Method for visualizing an inclination of a motor vehicle in the motor vehicle

Abstract

A method for visualizing an inclination of a motor vehicle in the motor vehicle, in which the inclination of the motor vehicle is measured and made visible in the interior of the motor vehicle. The inclination is made visible by interior lighting of the motor vehicle. At least one virtual plane is formed, which intersects the motor vehicle horizontally when the latter is in a horizontal position and serves as a reference plane for displaying the inclination. Changes in the inclination of the motor vehicle are modeled dynamically by the interior lighting by the sequential and/or parallel activation of illuminants of the interior lighting.

Claims

1. A method for visualizing an inclination of a motor vehicle in the motor vehicle, the method comprising: measuring the inclination of the motor vehicle; making the inclination visible in an interior of the motor vehicle via interior lighting arranged in the motor vehicle; forming at least one virtual plane that intersects the motor vehicle horizontally when the vehicle is in a horizontal position and serves as a reference plane for a display of the inclination; and modeling dynamically changes in the inclination of the motor vehicle by the interior lighting by a sequential and/or a parallel activation of illuminants of the interior lighting, wherein the illuminants are only activated when a specific, first inclination limit value is exceeded.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the inclination of the motor vehicle is made visible in the manner of a spirit level displaying an inclination, wherein a movement of an air bubble in a fluid of a spirit level is modeled by at least one visualization area produced by activating the illuminants, which visualization area moves analogously to the air bubble counter to the direction of inclination of the virtual plane when the virtual plane, which is coupled to the motor vehicle in terms of movement, inclines.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the visualization area is formed by a luminous and/or colored highlighted area.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the visualization area is formed by a non-luminous area.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the visualization of the inclination of the motor vehicle is acoustically accompanied.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the relationship between the inclination of the motor vehicle and the visualization of the inclination by the interior lighting is nonlinear.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein an intensity in the visualization of the inclination of the motor vehicle by the interior lighting decreases in the direction of an increasing inclination of the motor vehicle, starting from a maximum of the intensity when the motor vehicle is in the horizontal position.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the decrease in intensity is continuous, at least in some areas.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the decrease in intensity takes place in steps, at least in some areas.

10. A motor vehicle for carrying out the method according to claim 1, the motor vehicle comprising: interior lighting arranged in a passenger compartment, the interior lighting comprising at least one row of a plurality of horizontally aligned illuminants arranged next to one another; and at least one control unit to activate the illuminants as a function of values measured by at least one sensor, wherein an inclination value of the motor vehicle is detected by the at least one sensor, and wherein the illuminants of the interior lighting are adapted to be activated sequentially and/or in parallel as a function of the detected inclination such that at least one visualization area, which changes with changing inclination, is produced.

11. The motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the interior lighting comprises multiple rows of the plurality of horizontally aligned illuminants arranged side by side such that a matrix-like arrangement of the illuminants results.

12. The motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the interior lighting is arranged at least along an interior trim of the front doors and along a dashboard.

13. The motor vehicle according to claim 10, further comprising at least one acoustic output device in the interior of the motor vehicle and at least one control unit for activating the acoustic output device as a function of values measured by the at least one sensor.

14. A method for visualizing an inclination of a motor vehicle in the motor vehicle, the method comprising: measuring the inclination of the motor vehicle; making the inclination visible in an interior of the motor vehicle via interior lighting arranged in the motor vehicle; forming at least one virtual plane that intersects the motor vehicle horizontally when the vehicle is in a horizontal position and serves as a reference plane for a display of the inclination; and modeling dynamically changes in the inclination of the motor vehicle by the interior lighting by a sequential and/or a parallel activation of illuminants of the interior lighting, wherein the visualization of the inclination of the motor vehicle is modeled on the movement of a virtual fluid resting on the virtual plane and surrounded by a virtual wall, wherein the virtual fluid, which changes position as the inclination of the virtual plane coupled in terms of movement to the motor vehicle changes, is modeled by at least one visualization area which is produced by the sequential and/or simultaneous activation of illuminants of the interior lighting and which moves in the direction of the inclination of the virtual plane towards the virtual wall and/or collects in the area of the virtual wall.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein, in the case of a change in inclination of the virtual plane exceeding a certain gradient, a sloshing effect of the virtual fluid impinging against the virtual wall is modeled by activating the illuminants of the interior lighting.

