US 12,643,462 B2Granted

Motor vehicle comprising at least one illumination device and at least one acoustic device, and method for operating a motor vehicle

AssigneeAudi AG

InventorsStephan Berlitz, Tanja Kammann, Cesar Muntada Roura, Valentin Schmidt, Konrad Tröger

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Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one illumination device, by means of which at least one light signal can be generated which is visible from outside the motor vehicle, and comprising at least one acoustic device, by means of which at least one acoustic signal can be generated which is audible from outside the motor vehicle. The at least one control device of the motor vehicle is configured to check whether at least one output condition is satisfied and, if the at least one output condition is satisfied, to control the at least one illumination device and the at least one acoustic device in such a way that the light signal and the acoustic signal are generated simultaneously. The at least one output condition is at least one get-in or get-out condition relating to a current start-up and/or turn-off situation of the motor vehicle, the satisfaction of which condition depends on at least one control and/or sensor signal which can be generated by means of a system and/or sensor of the motor vehicle relating to the start-up and/or turn-off process of the motor vehicle, and/or at least one maneuver condition relating to a current or imminent reversing or acceleration maneuver of the motor vehicle, the satisfaction of which condition depends on at least one control signal which can be generated by means of a driver assistance system of the motor vehicle and/or on at least one operating signal which can be generated by a user by means of at least one operating device of the motor vehicle, and/or at least one driving state condition relating to a current operating situation of the motor vehicle, the satisfaction of which condition depends on at least one control signal which can be generated by means of the or a driver assistance system of the motor vehicle.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A motor vehicle comprising:

at least one illumination device configured to generate at least one light signal visible from outside the motor vehicle;
at least one acoustic device configured to generate at least one acoustic signal audible from outside the motor vehicle;
at least one interior illumination device inside the motor vehicle;
and
at least one control device configured to:
check a fulfillment of at least one output condition, the at least one output condition being one of:
a maneuver condition relating to a current or an imminent acceleration maneuver of the motor vehicle, wherein a fulfillment of the maneuver condition is based on generation of at least one operating signal by a user-operated operating device of the motor vehicle, and wherein the user-operated operating device is an accelerator pedal of the motor vehicle, and wherein the maneuver condition is fulfilled when the accelerator pedal is actuated;
or
a driving state condition relating to a current operating situation of the motor vehicle, a fulfillment of the driving state condition being based on at least one control signal generated by a driver assistance system of the motor vehicle, wherein the driving state condition is fulfilled when the motor vehicle changes from a partially autonomous driving mode to a manual driving mode, or vice versa;
and
control the at least one illumination device, the at least one interior illumination device, and the at least one acoustic device to generate the at least one light signal by the at least one illumination device, another light signal by the at least one interior illumination device, and the at least one acoustic signal by the at least one acoustic device simultaneously, in response to at least one of the presence of the maneuver condition or the driving state condition being fulfilled, wherein a first brightness of the at least one light signal, a second brightness of the another light signal, and a noise level of the at least one acoustic signal are based on a second noise level outside the motor vehicle detected using a sound sensor.

8 more elements

A method for operating a motor vehicle, the method comprising:

generating, using at least one illumination device, at least one light signal visible from outside the motor vehicle;
generating, using at least one acoustic device, at least one acoustic signal audible from outside the motor vehicle;
generating, using at least one interior illumination device inside the motor vehicle, at least one other light signal inside the motor vehicle;
checking, using at least one control device, if at least one output condition is fulfilled, the at least one output condition being one of:
a maneuver condition relating to a current or an imminent acceleration maneuver of the motor vehicle, the fulfillment of the maneuver condition being based on generation of at least one operating signal by a user-operated operating device of the motor vehicle, wherein the user-operated operating device is an accelerator pedal of the motor vehicle, and wherein the maneuver condition is fulfilled when the accelerator pedal is actuated, or
a driving state condition relating to a current operating situation of the motor vehicle, the satisfaction of the driving state condition being based on at least one control signal generated by a driver assistance system of the motor vehicle, wherein the driving state condition is fulfilled when an at least partially autonomously operable motor vehicle changes from a partially autonomous driving mode to a manual driving mode, or vice versa;
and
controlling the at least one illumination device, the at least one interior illumination device, and the at least one acoustic device to generate the at least one light signal, the at least one other light signal, and the at least one acoustic signal simultaneously, in response to at least one of the maneuver condition, or the driving state condition being satisfied, wherein a first brightness of the at least one light signal, a second brightness of the at least one other light signal, and a noise level of the at least one acoustic signal are based on a second noise level outside the motor vehicle detected using a sound sensor.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/547,304Filed 24 Feb 2022
Priority: DE 10 2021 104 465.025 Feb 2021
Published: US 2024/0131980 A125 Apr 2024
Granted: 2 Jun 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

B60Q 1/0023
Devices integrating an element dedicated to another function: the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
B60Q 1/22
The devices being primarily intended to illuminate the way ahead or to illuminate other areas of way or environments: for reverse drive
B60Q 5/005
Arrangement or adaptation of acoustic signal devices: automatically actuated
B60Q 5/008
Automatically actuated: for signaling silent vehicles, e.g. for warning that a hybrid or electric vehicle is approaching