DE102010033003A1 - Guide for motor vehicle, has optical display comprising lighting element for producing lighting points at place of reference point and unit for producing light-dark contrast or color difference at place of reference point - Google Patents

Abstract

The guide has an optical display (32) comprising a lighting element for producing lighting points (36, 38) at a place of a reference point and a unit for producing a light-dark contrast or a color difference at the place of the reference point. The optical display is arranged at a windscreen (40) and/or at a rear window of a motor vehicle (2) and designed as a light strip. The lighting element illuminates in a direction of the windscreen and/or the rear window, where reflection of the light of the lighting element functions as the lighting points.

Description

The invention relates to an orientation aid for motor vehicles, having an optical display of a reference point, which indicates a positional relationship of the motor vehicle relative to its surroundings.

Such orientation aids are known in the art.

Many drivers can only measure the dimensions of their vehicle poorly or not at all. This is especially true at night. The estimation of the dimensions of the vehicle is complicated by modern body shapes, which are aerodynamically optimized and therefore often have many curves. This has the consequence that the body borders are not visible from the driver's position. The motorists are therefore often oriented to oncoming traffic. To have sufficient distance to this, motorists tend to drive too close to the outer lane boundary or parked vehicles, running away from the lane and / or damaging parked vehicles or the like.

DE 30 42 801 A1 discloses a device for marking at least one vehicle boundary as a guide when parking, maneuvering or the like, which has a dipstick arranged on the vehicle body retractable. For the vehicle front, such systems are unsuitable for aerodynamic and safety reasons.

Also known are stickers applied to the windshield (eg motorway vignettes or factory stickers on company vehicles), which may be located in a line of sight of the driver's eye, vehicle boundary and lane marking, although they are often coincidental, and which are therefore suitable for limiting the vehicle's borders Reference to the roadway to illustrate. In the driving school one learns to orient oneself when parking at prominent points of the vehicle and to use these for the bearing. These guidelines are often inaccurate and only suitable for one driver position.

From the US Pat. No. 7,161,616 B1 Parking assistance systems are also known, which produce a synthetic image of a plurality of camera images, showing the position of the vehicle relative to the surrounding objects to the driver. These systems are only suitable for slow rides, as they attract a lot of driver attention when in use.

The object of the invention is to provide an orientation aid for motor vehicles, which at least partially overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

The object is achieved by an orientation aid according to claim 1. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

An orientation aid for motor vehicles according to the invention has an optical display of at least one reference point, wherein the reference point is located on the motor vehicle in a predetermined positional relationship of the motor vehicle relative to its surroundings. Such a reference point can be arranged in a straight line between the driver's eye, visible body line and side boundary.

The driver can then estimate the position of his own motor vehicle towards the outer roadway boundary by seeing the distance of the roadway boundary relative to the reference point. For example, if the vehicle is a left-handed vehicle, the driver sees the lane boundary further to the right of the reference point the further he is laterally away from the lane boundary.

According to the invention, it is provided that the optical display has at least one luminous element for generating a luminous spot at the location of the reference point. Such a light element is easily perceived and can thus be observed by the driver while driving. As an alternative or in addition to the luminous element, it is also possible to provide means for producing a light-dark or color difference at the location of the reference point.

According to a first possible development of the invention it can be provided that the optical display is arranged on a windshield and / or a rear window of the motor vehicle. In this way, no change to the vehicle body is necessary.

According to a further possible development of the invention, the optical display may have a plurality of luminous dots for displaying a plurality of reference points. These may indicate different positions of the vehicle relative to the lane boundary, e.g. B. absolute distance or minimum safety distance to the road boundary or parked vehicles.

According to a further possible development of the invention, the position of the luminous dots can be changed or individual luminous elements of a predetermined number of luminous elements for the display of associated Luminous be activated. Such a number of luminous points can be arranged in a row or a matrix. In this way, an adaptation of the optical display to different sized driver and different seating positions is possible.

According to a further possible development of the invention, a device for detecting the head position of the driver may be provided, wherein the position of the luminous point or of the active luminous points is automatically determinable. By capturing the head position, the driver's angle of view can be determined with sufficient accuracy. An accidental forgetting of setting the correct display and the associated disadvantages can be avoided. Also, the position of the luminous dot or points can always be readjusted when the head position is changed.