16. A method for visualizing an inclination of a motor vehicle in the motor vehicle, the method comprising: measuring the inclination of the motor vehicle; making the inclination visible in an interior of the motor vehicle via interior lighting arranged in the motor vehicle; forming at least one virtual plane that intersects the motor vehicle horizontally when the vehicle is in a horizontal position and serves as a reference plane for a display of the inclination; and modeling dynamically changes in the inclination of the motor vehicle by the interior lighting by a sequential and/or a parallel activation of illuminants of the interior lighting, wherein the at least one virtual plane is displayed by the interior lighting as a plane which is decoupled in terms of movement from inclination movements of the motor vehicle such that when the motor vehicle is not inclined, the interior lighting is separated horizontally by the virtual plane into a first partial area located above the plane and a second partial area located below the plane, wherein the first and second partial areas are displayed differently, and wherein a position of a dividing line formed through the virtual plane between the first and second partial areas is changed relative to the interior lighting when the motor vehicle is inclined.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein multiple virtual, horizontal planes are displayed by the interior lighting as planes decoupled in terms of movement from inclination movements of the motor vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a motor vehicle adapted for carrying out the method, in the area of its cockpit,

(3) FIG. 2 shows the motor vehicle from the side, in a horizontal position,

(4) FIG. 3 shows the motor vehicle according to FIG. 2 in a position inclined downhill,

(5) FIG. 4A shows the vehicle according to FIG. 2 in a position inclined uphill,

(6) FIG. 4B shows an illustration of a method in which the relationship between an inclination of the motor vehicle and the visualization of the inclination by interior lighting is linear,

(7) FIG. 4C shows an illustration of a method in which the relationship between an inclination of the motor vehicle and the visualization of the inclination by interior lighting is nonlinear, in a first variant,

(8) FIG. 4D shows an illustration of a method in which the relationship between an inclination of the motor vehicle and the visualization of the inclination by interior lighting is nonlinear, in a second variant,

(9) FIG. 5 shows a motor vehicle for carrying out the method, according to a further embodiment, in a horizontal position,

(10) FIG. 6 shows the motor vehicle according to FIG. 5 in a position inclined uphill,

(11) FIG. 7 shows the motor vehicle according to FIG. 5 in a position inclined downhill,

(12) FIG. 8 shows the motor vehicle according to FIG. 5, adapted for carrying out another development of the method, in a horizontal position,

(13) FIG. 9 shows the motor vehicle according to FIG. 8 in a position inclined downhill,

(14) FIG. 10 shows the motor vehicle according to FIG. 8 in a position inclined uphill, and

(15) FIG. 11 shows the motor vehicle according to FIG. 8 for carrying out yet another development of the method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(16) Reference is first made to FIG. 1. This shows a motor vehicle K which is adapted and suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention. An area in a cockpit 2 of the motor vehicle K is shown. In this area, a dashboard 3 is apparent, which is laterally framed by two door trims 5 of the front doors. Furthermore, a steering wheel 4 and a center console 6 are indicated.

(17) In the interior of the motor vehicle K, interior lighting 1 is shown, which is formed of a front part 1a and two side parts 1b.

(18) The front part 1a extends in a strip or ribbon-like manner along the dashboard 3, transversely to a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. The two side parts 1b of the interior lighting 1 extend on the door trim 5 in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle K. Parts 1b of the interior lighting 1 are also designed in a strip-like or ribbon-like manner. The interior lighting 1 preferably serves as ambient lighting or is designed as such.

(19) Specifically, each part 1a, 1b of the interior lighting 1 is formed of at least one row of illuminants arranged in a plurality side by side.

(20) It is indicated that the interior lighting 1 or its parts 1a, 1b (only indicated for the left side 1b) can be controlled by means of an evaluation and control unit 7. In particular, the illuminants of the interior lighting 1 can be controlled individually or in groups by means of the evaluation and control unit 7.

(21) The figure also indicates a sensor 8 for measuring acceleration and inclination, an infotainment system 9, an acoustic output device 10 and driver assistance systems 11, all of which are connected to the evaluation and control unit 7 via a data bus C. The data bus C can be in the form of a CAN bus, for example.

(22) The sensor 8 can be used in particular to measure acceleration due to gravity, i.e. acceleration to the perpendicular towards the center of the earth. The measurement is also used to derive a positional deviation of the motor vehicle from a horizontal line.

(23) Via the infotainment system 9 or via an input and output unit (e.g. touchscreen), it is possible for an operator to set parameters for visualizing a measured inclination or change in inclination of the motor vehicle K with the aid of the interior lighting 1. Depending on the setting of the parameters (for example, the magnitude of the viscosity of the modeled fluid), physical models stored preferably in the form of characteristic diagrams can then be activated in the evaluation and control unit 7.

