DE102021212975A1 - Method and device for signaling a foreign road user for a traffic device and traffic device - Google Patents

Abstract

The approach presented here relates to a method for signaling an unfamiliar road user (111, 114) for a traffic device (100). The method comprises a step of reading in sensor data (104) via an interface to a sensor device (102), the sensor data (104) containing at least one position of the identified foreign road user (111, 114) located in a vicinity of the traffic device (100). represent. Furthermore, a step of processing the sensor data (104) using a processing rule in order to obtain a processing result (122) which represents an expected trajectory of the other road user (111, 114) determined using the sensor data (104), and a step of Determining a setting signal (124) for setting a lighting parameter of a lighting device (108) with at least one light source (110) using the processing result (122). In a step of providing, the setting signal (124) is provided to an interface to the lighting device (108).

Description

State of the art

The approach is based on a method and a device for signaling a foreign road user for a traffic device and a traffic device according to the species of the independent claims. The subject of the present approach is also a computer program.

For normal "independent safe driving" there is generally a minimum distance that must be large enough to allow stopping behind a vehicle that brakes suddenly. In connection with, for example, convoy driving, the lead vehicle is usually followed by one or more follower vehicles, preferably at a close distance similar to that passed between the towing vehicle and its trailer vehicle. It is unclear how an unfamiliar road user can recognize when approaching such a convoy of vehicles that it is a convoy of a certain length, into which he cannot simply cut or dive through in order to exit, but which he can confidently overtake.

Disclosure of Invention

Against this background, the approach presented here presents an improved method for signaling a foreign road user for a traffic device, an improved device that uses this method, an improved traffic device and finally a corresponding computer program according to the main claims.

Advantageous developments and improvements of the device specified in the independent claim are possible as a result of the measures listed in the dependent claims.

The approach presented here creates a possibility of increasing road safety for other road users using a signaling device. The signals can advantageously be output visually by means of lighting, but can also be accompanied acoustically. Advantageously, the foreign road user is thereby given the opportunity to adjust his route, for example to recognize a convoy of vehicles and, for example, to avoid dangerous situations associated with cutting into the convoy. Alternatively, by changing the signals, it can be made known to other road users if they want to change their route. For example, as a reaction to the setting of the direction indicator at the stranger's road user, changed visual signals of the signaling device can be used to indicate at which point within the vehicle column the stranger road user will be given enough free space to cut in. In this way, a stranger on the road, such as a motorcyclist, can adjust his driving style to cutting in at the indicated location in a foresighted and correspondingly energy-saving manner. Thanks to the signaling according to the invention, he is clearly shown which model or which expectations the motorcade has of his driving behavior.

A method for signaling a foreign road user for a traffic device is presented, the method comprising a step of reading in sensor data via an interface to a sensor device, the sensor data representing at least one position of a recognized foreign road user located in the vicinity of the traffic device. The method also includes a step of processing the sensor data using a processing specification in order to obtain a processing result that represents a predicted trajectory of the other road user determined using the sensor data, and a step of determining a setting signal for setting a lighting parameter of a lighting device with at least a light source using the processing result. In addition, the method includes a step of providing the adjustment signal to an interface to the lighting device.

The foreign road user can be, for example, a pedestrian, a cyclist or, for example, a third-party vehicle. The traffic device can be designed as a host vehicle, for example, or alternatively be designed as part of a traffic infrastructure, such as traffic lights or signs. The traffic device can also be a vehicle of a platoon formation or a platoon formation that is made up of a number of vehicles that are communicatively networked with one another. The sensor device can, for example, be in the form of a sensor that senses the surroundings, for example a camera. The processing specification can be used, for example, in order to estimate a further driving course of the other vehicle using consecutive sensor data. The processing specification can represent an algorithm, for example, by which the processing result is determined using a model. The lighting device can advantageously have a plurality of Have light sources that can be controlled individually or simultaneously using the lighting parameters. Advantageously, by activating the lighting device, it can be visually confirmed to the foreign road user that he has been recognized by the traffic device and, in particular, which model or which idea of his future movement behavior exists.

According to one embodiment, the setting signal can be provided in the providing step in order to control at least one further light source of the lighting device. Advantageously, this can reduce the probability of the signal being overlooked by the other road user.

In the providing step, the setting signal can be provided in order to be able to control the light source and the at least one further light source synchronously or at intervals that are offset in time. Advantageously, the light sources can be controlled at regular intervals.