Alternatively, the position of an eye or of the eyes or other positions from which the position of the driver's eyes can be derived can also be detected. In this way, in each case a correct display of the position of the motor vehicle can be achieved.

According to a further possible development of the invention, the visual display can be designed as a light strip strip. In particular, illuminating means which can be controlled individually can be provided, which can be controlled in a driver-specific manner in this way. These can shine in particular in a transparent carrier. This ensures that an active light element or its reflection, z. B. on the windshield, in the alignment line between the driver's eye, the vehicle boundary and a lane boundary or parked vehicles. The visual display can also be embodied as a transparent carrier provided on or in a window pane of the motor vehicle, whose translucency is locally controllable locally by an electrical signal and with the local light-dark differences or color differences on the window pane or other vehicle parts Marking of the reference points can be generated.

According to a further possible development of the invention, a lighting device may be incorporated into a dashboard and / or a parcel shelf of the motor vehicle and illuminated in the direction of the windshield and / or the rear window, the reflection of the light of the lighting device serves as a visual display. Optionally, reflection enhancers may be incorporated into the discs or attached to the discs.

According to another possible embodiment of the invention, the visual display can also be provided at other positions of the motor vehicle, for. B. as marks on the wiper or the hood.

According to a further possible development of the invention, the orientation aid can be retrofitted, so that they can be retrofitted in the vehicle.

The invention is therefore based on the idea of vehicle parts, such as on the windows, the dashboard, the hood, the windshield wipers, the parcel shelf, etc. provide markings for marking reference points, the driver as a guide to estimate the distance to lane markers, edge structures , other vehicles etc. can use. The markings can be designed as stickers, which can have different shapes and / or different colors for marking several reference points. The different colors or shapes can be assigned to different drivers, different seat positions of the driver or different distances. The markers may also be embodied as picture elements or symbols printed on a film, the film being arranged in a window pane of the vehicle, e.g. B. in the windshield or the rear window, can be integrated or applied to this. In particular, the film may be a film that is usually already present in laminated glass panes. In the case of several picture elements, as with the markings designed as labels, it is advantageous to make them into different shapes and / or different colors. Furthermore, the markings can also be designed as surface deformations or color changes of vehicle parts, in particular as elevations or depressions in the instrument panel or the parcel shelf.

However, it is particularly advantageous to carry out the markings as luminous dots which emit light at the location of the marking itself or reflect a light beam projected onto the location of the marking. In this way, individual, adapted to the driver markings can be realized, and hide unnecessary markers that are assigned, for example, other drivers. The same advantages are also obtained with means that can be darkened locally via an electrical signal and thus can produce a light-dark difference or color difference at the marking location.

The invention will be described below with reference to exemplary embodiments. Here are shown schematically:

1 a plan view of a motor vehicle having an orientation aid according to the invention;

2 a driver's view of a cockpit of the vehicle with the orientation aid according to the invention; such as

3 an orientation aid according to the invention in an alternative embodiment.

1 shows a plan view of a motor vehicle 2 , The car 2 is on a roadway 4 , The roadway 4 has a right lane boundary 6 on.

Inside the vehicle 2 is a first head position 8th a driver of the motor vehicle 2 indicated. From the driver's perspective, there is a first visible body line 10 which are in plan view within an actual limit 12 of the motor vehicle 2 lies. The area between the first visible body line 10 and the actual limit 12 of the motor vehicle 2 is invisible to the driver.

Furthermore, a second head position 14 indicated. The head of this second driver is further ahead and - not visible - arranged deeper. This results in a second visible body line 16 , which is located much further inside and leaves a much larger area invisible to the second driver. Estimating the actual dimensions of the motor vehicle is thus enormously difficult.

A tangent extending in the direction of travel 18 on the right side of the motor vehicle 2 shows the outer boundary of the motor vehicle 2 and thus the rightmost position, the motor vehicle 2 on the roadway 4 may take.

Starting from the first head position 8th results, looking forward, over an actual front corner 20 of the motor vehicle 2 an intersection 22 a first line of sight 24 with the tangent 18 ,

Because the front corner 20 due to the body shape of the motor vehicle 2 is not visible to the driver, the driver would have at the first head position 8th about an intersection 26 the first line of sight 24 with the first visible body line 10 away the position of his vehicle 2 on the roadway 4 estimated. Because this intersection 26 However, this is difficult to remember in practice.

