COMMUNICATION DEVICE FOR VEHICLES

Abstract

A communication device for vehicles having of light sources and control means for generating light patterns or light animations directed at individual road users. The light sources are arranged on a common planar carrier in a matrix-like manner and can be controlled individually. An environment sensor unit is provided for detecting road users. A control unit is provided for controlling the light sources, depending on the detected road user, such that a light pattern visualizing the current driving state of the vehicle or a light animation is generated. A cover having a plurality of lamellar struts and strip-shaped passages is connected to the light module on the light emission side, by which a first part of the light generated by the light module is transmitted through the strip-shaped passages and a second part of the light generated by the light module is not transmitted by means of the lamellar struts.

Claims

1. A communication device for a vehicle comprising: a light module comprising a plurality of light sources arranged on a common planar carrier and controllable individually; an environment sensor unit configured to detect road users in an environment of the vehicle; a control unit configured to control the plurality of light sources to generate, depending on the detection of a road user in the environment of the vehicle, a light pattern visualizing a current driving state of the vehicle; and a cover having a plurality of lamellar struts and strip-shaped passages, wherein the cover is connected to the light module on a light emission side of the light module, wherein a first part of the light generated by the light module is transmitted through the strip-shaped passages and a second part of the light generated by the light module hits the lamellar struts and is not transmitted through the cover.

2. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the cover is a cover film, wherein the lamellar struts are microstructure elements which are surrounded by a transparent surrounding material.

3. The communication device according to claim 2, wherein the lamellar struts have a length extending transversely to a plane of extension of the cover film and a width extending in the plane of extension of the cover film, wherein a ratio of the length to the width is greater than 1.5.

4. The communication device according to claim 3, wherein a distance between adjacent lamellar struts is smaller than the width of the lamellar struts.

5. The communication device according to claim 3, wherein the lamellar struts extend continuously and in a straight line along the plane of extension of the cover film, wherein the cover film is fastened to the light module such that the lamellar struts extend in a horizontal direction in an installation position of the communication device.

6. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the lamellar struts have a first lateral surface and a second lateral surface, which are each arranged to converge in a direction of a free end of the lamellar struts.

7. The communication device according to claim 6, wherein the first lateral surface of the lamellar struts is designed as an upper lateral surface in an installation position of the communication device, which extends inclined to a horizontal plane by an acute angle in the direction of the free end of the lamellar strut.

8. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the light module comprises a transparent pane and the cover is a cover film applied to the transparent pane of the light module.

9. The communication device according to claim 8, wherein the light sources of the light module comprise a plurality of LED light sources, the planar carrier comprises a printed circuit board, and a plurality of opaque partition walls rise up from the printed circuit board, wherein free ends of the plurality of opaque partition walls are covered by the transparent pane, wherein the plurality of opaque partition walls and the transparent pane form a plurality of light chambers, and wherein one of the plurality of LED light source is arranged in each of the plurality of light chambers.

10. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the light pattern is a static light pattern and the control unit has a light pattern routine in which light pattern signals are at least one of: generated as a function of a movement state of the road user located in the environment; changed as a function of a movement state of the road user located in the environment; generated as a function of a driving state of the vehicle; and changed as a function of a driving state of the vehicle.

11. The communication device according to claim 10, wherein the light pattern routine is configured such that the light pattern at least one of: generates its shape as a function of the movement state of the road user located in the environment; changes it shape as a function of the movement state of the road user located in the environment; generates its color as a function of the movement state of the road user located in the environment; changes its color as a function of the movement state of the road user located in the environment; generates its shape as a function of the driving state of the vehicle; changes it shape as a function of the driving state of the vehicle; generates its color as a function of the driving state of the vehicle; and changes its color a function of the driving state of the vehicle.

12. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the light pattern is a light animation and the control unit has a light animation routine in which dynamically variable light animation signals are at least one of: generated as a function of a movement state of the road user located in the environment; changed as a function of a movement state of the road user located in the environment; generated as a function of a driving state of the vehicle; and changed as a function of a driving state of the vehicle.

13. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the lamellar struts are designed to taper towards a free end thereof.

14. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein a length of the lamellar struts is in a range between 150 nm and 10 m.

15. The communication device according to claim 1, wherein the light pattern is one of a static light pattern and a light animation.