According to one embodiment, the setting signal can be determined in the determination step, which can represent a lighting duration, a lighting type and additionally or alternatively a lighting color as lighting parameters. The type of light can advantageously represent flashing or permanent switching on until the other road user is no longer sensed by the sensor device. Advantageously, other foreign road users can obviously also be informed about the presence of the foreign road user, which in turn can advantageously increase traffic safety for the foreign road user.

Furthermore, in the determination step, the adjustment signal can be determined using the trajectory, which as a luminous parameter can represent a luminous direction of the light source aligned with the trajectory. Advantageously, a cone of light from the light source can be directed onto the trajectory, i.e. onto the traffic area that is expected to be used, such as a road or a section of the traffic area that is expected to be used by the other road user, and thereby advantageously illuminate the traffic space that is used, such as a road, which is particularly badly lit roads is an advantage.

According to one embodiment, the method can include a step of selecting a selected light source of the lighting device, which is spatially closest to the position of the foreign road user read in in the reading step. The selection can be made using the read sensor data. In the providing step, the setting signal can be provided in order to control the selected light source. Advantageously, the lighting device can be switched on as soon as the foreign road user is in the vicinity. This can be reported back to the foreign road user that he has been recognized. Furthermore, other road users can advantageously be called upon to pay more attention.

According to one specific embodiment, in the step of reading in, the sensor data can be read in wirelessly as a vehicle-to-vehicle message or as a vehicle-to-device message. Advantageously, the sensor data can be read in wirelessly and consequently processed.

The steps of the method can be carried out repeatedly in order to read in current sensor data, which represent a current position of the other road user, in a repeated reading step. In a repeated processing step, the current sensor data can be processed using a processing specification in order to obtain a current processing result that represents an expected trajectory of the foreign road user that has been updated using the sensor data. In a repeated step of determining, a current setting signal for creating the lighting parameter can be determined using the current processing result and in a repeated step of providing the current setting signal can be provided to the interface to the lighting device. This can advantageously be achieved in that the light sources of the lighting device are controlled taking into account a sensed speed or a sensed or communicated movement behavior of the other road user.

According to one embodiment, in the step of providing, the setting signal can be provided to the lighting device with the at least one light source, which is attached to a sensor device, to an antenna of the traffic device, to a housing element of a mirror replacement camera, to a window frame of the traffic device, along a side surface of the traffic device in particular in an area that is little illuminated by external light influences, on a side mirror of a vehicle, in lamp housings and additionally or alternatively be arranged in existing openings or gaps in the traffic device. The at least one light source can advantageously be arranged on housing elements of the most varied components of the traffic device. The openings and gaps can be formed, for example, as ventilation slits, steps, semi-trailers, wind deflectors and, additionally or alternatively, as underride aprons.

According to one embodiment, in the step of providing, the setting signal can be provided to the lighting device with the at least one light source in order to show the position of the other road user, an area in front of the position, an area behind the position and additionally or alternatively a traffic area used, such as a road of the foreign road user to be able to illuminate.

This method can be implemented, for example, in software or hardware or in a mixed form of software and hardware, for example in a control unit.

The approach presented here also creates a device that is designed to carry out, control or implement the steps of a variant of a method presented here in corresponding devices. The task on which the approach is based can also be solved quickly and efficiently by this embodiment variant of the approach in the form of a device.

For this purpose, the device can have at least one computing unit for processing signals or data, at least one memory unit for storing signals or data, at least one interface to a sensor or an actuator for reading in sensor signals from the sensor or for outputting data or control signals to the Have actuator and / or at least one communication interface for reading or outputting data that are embedded in a communication protocol. The arithmetic unit can be, for example, a signal processor, a microcontroller or the like, with the memory unit being able to be a flash memory, an EEPROM or a magnetic memory unit. The communication interface can be designed to read in or output data wirelessly and/or by wire, wherein a communication interface that can read in or output wire-bound data can, for example, read this data electrically or optically from a corresponding data transmission line or can output it to a corresponding data transmission line.

In the present case, a device can be understood to mean an electrical device that processes sensor signals and, depending thereon, outputs control and/or data signals. The device can have an interface that can be configured as hardware and/or software. In the case of a hardware design, the interfaces can be part of a so-called system ASIC, for example, which contains a wide variety of functions of the device. However, it is also possible for the interfaces to be separate integrated circuits or to consist at least partially of discrete components. In the case of a software design, the interfaces can be software modules which are present, for example, on a microcontroller alongside other software modules.