(24) Furthermore, it is also conceivable to control the interior lighting 1 via output signals from the driver assistance systems 11, which are made available to the evaluation and control unit 7. Conceivable, for example, are output signals from a front assist or a lane assist which, in dangerous situations, control the interior lighting 1 in such a way that the driver is given a visual warning signal.

(25) Parallel to the control of the interior lighting 1, the evaluation and control unit 7 can also be used to control the acoustic output device 10, which can be designed as a loudspeaker, for example.

(26) Finally, a virtual plane VE is shown which “intersects” the motor vehicle K horizontally and which, purely by way of example, is spanned by lower boundary lines Ua, Ub of part 1a and parts 1b of the interior lighting 1, respectively.

(27) FIG. 2 now shows the motor vehicle K from one side. In this figure, a plurality of illuminants 100 can be seen by means of which the interior lighting 1 or its parts 1a, 1b are respectively formed.

(28) In the exemplary embodiment, the illuminants 100 are preferably designed as light-emitting diodes, particularly preferably as so-called RGB light-emitting diodes, which can emit light in any color. The illuminants 100 are arranged in two rows along parts 1a or 1b of the interior lighting 1.

(29) The virtual plane VE is formed in such a way that it horizontally intersects the motor vehicle K when in a horizontal position, i.e. when the vehicle is on a horizontal roadway F in a horizontal plane HE.

(30) FIGS. 2 to 4A now explain how a measured inclination of the motor vehicle K is made visible in the manner of a spirit level displaying an inclination:

(31) FIG. 2 shows a horizontal travel or position of the motor vehicle K, so that a visualization area SB1 appears in the center of parts 1b of the interior lighting 1. A corresponding visualization area also appears in the center of part 1a of the interior lighting 1.

(32) Specifically, in this operating situation of the motor vehicle K, four illuminants 100 are controlled simultaneously to form the visualization area SB1. However, departing from the exemplary embodiment, a different number of controlled illuminants is also conceivable.

(33) If the motor vehicle K now drives downhill or uphill, the visualization area SB1 is moved in a direction of movement B in the manner of the air bubble of a spirit level as a function of the values measured by the sensor 8 (compare FIG. 1).

(34) For example, if the motor vehicle K travels downhill at an angle of inclination α (compare to FIG. 3), the virtual plane VE and the horizontal plane HE now diverge. The virtual plane VE is raised at the rear end of the interior lighting 1 so that the visualization area SB1 moves in the direction of movement B1. Preferably, the visualization area SB1 moves in its speed of movement, proportional to the magnitude of the angle of inclination α or the magnitude of the change in inclination.

(35) Similarly, the position of the visualization area SB1 is changed when the motor vehicle K is on a roadway F with an uphill angle of inclination α (compare FIG. 4A). In this case, the illuminants 100 of the interior lighting 1 are controlled in such a way that the visualization area SB1 performs a movement in the direction of movement B2.

(36) The speed of the visualization area SB1 varies in each case as a function of the magnitude of the angle of inclination a or as a function of its change (gradient). Corresponding to the visualization areas SB1 in parts 1b of the interior lighting 1, the visualization area on part 1a of the interior lighting, not visible here, also changes when the motor vehicle K inclines about a longitudinal axis (rolling movements).

(37) If the angle of inclination α in the exemplary embodiment exceeds a certain absolute value in each case, the visualization area SB1 is moved to the outer, respective upper end of the interior lighting 1 and remains there until the angle of inclination a falls below a certain value again.

(38) Departing from the exemplary embodiment, it is also conceivable that in the interior lighting 1, the illuminants 100 are arranged in only one row or in more than two rows.

(39) With reference to FIGS. 4B to 4D, a conceivable variant of the described method is explained using the example of displaying the inclination in the manner of a spirit level. Here, the relationship between an angle of inclination β of the motor vehicle K and the visualization of the inclination by means of a visualization area SB1′ on the front part 1a of the interior lighting 1 is illustrated in FIG. 4B (cf. also FIG. 1).

(40) The angle of inclination β is the roll angle of the motor vehicle K. The following explanations can of course also be applied to the representation of the pitch angle of the motor vehicle K.

(41) An intensity I is shown above the angle of inclination β, with which an inclination of the motor vehicle K is displayed. FIG. 4B shows an example of an intensity I that is constant over the entire range of the angle of inclination β. The relationship between the angle of inclination β of the motor vehicle K and the visualization of the inclination by the visualization area SB1′ is thus linear.

(42) This means that changes in inclination of the same size Δβ always result in a change in position ΔP of the visualization area SB1′ of the same size, regardless of how large the angle of inclination β is. Starting from a horizontal position H of the motor vehicle K, the visualization area SB1′ thus moves to the right (positions +P1 to +P4) or to the left (positions −P1 to −P4) in the manner of the air bubble of a spirit level, as a function of the angle of inclination β.

