driving dynamics of the motor vehicle 1 with regard to a virtual movement of the vehicle occupant within a virtual environment of the offer of entertainment output at a given moment. Thus, it is possible to adapt not only the driving characteristics of the motor vehicle to the offer of entertainment output at a given moment but also to adapt the offer of entertainment to respective driving characteristics of the motor vehicle 1. This allows a particularly realistic perception of the offer of entertainment output at a specific time while traveling in the motor vehicle 1.

[0031] A description has been provided with reference to various examples, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the claims which may include the phrase “at least one of A, B and C” as an alternative expression that means one or more of A, B and C may be used, contrary to the holding in Superguide v. DIRECTV, 358 F3d 870, 69 USPQ2d 1865 (Fed. Cir. 2004).