A computer program product or computer program with program code, which can be stored on a machine-readable carrier or storage medium such as a semiconductor memory, a hard disk memory or an optical memory and for carrying out, implementing and/or controlling the steps of the method according to one of the embodiments described above, is also advantageous used, especially when the program product or program is run on a computer or device.

A traffic device is also presented, which has a sensor device for acquiring sensor data, an illumination device with at least one light source, and a device in an aforementioned variant.

The sensor device can advantageously have a multiplicity of sensors which are designed, for example, to detect at least one area surrounding the traffic device. The lighting device can have at least one light source, but in particular a plurality of light sources, which can advantageously prevent the unfamiliar road user from overlooking the visual signal.

The traffic device can be embodied as a vehicle or as part of a traffic infrastructure. Advantageously, the traffic infrastructure can be in the form of a lantern or, for example, a sign. Furthermore, the traffic device can be arranged, for example, on a building facade.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung einer Verkehrsvorrichtung gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel;
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung eines Anwendungsbeispiels für eine Verkehrsvorrichtung gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel;
• 3 eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Anordnung einer Lichtquelle einer Beleuchtungseinrichtung;
• 4 eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Anordnung mindestens einer Lichtquelle einer Beleuchtungseinrichtung;
• 5 eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Anordnung mindestens einer Lichtquelle einer Beleuchtungseinrichtung;
• 6 eine schematische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Anordnung einer Beleuchtungseinrichtung; und
• 7 ein Ablaufdiagramm eines Verfahrens zum Signalisieren eines fremden Verkehrsteilnehmers für eine Verkehrsvorrichtung gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel.

Embodiments of the approach presented here are shown in the drawings and explained in more detail in the following description. It shows:

• 1 a schematic representation of a traffic device according to an embodiment;
• 2 a schematic representation of an application example for a traffic device according to an embodiment;
• 3 a schematic representation of an embodiment of an arrangement of a light source of an illumination device;
• 4 a schematic representation of an embodiment of an arrangement of at least one light source of an illumination device;
• 5 a schematic representation of an embodiment of an arrangement of at least one light source of an illumination device;
• 6 a schematic representation of an embodiment of an arrangement of a lighting device; and
• 7 a flow chart of a method for signaling a foreign road user for a traffic device according to an embodiment.

In the following description of favorable exemplary embodiments of the present approach, the same or similar reference symbols are used for the elements which are shown in the various figures and have a similar effect, with a repeated description of these elements being dispensed with.

1 shows a schematic representation of a traffic device 100 according to an embodiment. The traffic device 100 is formed, for example, as a vehicle or as part of a traffic infrastructure, such as a sign or a lantern, which can optionally communicate wirelessly with vehicles. Traffic device 100 has a sensor device 102 for acquiring sensor data 104 , a device 106 and an illumination device 108 with at least one light source 110 . The sensor device 102 has, for example, one or a plurality of sensors and is only optionally implemented or can be implemented as a camera. According to this exemplary embodiment, the traffic device 100 optionally has a communication device 112 which is designed, for example, to receive and send wireless signals 113 .

The device 106 is designed, for example, to control or carry out a method for signaling an unfamiliar road user 111, 114, as is described, for example, in 6 is described. The other road user 114 represents, for example, a vehicle, a cyclist, a one-lane or two-lane motorized vehicle and the road user 111 represents a pedestrian.

According to this exemplary embodiment, the device 106 has a reading unit 115 , a processing unit 116 , a determination unit 118 and a supply unit 120 . The processing unit 116 is only optionally integrated or can be integrated into the reading unit 115 . According to this exemplary embodiment, the determining unit 118 and the providing unit 120 are also integrated into one another or can be integrated into one another. In this case, the reading unit 115 is designed to read in the sensor data 104 via an interface to the sensor device 102 and only optionally the wireless signals 113 . The processing unit 116 is designed to process the sensor data 104 using a processing rule in order to obtain a processing result 122 that represents a probable trajectory of the other road user 111, 114 determined using the sensor data. The determination unit 118 is designed to determine a setting signal 124 for setting a lighting parameter of a lighting device having at least one light source using the processing result. The providing unit 120 is designed to provide the setting signal 124 to an interface to the lighting device 108 . In addition to the light source 110, the lighting device 108 optionally has at least one further light source 126.