An intersection 28 a second line of sight 30 with the second visible body line 16 clarifies the situation for the second head position 14 ,

The car 2 is with an orientation aid according to the invention 32 equipped on a dashboard 34 of the motor vehicle 2 is arranged. The orientation guide 32 generates the in each case an intersection of the lines of sight 24 . 30 with a windshield 40 arranged luminous points 36 . 38 (as well as others for other head positions). The respective luminous points 36 . 38 show the drivers with the respective head positions 8th . 14 exactly the position of the motor vehicle 2 on the roadway 4 at.

Are the extensions of the luminous dots 36 . 38 over the visible body lines 10 . 16 away within the carriageway 4 or is the lane boundary 6 to the right of each luminous point 36 . 38 to see, is the motor vehicle 2 completely on the road 4 , In this way, the driver can control the position of the motor vehicle 2 better estimate.

2 schematically shows a view of a driver in the direction of travel, the head of the first head position 8th occupies.

The orientation guide 32 has an optical display which is the luminous point 36 generating luminous element 42 has. The red dot 36 From the perspective of the driver, it aligns directly with the visible body line 10 ,

The orientation guide 32 is based on the basic principles of a head-up display. The light element 42 is in the dashboard 34 let in and lit as indicated by dashed lines upwards in the direction of the windshield 40 , For reflection enhancement toward the driver is a slide 44 on the windshield 40 arranged.

The orientation guide 32 is preferably designed such that the luminous point 36 is both horizontally and vertically adjustable, so the guidance 32 can be used for different head positions.

3 shows an alternative embodiment of an orientation aid 52 ,

The orientation aid is as a light strip strip 52 formed, which is mounted on a dashboard or a parcel shelf of a motor vehicle.

The light strip strip 52 has a number of luminous elements arranged side by side 54 on, of which in 3 an example is marked. Depending on the respective head position, one or more of the lighting elements 54 to be activated.

The lighting elements 54 are in a transparent carrier 56 the light strip 52 arranged.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 3042801 A1 [0004]
• US 7161616 B1 [0006]

Claims (8)

Orientation for motor vehicles, with an optical display ( 32 ; 52 ) of a reference point ( 36 . 38 . 54 ) located on the motor vehicle in a predetermined positional relationship of the motor vehicle ( 2 ) relative to its environment ( 4 ), characterized in that the visual display ( 32 ; 52 ) at least one luminous element ( 42 ) for generating a luminous point ( 36 . 38 . 54 ) at the location of the reference point ( 36 . 38 . 54 ) or means for producing a light-dark difference or color difference at the location of the reference point ( 36 . 38 . 54 ) having. Orientation aid according to claim 1, characterized in that the optical display ( 32 ) on a windshield ( 40 ) and / or on a rear window of the motor vehicle ( 2 ) is arranged. Orientation aid according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the visual display ( 32 ; 52 ), a plurality of luminous dots ( 36 . 38 . 54 ) for displaying several reference points ( 36 . 38 . 54 ) to create. Orientation aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the position of the luminous point (s) ( 36 . 38 ) is variable and / or individual lighting elements ( 42 ) for displaying associated luminous points ( 54 ) are activated. Orientation aid according to claim 4, characterized in that device for detecting the head position of the driver is provided, wherein the position of the luminous dots ( 36 . 38 ) or the active luminous point (s) ( 54 ) is automatically determinable. Orientation aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the optical display as a light strip strip ( 52 ) is trained. Orientation aid according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lighting device ( 42 ) in a dashboard ( 34 ) and / or a parcel shelf of the motor vehicle ( 2 ) and in the direction of the windscreen ( 40 ) and / or the rear window is illuminated, the reflection of the light of the lighting device ( 42 ) as a luminous point ( 36 . 38 ) serves. Orientation aid for motor vehicles, with markings provided on the motor vehicle for displaying a plurality of reference points ( 36 . 38 . 54 ), which on the motor vehicle in each case in a predetermined positional relationship of the motor vehicle ( 2 ) relative to its environment ( 4 ) are provided, characterized in that provided for marking a plurality of reference points more executed in different shape and / or color different labels and attached to the location of the respective reference point, or that the markings are designed as pixels or symbols of a printed film, wherein the film is integrated in a window of the motor vehicle or applied to the window, or that the markings are designed as surface deformations or color changes of vehicle parts.

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