# US 2013/0154816 A1 · Method for controlling a display device of a motor vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0154816 A1 - Document ID: US20130154816A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/719,938 - Filed: 2012-12-19 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-20 - Assignees: Audi AG - Inventors: Björn Giesler; Patrick Heinemann; Michael Schadeck; Stefan Stümper - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130154816A1 ## CPC - B60Q 1/00: Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor (for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00) - B60Q 9/005: {using a video camera} - B60Q 9/008: {for anti-collision purposes} - B60K 2360/338: Light strips - B60Q: ARRANGEMENT OF SIGNALLING OR LIGHTING DEVICES, THE MOUNTING OR SUPPORTING THEREOF OR CIRCUITS THEREFOR, FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES ## Abstract In a method for controlling a display device of a motor vehicle for displaying an environmental information relating to an environment of the motor vehicle, the environmental information is assigned at least one directional information which describes a detection direction of a detection device used for determining the environmental information or a direction to an object described by the environmental information based on a reference point, in particular a sitting position of the driver inside the motor vehicle, wherein the display device for displaying the environmental information which covers at least one angular range which lies in a horizontal plane is activated in a sub-range of the angular range which is assigned to the directional information. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for controlling a display device of a motor vehicle for displaying an item of environmental information relating to an environment of the motor vehicle, comprising the steps of: detecting the item of environmental information with a detection device, said detection device having a detection range which defines a direction of detection of the item of environmental information; assigning to the item of environmental information at least one item of directional information which describes one of the direction of detection, and a direction to an object described by the environmental information, said direction to the object being defined in relation to a reference point inside the motor vehicle; and activating the display device for displaying the environmental information, wherein the display device extends over at least one angular range defining a horizontal plane, wherein the display device is activated in a sub-range of the angular range, and wherein the sub-range is assigned to the directional information. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the reference point is a sitting position of the driver. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the detection device is constructed as an imaging device, and wherein the environmental information includes an image detected by the imaging device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising post-processing the image. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the sub-range corresponds to the direction to the object. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the display device is activated for display of the environmental information in a temporally variable manner. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the display device is activated for a blinking display of the environmental information. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a distance of the object to an outer limit of the motor vehicle and/or to a fixed reference point of the motor vehicle, and adjusting wherein the display of the environmental information as a function of the distance. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising outputting an acoustic signal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the acoustic signal is outputted in response to a condition being satisfied. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the condition is a reaching of or falling below a predetermined or predeterminable threshold value for the distance of the object to the outer limit of the motor vehicle and/or to the reference point. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the sitting position is detected vehicle-side and a change of the sitting position causes a corresponding change of the directional information. ### Claim 13 A motor vehicle, comprising: at least one display device extending over at least one angular range lying in a horizontal plane; and a control device for activating the display device in a sub-range of the angular range, so as to display an item of environmental information relating to an environment of the motor vehicle, wherein the environmental information is assigned a directional information which describes one of a detection direction of a detection device of the motor vehicle and a direction to an object described by the environmental information, said direction to the object being defined in relation to a reference point inside the motor vehicle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The motor vehicle of claim 13 wherein the angular range, over which the display device extends, is one of at least 90°, at least 180°, and at least 270°. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The motor vehicle of claim 13, wherein the display device is formed by a plurality of adjacently arranged display elements. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The motor vehicle of claim 13, wherein the display device further comprises means for outputting an acoustic signal. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The motor vehicle of claim 13, wherein the detection device is constructed as at least one of an optical sensor, a radar sensor and an ultrasound sensor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The motor vehicle of claim 13, further comprising a further detection device for detecting a sitting position of the driver inside the vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The motor vehicle of claim 18, wherein the further detection device is constructed as optical detection device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The motor vehicle of claim 18, wherein the further detection device is constructed as a camera.