The sensor device 102, also referred to as surroundings sensor system, has, for example, at least one radar, sound and/or optical sensor, which detects the presence and the movement behavior of other road users 111, 114 and based on sensor signals, which have been described as sensor data 104 Model of a probable trajectory or a future movement behavior of at least one foreign road user formed. Using the model, device 106 then controls an energy flow to lighting device 108, i.e. to one or more light sources 110, 126, each by means of a switching contact 128 and/or an adjustment device 130 that adjusts the luminous intensity or luminous color in multiple stages the luminosity or the luminous color influencing devices referred to, such as optical devices that deform a luminous flux, such as mirrors, light guides and / or lenses, or those that radiate ment energy convert, for example, a phosphor coating in fluorescent lamps and / or devices that contain a mostly finite energy for lighting itself, such as torches.

2 shows a schematic representation of different application examples for traffic devices 100 according to an embodiment. The traffic devices 100 correspond to or are similar to that in FIG 1 Traffic device 100 described above. For example, corresponding traffic devices 100 are implemented as devices E external to the vehicle or are integrated into such devices E external to the vehicle. Furthermore, corresponding traffic devices 100 are implemented as vehicles 202, 204 or are integrated into such vehicles 202, 204. The vehicles 202, 204 are, for example, part of a vehicle convoy 200 with N vehicles. The traffic devices 100 are optionally designed to communicate with one another, for example in order to control their lighting device 108 in a coordinated manner as a function of the passage of an unfamiliar road user 111, 114. Another vehicle is shown as an example of other road users 114 and a pedestrian is shown as other road users 111 .

An exemplary situation is shown in which the traffic device 100 is used in the one or more vehicles 202, 204 and/or static off-board devices E. The vehicles 202, 204 are shown, for example, as trucks of different types, which a car drives past on the left as foreign road users 114, while a pedestrian walking at low speed as foreign road users 111 runs on the right side. The arrows 206 indicate the exemplary amount assumed in this situation with their length and the exemplary direction of movement of the respective component of the road users 111, 114, 202, 204 assumed in this example with their orientation.

When foreign road user 114 is driving past or moving past, first vehicle 202 uses a sensor device and/or a communication device to detect the approach of another vehicle as foreign road user 114 and forms a model of the future movement behavior of the foreign vehicle, in particular based on the timing of the received signals . Based on this model, the device 100 of the vehicle 202 controls a vehicle-internal lighting device 108 .

In particular, if the at least one vehicle 202, 204 is equipped with several light sources, such as several similar side lights on trucks, and/or if they are equipped with several different lights, such as side lights, parking lights, daytime running lights, adjustable headlights, the For example, they in turn consist of several light sources, and these different lights are controlled separately by the respective device 100, so many different light scenes can be generated in a suitable time-variant manner. In addition to the lights that are already required and/or customary today in any case, other lights and/or lighting means can also be used, particularly if they are suitable for implementing this approach.

Equivalently, the at least one vehicle 202, 204 should react to the presence of a slower-moving foreign road user 115, such as a pedestrian. According to this exemplary embodiment, it is confirmed to the foreign road user 111 at least with a temporary light that he has been noticed. In a preferred manner, particularly at night, the traffic area that will be used in the future by third-party road user 111 is irradiated at least temporarily, for example flashing or flashing once, according to the movement model described above, and/or traffic device 100 uses a light to indicate that third-party road user 111 was detected.

For example, at least one of a large number of lights that can be seen from outside the traffic device 100 lights up along the path currently covered by the other road user 111, for example always at the point where the other road user 111 could see at an angle of, for example 45 ° hits the surface of the respective traffic device 100.

If the total amount of luminous energy emitted by the respective traffic device 100 plays a subordinate role and if technical feasibility is given, the traffic device 100 illuminates the traffic area used in the future, for example a lane or a sidewalk, according to one exemplary embodiment.

In order to avoid misunderstandings as a result of the sudden lighting up and/or extinguishing of luminous fluxes, the luminosity at a greater distance from the foreign Ver road user 111 stronger than in the immediate vicinity, so that from the point of view of the foreign road user 111 the attention is focused on the lighter road sections that are further away. Likewise, the illumination of the traffic area in the distance does not change abruptly, but extends over a certain period of at least 1 s.

The approach ensures that, in particular, easily vulnerable other road users 111, such as pedestrians or cyclists, also receive clear feedback on how they were perceived by the traffic device 100. They are informed about this by means of the stored movement model, and on the other hand, their traffic safety is increased by the lighting of their traffic route, especially at dusk.