(43) At larger angles of inclination β, this can easily result in that the limit of the physically possible display range is reached on the front part 1a of the interior lighting 1 and that further changes of inclinations can no longer be made visible.

(44) As a possible remedy, FIG. 4C here shows an approach in which the relationship between an angle of inclination β of the motor vehicle K and the visualization of the inclination by the front part 1a of the interior lighting 1 is not linear. In particular, the intensity I in the visualization of the motor vehicle K inclination by the interior lighting steadily decreases in the direction of an increasing inclination or in the direction of an increasing angle of inclination β of the motor vehicle K, starting from a maximum Imax of the intensity I when the motor vehicle K is in a horizontal position H.

(45) Due to such a nonlinear display of the change of inclination, changes of inclination Δβ in the area of the horizontal position H of the motor vehicle K result in larger changes in position (cf. ΔP1) of the visualization area SB1′ of the same size than changes of inclinations Δβ in areas with larger angles of inclination β, where the changes in position are smaller (cf. e.g. ΔP4). Compared to a linear progression of the intensity I according to FIG. 4B, some positions (−P1 to −P1′, +P1 to +P1′, −P2 to −P2′, +P2 to +P2′, etc.) of the visualization area SB1′ are therefore shifted in FIG. 4C despite changes in inclination Δβ of equal size.

(46) The intensity I can also drop off discontinuously in the direction of larger angles of inclination β. FIG. 4D shows that, starting from the horizontal position H, there is initially an intensity I1. When a certain limit value of the angle of inclination β is reached, the intensity I drops abruptly to a lower intensity I2. The decrease in intensity I thus occurs in steps, for example with a step S. Dashed lines on only one side of the angle of inclination β indicate that the decrease in intensity I can also occur in several steps, for example in two steps S1, S2, e.g. from intensity I1 to a lower intensity I2′ and finally to intensity I2. This figure also clearly demonstrates that due to the nonlinear progression of the intensity I, the changes in position of the visualization area SB1′ result in different sizes in spite of changes of inclination Δβ of the same size in different angular ranges of the angle of inclination β, in particular turn out larger in the range of the horizontal position H than is the case with larger angles of inclination β (cf. ΔP1 and ΔP4).

(47) With reference to FIGS. 5 to 7, a motor vehicle K′ is now described in which a different embodiment of the method is carried out.

(48) In a departure from the preceding motor vehicle K, the motor vehicle K′ has interior lighting 1′ with side parts 1b′ (on door trim) and a front part 1a′ (on the dashboard). In the interior lighting 1′, a plurality of illuminants 100 are arranged next to and above each other in a matrix-like manner. This is particularly well illustrated by parts 1b′ of the interior lighting 1′.

(49) In FIG. 5, the motor vehicle K′ is on a horizontal roadway F, i.e. in a horizontal position. A virtual plane VE, which is laid through the lowest row of illuminants 100 (preferably again RGB light-emitting diodes), in this position once again comes to coincide with a horizontal plane HE.

(50) In the approach now described a measured inclination of the motor vehicle K′ is modeled on the motion of a virtual fluid resting on the virtual plane VE and surrounded by an additional, virtual wall. Preferably, the virtual fluid is modeled on the flow behavior of a viscous, i.e. thick, fluid.

(51) In the present embodiment, a virtual wall VW1 is formed by part 1a′ of the interior lighting 1′ arranged in a dashboard. In addition, two side virtual walls VW2 are formed by two parts 1b′ of the interior lighting 1′ arranged in the door trim (at least of the front doors).

(52) A third virtual wall VW3, which is opposite the virtual wall VW1, is formed by imaginary connecting lines between illuminants 100 of a last row of parts 1b′ of the interior lighting 1′.

(53) In the “tub” formed by the virtual walls VW1, VW2 and VW3, a virtual fluid collects, with a horizontal fluid level, which in the exemplary embodiment is modeled by the lower two rows of the illuminants 100. Thus, in this position, the lower two rows of the illuminants 100 are controlled in such a way that they form an illuminated visualization area SB2 or SB2′. Conversely, it is also conceivable that the visualization areas SB2, SB2′ are formed by non-luminous illuminants 100, i.e. in this case only the upper two rows of the illuminants 100 are luminous.

(54) If the motor vehicle K′ now moves from the horizontal position to an inclined position, for example on a roadway F inclined uphill with an angle of inclination α, then the virtual fluid in the “tub” moves to such a position as shown in FIG. 6. Here, the visualization area SB2, i.e., the mirror of the virtual fluid, shifts in the direction of the inclined end of the interior lighting 1′.