16. A vehicle comprising the communication device of claim 1, wherein the communication device is arranged in a front region of the vehicle remote from a headlight thereof.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. In the figures:

[0020] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a communication device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a front view of the communication device outputting a first light pattern;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a front view of the communication device outputting a second light pattern;

[0023] FIG. 4 is a front view of the communication device outputting a first light animation; and

[0024] FIG. 5 is a front view of the communication device outputting a second light animation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE CURRENT EMBODIMENT

[0025] A communication device K for vehicles F according to the invention can be installed as a structural unit, for example in semi-autonomous or autonomous vehicles F, for generating light pattern signals or light animation signals which are directed to an individual road user, for example a pedestrian, in order to inform him or her of the current driving status of the vehicle F provided with the communication device K. The communication device K can, for example, be arranged in a front region of the vehicle F between the headlights 1 of the vehicle F.

[0026] Alternatively or additionally, the communication device K can also be arranged in a lateral region or on a rear side of the vehicle F.

[0027] The communication device K comprises a planar carrier 2, which is preferably designed as a printed circuit board. A number of light sources 3 are arranged in a matrix-like manner on the carrier 2. The light sources 3 are preferably designed as LED light sources. Partition walls 4 rise up laterally from the light sources 3, so that each light source 3 is surrounded by partition walls 4. Free ends of the partition walls 4 are covered by a transparent pane 5. In the present exemplary embodiment, the transparent pane 4 is offset parallel to the carrier 2 in the light emission direction 6 of the communication device K. The carrier 2, the transparent pane 5 and the partitions 4 form a number of light chambers 7 that corresponds to the number of light sources 3. This ensures that there can be no overlap or intersection of the light 8 emitted by the light sources 3. The partition walls 4 may, for example, have reflective surfaces.

[0028] Furthermore, the communication device K comprises a control unit 9 for controlling the light sources 3. The light sources 3 can be controlled individually.

[0029] An environment sensor unit 10 is provided for detecting road users in an environment 11 of the vehicle F. For this purpose, the environment sensor unit 10 may, for example, comprise a camera.

[0030] The control unit 9 preferably contains an evaluation routine for evaluating the sensor data 12 sent by the environment sensor unit 10. In this way, the current location of the road user relative to the vehicle F can be determined at any time.

[0031] A cover film 13 is applied to the light-emitting side of the transparent pane 5 as a cover, in which a plurality of lamellar struts 14 is arranged. The lamellar struts 14 are surrounded by a polymeric transparent surrounding material 15.

[0032] The lamellar struts 14 are elongated and extend from one edge of the cover film 13 to an opposite edge thereof. The lamellar struts 14 are of identical design. The lamellar struts 14 each have a width B. They are arranged at a distance from one another, wherein adjacent lamellar struts 14 are arranged at a distance a from one another. A strip-shaped passage 16 is thus formed between the adjacent lamellar struts 14, through which a first part 17 of the light 8 emerging from the light chambers 7 passes. A second part 18 of the light 8 emerging hits a wide front face 19 of the lamellar struts 14 arranged on the light entry side of the cover film 13 and is absorbed thereby.

[0033] The lamellar struts 14 have the width B on the light entry side, wherein the front faces 19 arranged on the light entry side extend in a plane of extension 20 of the cover film 13. The lamellar struts 14 each have a length L running transversely to the plane of extension 20 of the cover film 13. A quotient of the length L and the width B of the lamellar struts 14 is preferably greater than 1.5.

[0034] In the present exemplary embodiment, the aperture a is smaller than the width B of the lamellar struts 14. The ratio between the distance a and the width B of the lamellar struts 14 can be 1 to 2, for example, so that a light transmission of approx. 30% is achieved.

[0035] The lamellar struts 14 are designed as microstructure elements and have dimensions in the nanometer or micrometer range. The length L of the lamellar struts 14 can be in a range between 150 nm and 10 m.

[0036] In the present exemplary embodiment, the lamellar struts 14 extend in a straight line. The cover film 13 is applied to the transparent pane 5 in such a way that the lamellar struts 14 extend in a horizontal direction in the installation position of the communication device K.

[0037] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the lamellar struts 14 each have a first lateral surface 21 and a second lateral surface 22, each of which tapers from the front face 19 in the direction of light emission 6. In the present exemplary embodiment, the first lateral surface 21 and the second lateral surface 22 of the lamellar struts 14 taper to a tip 23 at the free end.