According to an alternative embodiment, the principle of the traffic device 100 can of course be used in the same way if the direction of movement of the other road user 111, 114 is not aligned in the same way as that of the traffic device 100 as a vehicle 202, 204, but also in a different way, for example orthogonal or parallel, however in the opposite direction. Since a relative speed and thus the collision probability in the event of misunderstandings is high in the latter case, the approach presented is particularly favorable for increasing road safety, especially in the case of opposite directions.

As already in 1 described above, the information source for the generated movement model of the other road user 111, 114 is obtained on the one hand by the environment sensors and/or on the other hand also via radio transmission, such as radio messages, CAM (Car Awareness Messages), short-range radio, for example Bluetooth or WLAN. If, for example, corresponding messages about a position of the other road user 111, 114 are regularly sent according to a CAM standard, the traffic device 100 only optionally estimates, without its own environment sensors, whether the movement patterns of the other road user 111, 114 correspond to the planned movement pattern of the traffic device 100 or to collide with the positions of the traffic device 100 as a static device E and, as far as possible, initiate avoidance measures such as suitable lighting.

According to this exemplary embodiment, movements of the other road user 111, 114 that are not exactly in the future are also taken into account. If one of the vehicles 202, 204 is informed, for example within the framework of radio communication, that the other road user 114 wants to change into the lane of the vehicle 202, 204 after passing, this is visually acknowledged by means of corresponding lighting of the traffic area in front of the vehicle 202, 204. If the other road user 114 shows, for example by setting the direction indicator, that the other road user 114 wants to cut in in front of the vehicle 202, 204, the vehicle 202, 204 then, according to this exemplary embodiment, marks the lane in front of it using lighting if cutting in is possible and/or with a different identification if the vehicle 202, 204 refuses to cut in, for example for reasons of traffic safety. In addition to using an environment sensor system, also referred to as a sensor device, such as cameras, which detect the lighting up of the direction indicator of other road users 114, the driving request of other road users 114 according to this exemplary embodiment is also transmitted via the radio interface using appropriate radio protocols for vehicle-to-vehicle communication transmitted.

Even less complex radio protocols that do not determine the distance based on the exchanged geo-coordinates like the CAM protocols are sufficient for the implementation of the approach presented here, such as the protocols that are based on a Bluetooth standard and the signal strength detected. If, for example, a truck and its trailer are equipped with this technology, pedestrians such as cyclists can be detected before they are next to the truck. Since in Germany alone an estimated 15 million people have activated this function on the mobile devices they carry with them, and some of them are pedestrians or cyclists who are already on the road as foreign road users 114 , many traffic risks are reduced if the vehicles 202, 204 are equipped with a detection technique described using the approach presented here.

In a further exemplary situation, a number of vehicles 202, 204 which are communicatively connected to one another act jointly with one another. In particular, if the vehicles 202, 204 drive in closer association with a reduced distance from one another as a result of the coordinated driving, as if they were a mechanically coupled unit, they should also appear visually as a unit to the outside. The approach presented here therefore enables synchronization of their visual appearance using vehicle-to-vehicle communication. So the second vehicle 204 continues the light appearance used by the first vehicle 202, for example. For example, the at least two vehicles 202, 204 flash at the same rate and with the same phase position. Alternatively, in the case of running light illumination, the location-dependent shift in the phase angles of the light is continuous, or an illuminance dependent on the distance to a speed of the other road user 114 is continued in the second vehicle 204 according to this exemplary embodiment. An area possibly located between the at least two coordinated vehicles 202, 204 is marked as not passable, for example, if cutting in by other road users 114 is undesirable. For this purpose, for example, a continuous line for delimiting the lane is projected onto the edge of the space between vehicles 202, 204 and/or a symbol is displayed on at least one of vehicles 202, 204.

In a further exemplary situation, a driving past or a moving past of the other road user 111, 114 at one of the vehicle-external device E, which is designed as a corresponding stationary traffic device 100, is described.