(55) The figure shows the steady state after changing the position from FIG. 5 to FIG. 6.

(56) It should be noted that, depending on the modeled viscosity of the virtual fluid and depending on the gradient of the change in inclination, different progressions of the virtual fluid occur in the “tub” and thus on the interior lighting 1′.

(57) For this purpose, physical models (for example in the form of characteristic diagrams) are stored in the evaluation and control unit 7 (compare to FIG. 1), which influence the control of the illuminants 100 by the evaluation and control unit as a function of a selected parameter, for example a selected viscosity of the virtual fluid.

(58) The same applies to a change in position of the motor vehicle K′ to a position inclined downhill with an angle of inclination α, as shown in FIG. 7.

(59) In contrast to FIG. 6, the virtual fluid collects there at the front, inclined end of the interior lighting 1′, i.e. in the area of the virtual wall VW1.

(60) In the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 5 to 7, the virtual plane VE drawn through the motor vehicle K′ is thus coupled to the motor vehicle K′ in terms of movement. Thus, when the motor vehicle K′ inclines, the virtual plane VE and the horizontal plane HE diverge.

(61) It is also conceivable that, that in the case of a change in inclination of the virtual plane coupled in terms of movement to the motor vehicle exceeding a certain gradient, a sloshing effect of the virtual fluid impinging against the virtual walls VW1, VW2 and/or VW3 is modeled by activating the illuminants 100 of the interior lighting 1′.

(62) A further conceivable embodiment of the method will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10.

(63) The method is again carried out with the motor vehicle K′, which has the interior lighting 1′ in which the plurality of illuminants 100 are arranged in a matrix-like manner.

(64) FIG. 8 again shows the motor vehicle K′ on a horizontal roadway F, in a horizontal position. Furthermore, a virtual plane VE is visible, which in this case coincides with a horizontal plane HE and which is drawn through the interior lighting 1′.

(65) The virtual plane VE forms a dividing line T in the interior lighting 1′ which divides the interior lighting 1′ in the exemplary embodiment into a lower partial area Tu and an upper partial area To.

(66) A visualization area SB3 is formed by the lower partial area Tu, and a visualization area SB4 is formed by the upper partial area To.

(67) To differentiate between the visualization areas SB3 and SB4, it is conceivable, for example, that the illuminants 100 of the visualization areas SB3, SB4 are controlled in such a way that they light up in different colors and/or with different brightness. By way of pure example, it is conceivable that all illuminants 100 above the dividing line T light up blue, while all illuminants 100 below the dividing line T light up red.

(68) In a roadway F inclined downhill at an angle of inclination α, the motor vehicle K′ assumes the position shown in FIG. 9.

(69) It can be seen that in this embodiment of the method the virtual plane VE is shown as a plane that is decoupled in terms of movement from inclination movements (roll and pitch movements) of the motor vehicle K′. This means that the virtual plane VE remains identical or aligned in parallel with a horizontal plane HE even if the motor vehicle K′ is inclined.

(70) This has the result that with the downhill inclination, the dividing line T is changed in its position relative to the interior lighting 1′. The dividing line T now optically cuts diagonally through the surface of parts 1b′ of the interior lighting 1′. In this case, the dividing line T slopes downward from the front to the rear in relation to the interior lighting 1′.

(71) In the present embodiment, a physical model is stored in the evaluation and control unit 7 that causes a virtual axis of rotation D to run approximately through the surface center of parts 1b′ of the interior lighting 1′. However, the axis of rotation D can also be selected in any other way.

(72) Similarly, when the motor vehicle K′ is traveling on a roadway F inclined uphill at an angle of inclination α, the dividing line T changes its position relative to the interior lighting 1′. In this case, it rises from the front to the rear in relation to the interior lighting 1′.

(73) Finally, it should be pointed out with reference to FIG. 11 that it is also conceivable, as an extension of the approach described in FIGS. 8 to 10, to “cut through” the motor vehicle K′ with several virtual planes, for example VE1 to VE3, and to stack them formally one on top of the other. A vertical distance between the virtual planes VE1 to VE3 of about 10 cm can be selected purely by way of example.

(74) As a result, the interior lighting 1′ is interspersed with dividing lines T1, T2 and T3. Analogous to the illustration according to FIGS. 8 to 10, the dividing lines T1 to T3 again form different partial areas or visualization areas that can light up in different colors and/or brightnesses.

(75) When forming multiple virtual planes, it is appropriate to correspondingly increase the number of illuminants 100 (not shown in this figure) of the interior lighting 1′.

(76) The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.