[0038] In the installation position of the communication device K, the first lateral surface 21 is arranged on an upper side of the lamellar struts 14. This upper lateral surface 21 is inclined at an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane H. The second lateral surface 22 is arranged as a lower lateral surface in the installation position extending horizontally. The lamellar struts 14 thus form a sawtooth-shaped microstructure.

[0039] According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the lamellar struts may also be symmetrical. A free end can also be flattened to form a font face that runs parallel to the front face 19.

[0040] In the operating state of the communication device K, i.e. when the light sources 3 are switched on, the cover film 13 allows partial transmission of the light 8 emitted by the light sources 3 through the passages a. Furthermore, when the communication device K is not in operation, i.e. when the light sources 3 are switched off, the cover film 13 gives a dark appearance. Control is directed exclusively at the light sources 3.

[0041] The control unit 9 has a light pattern routine so that a light pattern is generated and/or changed depending on a movement state of the road user located in the environment 11 and/or depending on a driving state of the vehicle F. If, for example, the pedestrian is standing at a crosswalk which the vehicle F is approaching, a first light pattern signal 24 can be generated by controlling the light sources 3 by means of a control signal 25, which signals the pedestrian to stop, if possible, by displaying a standing man 28 until the vehicle F has reached its stopping position. As soon as the vehicle F has reached the stop position in front of the crosswalk, the control unit 9 generates such a control signal 25 that a second light pattern signal 26 with a walking man 32 is generated and displayed. Pedestrians are now signaled that they can cross the crosswalk. In the case of colored light sources 3, for example, the first light pattern signal 24 e can indicate a standing man in red light color and the second light pattern signal 26 can indicate a walking man in green light color.

[0042] In this way, the current driving status of the vehicle or instructions in relation to the vehicle F are visualized to the road user in the environment 11.

[0043] According to a further embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the control unit 9 may have a light animation routine, so that light animations are generated and/or changed as a function of a movement state of the road user located in the environment 11 and/or as a function of the driving state of the vehicle F.

[0044] If the pedestrian at the edge of the lane at the level of the crosswalk is to be signaled to wait until the vehicle F has reached the stop position, a first light animation signal 27 can be generated as shown in FIG. 4, for example. The first light animation signal 27 visualizes the standing man 28 and a crosswalk 29. In addition, the instruction STOP 30 makes it clear to road users that they should stop. Only when the vehicle F has reached the stop position in front of the crosswalk is a second light animation signal 31 generated, which shows the walking man 32, the crosswalk 29 and an arrow 33 to signal to the road user that he or she can now cross the road onto the crosswalk. This conveniently creates a dynamically changing light animation.

[0045] According to an embodiment of the invention not shown, other light patterns or light animations can also be generated in order to enable interaction between the vehicle F and the road user located in the environment 11 of the vehicle F.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0046] 1 headlamp [0047] 2 carrier [0048] 3 light source [0049] 4 partition wall [0050] 5 pane [0051] 6 light emission direction [0052] 7 light chamber [0053] 8 light [0054] 9 control unit [0055] 10 environment sensor unit [0056] 11 environment [0057] 12 sensor data [0058] 13 cover film [0059] 14 strut [0060] 15 surrounding material [0061] 16 passage [0062] 17 first part [0063] 18 second part [0064] 19 front face [0065] 20 plane of extension [0066] 21 first lateral surface [0067] 22 second lateral surface [0068] 23 tip [0069] 24 first light pattern signal [0070] 25 control signal [0071] 26 second light pattern signal [0072] 27 first light animation signal [0073] 28 standing man [0074] 29 crosswalk [0075] 30 instruction [0076] 31 second light animation signal [0077] 32 walking man [0078] 33 arrow [0079] a distance [0080] B width [0081] L length [0082] F vehicle [0083] H horizontal [0084] K communication device

[0085] The above description is that of a current embodiment of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention. This disclosure is presented for illustrative purposes and should not be interpreted as an exhaustive description of all embodiments of the invention or to limit the scope of the claims to the specific elements illustrated or described in connection with these embodiments. Any reference to elements in the singular, for example, using the articles a, an, the, or said, is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.