Equivalent to one or more vehicles 202, 204, the approach presented here also relates to devices E, such as street lamps, buildings that can be illuminated, or traffic obstacles. For example, a street lamp starts to light up or changes the type of light, for example through increased luminosity or through a changed light color, as soon as other road users 111, 114 approach. The lantern determines its model via the future movement behavior, for example driving behavior or walking behavior, of the other road user 111, 114 either by means of its own sensors located on it, such as a camera, ultrasonic or radar distance meter and/or by means of message-transmitting communication, e.g from another device and/or another vehicle 202, 204. According to one exemplary embodiment, the device E determines its model of the future driving behavior of the other road user 111, 114 from radio messages, such as CAM (Car Awareness Messages). Alternatively or additionally, the device E receives the messages about the movement behavior of the at least one other road user 111, 114 from another device E, such as from the lantern(s) that the other road user 111, 114 passed earlier .

In addition to saving energy thanks to the average reduced light output and avoiding light pollution at night, it is advantageous for road safety that the attention of other road users 111, 114 is intuitively drawn to the illuminated traffic area when it is positively illuminated, such as a green light arrow and/or white lighting or avoids approaching or driving on without braking if it is, for example, lighting that indicates critical situations, such as a red light or a warning triangle. Furthermore, it is advantageous, for example, that other road users who observe the time behavior of the lighting of the devices are made aware of the presence of other road users and their behavior on the basis of this lighting behavior. As a result, for example, a rapid approach of a recumbent bicycle, which due to its flat design is otherwise only noticed at close range, is already recognized based on the sequential change in the illuminance of the equipment.

Only optionally does the illumination of a previously active traffic device 100 go out immediately at the moment when the other road user 111, 114 passes the traffic device 100. As a result, on the one hand, the quality of the location determination of the model of the movement behavior of the other road user 111, 114 is clearly communicated visually and, on the other hand, energy is saved. However, if the foreign road user 111, 114 is followed, for example, by another foreign road user, the lighting of the traffic device 100 goes out, only briefly or not. Furthermore, optionally, the lighting device 108 is not activated abruptly by suddenly switching on the full luminosity of the lights, but taking into account the movement behavior, in particular the speed of the other road user 111, 114. The advantage here is that on the one hand the observers are prevented from being startled by the sudden lighting up and on the other hand is precisely visually communicated by means of the underlying model of the movement behavior of the other road user 111, 114. This means that depending on the movement behavior of the following foreign road user 111, 114, the lighting of the traffic device 100 adapts to the movement behavior of the following foreign road user 111, 114 and is only optionally briefly interrupted by means of a light break.

According to this exemplary embodiment, vehicles 202, 204 and devices E not only communicate visually but also via other media, such as by radio, sound, infrared light or laser light, with each other via movement models of other road users 111, 114, so that on the one hand the movement models can be detected and transported without and/or with fewer local sensors and on the other hand the quality of the detected movement models of the other road users 114 be made more precise thanks to redundancy.

3 FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of an arrangement of a light source 110 of an illumination device. The light source 110 is, for example, part of an illumination device, as is already the case, for example, in one of 1 or 2 was described. According to this exemplary embodiment, the light source 110 is arranged on a driver's cab of a vehicle, for example on the outer edges of a driver's door or on a passenger's door or on the outside of a window frame of a side window. The light source 110 is attached, for example, from the outside in such a way that it indicates to a driver, for example, when a foreign vehicle located to the side of the vehicle, which is also referred to as a foreign road user, has been detected, in order to indicate to the passing foreign road user, especially in vehicles with mirror replacement cameras, that it was detected, as in this embodiment 3 is shown.

In older vehicles with a blind spot assistant, a warning triangle is displayed in the exterior mirror. It is assumed that the driver checks whether the vehicle has been noticed by the stranger on the road. As a result of replacing the exterior mirrors with displays 300 directed into the driver's cabin, pictograms 302 shown there are no longer perceptible from the perspective of a passing foreign road user. The pictogram shown to the driver in the display of the mirror replacement camera system, which has been customary up to now and is now shown to the driver and which is shown as a triangle according to this exemplary embodiment, cannot be perceived by other road users passing to the side of the vehicle.

Against this background, according to this exemplary embodiment, an approach is presented in which the fact that the other road user was detected is indicated by a luminous appearance perceptible by the other road user using the lighting device. According to this exemplary embodiment, the light source 110 at the edge of the window and the color of the pictogram 302 displayed on the display of the mirror replacement camera system, meaning the blind spot assistant, light up at the same time. In this context, infinite types of design are possible, such as, for example, illuminating the traffic area used in the future by the unfamiliar road user and/or illuminating the boundary of the traffic area used by the unfamiliar road user in the future as time-invariant lighting that is only dependent on the movement behavior of the unfamiliar road user or as dynamic lighting, such as moving longitudinal, transverse stripes, dots and/or equivalent luminous phenomena along the vehicles or facilities designated as traffic devices.

4 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of an arrangement of at least one light source 110, 126 of a lighting device 108. The lighting device 108 is formed as part of a traffic device 100, as shown in 1 was described. According to this embodiment, the traffic device 100 is formed as a vehicle, specifically, a truck. According to this exemplary embodiment, the lighting device 108 has the light source 110 and at least one additional light source 126 . According to this exemplary embodiment, the light sources 110, 126 are arranged at a height of the traffic device 100 that can be seen by the other road user. Since, for example, in strong sunlight and/or when the other road user is looking forwards and downwards, lighting up at the height of cabin doors is not intuitively perceived, particularly in the case of high traffic devices 100, for example in trucks, lighting device 108 and a corresponding light appearance are in the lower area of the traffic device 100 is arranged in a less sunlit portion. In particular, these are places where at least no high sun can shine due to building components above. For example, in a truck with a swinging cab, the light sources 110, 126 are arranged in columns under the cab and/or under bodies or semi-trailers of vehicles or trailers, for example, as illustrated in this embodiment. Alternatively, openings or recesses that are already present, such as ventilation openings and/or steps, could also be used to shield the luminous surfaces from direct solar radiation, as is described in the figure below.

5 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of an arrangement of at least one light source of an illumination device 108. The illumination device 108 is included formed as part of a traffic device 100 as shown in 1 was described. According to this exemplary embodiment, the light sources 110, 126 of the lighting device 108 are arranged in ventilation openings 500 and/or on steps 502, merely by way of example.

As an alternative and/or in addition to this, further light sources 126, also referred to as lights, are also arranged in body surfaces of the driver's cab that are present anyway, the wind deflector and the underrun protection and optionally continue the streamlined surface of the body parts over a large area, with an effective lighting surface preferably being set back compared to the side surface of the body. to avoid exposing them to direct sunlight.

6 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of an arrangement of at least one light source of a lighting device 108. The lighting device 108 is formed as part of a traffic device 100, as shown in 1 was described. According to this embodiment, the traffic device 100 is formed as a passenger car.

Such vehicles also have gaps between the body elements, for example between a door and the chassis or between permanently mounted body elements. In addition, other lighting elements can be installed in existing lamp housings, such as headlights, rear lights, illuminated mirrors, door handles, or parking lights.

7 FIG. 7 shows a flowchart of a method 700 for signaling a foreign road user for a traffic device according to an embodiment. The method 700 can be carried out, for example, for a traffic device as is described in one of 1 until 6 was described. To this end, the method 700 comprises a step 702 of

Reading in 702 sensor data via an interface to a sensor device, the sensor data representing at least one position of a recognized foreign road user located in a vicinity of the traffic device. Furthermore, the method 700 includes a step 704 of processing the sensor data using a processing specification in order to obtain a processing result which represents a probable trajectory of the foreign road user determined using the sensor data. In a step 706 of determination, a setting signal for setting a lighting parameter of a lighting device having at least one light source is determined using the processing result and provided in a step 708 of provision to an interface to the lighting device. Only optionally, the method 700 also includes a step 710 of selecting a selected light source of the lighting device, which is spatially closest to the position of the foreign road user read in the reading step, using the read sensor data. Accordingly, in step 708 of providing, the setting signal is provided in order to drive the selected light source.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the sensor data is read in wirelessly as a vehicle-to-vehicle message or as a vehicle-to-device message in step 702 of reading, which is also referred to as V2V and V2X communication. Furthermore, steps 702, 704, 706, 708 and only optionally 710 are carried out repeatedly in order to read in current sensor data in a repeated step 702 of reading, which data represent a current position of the other road user. In a repeated processing step 704, the current sensor data is processed using a processing specification in order to obtain a current processing result that represents an expected trajectory of the foreign road user that has been updated using the sensor data. Furthermore, in a repeated step 706 of determining, a current setting signal for creating the lighting parameter is determined using the current processing result and provided in a repeated step 708 of providing to the interface to the lighting device.

Furthermore, in step 706 of determination, the setting signal is determined, which represents a lighting duration, a lighting type and/or a lighting color as a lighting parameter. Additionally or alternatively, the lighting parameter represents a lighting direction of the light source aligned with the trajectory. According to this exemplary embodiment, the setting signal is provided in step 708 of providing in order to control at least one further light source of the lighting device. The light source and the at least one further light source are controlled synchronously or at intervals that are offset in time, for example at regular intervals. Furthermore, optionally, the setting signal is provided to the lighting device with the at least one light source, which is mounted on a sensor device, on an antenna, on a housing element of a mirror replacement camera, on a window frame of a vehicle, along one side of the vehicle, in particular in an area that is little illuminated by external light influences, at a side mirror of the vehicle, in lamp housings and/or in existing openings or gaps in the vehicle, for example to illuminate the position of the other road user, an area in front of the position, an area behind the position and/or a route of the other road user .

Claims (15)

Method (700) for signaling a foreign road user (111, 114) for a traffic device (100), the method (700) comprising the following steps: Reading in (702) sensor data (104) via an interface to a sensor device (102), the sensor data (104) representing at least one position of the identified foreign road user (111, 114) located in a vicinity of the traffic device (100); Processing (704) the sensor data (104) using a processing rule in order to obtain a processing result (122) which represents an expected trajectory of the foreign road user (111, 114) determined using the sensor data (104); Determining (706) a setting signal (124) for setting a lighting parameter of a lighting device (108) with at least one light source (110) using the processing result (122); and Providing (708) the setting signal (124) to an interface to the lighting device (108). Method (700) according to claim 1 , wherein in the step (708) of providing the setting signal (124) is provided in order to control at least one further light source (126) of the lighting device (108). Method (700) according to claim 2 , wherein in the step (708) of providing the setting signal (124) is provided in order to drive the light source (110) and the at least one further light source (126) synchronously at the same time or at intervals offset in time from one another. Method (700) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in step (708) of determining the setting signal (124) is determined, which represents a lighting duration, a lighting type and/or a lighting color as a lighting parameter. Method (700) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in step (706) of determining the adjustment signal (124) is determined using the trajectory, which represents a lighting direction of the light source (110, 126) aligned with the trajectory as a lighting parameter. Method (700) according to one of the preceding claims, with a step (710) of selecting a selected light source (110, 126) of the lighting device (108), which corresponds to the position of the other road user (111, 114 ) is spatially closest, using the sensor data (104) read in, wherein in the step (708) of providing the adjustment signal (124) is provided in order to control the selected light source (110, 126). Method (700) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in step (702) of reading in the sensor data (104) are read in wirelessly as a vehicle-to-vehicle message or as a vehicle-to-device message. Method (700) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the steps (702, 704, 706, 708, 710) of the method (700) are carried out repeatedly in order to read in current sensor data in a repeated step (702) of reading in, which has a current Represent the position of the stranger road user (111, 114), wherein in a repeated step (704) of the processing, the current sensor data are processed using a processing specification in order to obtain a current processing result that uses the sensor data to update the expected trajectory of the stranger road user (111, 114), wherein in a repeated step (706) of determining a current setting signal for creating the lighting parameter using the current processing result is determined, and wherein in a repeated step (708) of providing the current setting signal to the interface the lighting device (108) is provided. Method (700) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the step (708) of providing the adjustment signal (124) is provided to the lighting device (108) with the at least one light source (110, 126) which is connected to a sensor device (102), on an antenna, on a housing element of a mirror replacement camera, on a window frame of a vehicle (202, 204), along one side of the vehicle, in particular in an area that is little illuminated by external light influences, on a side mirror of the vehicle (202, 204), in light housings and/or or is located in existing openings or gaps in the vehicle (202, 204). Method (700) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in the step (708) of providing the adjustment signal (124) to the lighting device (108) with the at least a light source (110, 126) is provided to indicate the position of the stranger road user (111, 114), an area in front of the position, an area behind the position and/or a traffic area used, such as a route of the stranger road user (114). illuminate. Device (106) set up to execute and/or control the steps (702, 704, 706, 708) of the method (700) according to one of the preceding claims in corresponding units (115, 116, 118, 120). Computer program that is set up to carry out the steps (702, 704, 706, 708) of the method (700) according to one of Claims 1 until 10 execute and/or control. Machine-readable storage medium on which the computer program claim 12 is saved. Traffic device (100), which has the following features: a sensor device (102) for acquiring sensor data (104); an illumination device (108) with at least one light source (110); and an apparatus (106) according to claim 11 . Traffic device (100) according to Claim 14 , wherein the traffic device (100) is formed as a vehicle (202, 204) or as part of a traffic infrastructure.

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