WO2024052147A1

WO2024052147A1 - Method for operating a lighting device comprising a plurality of lamps, lighting device, and motor vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2024052147A1
Application number: PCT/EP2023/073486
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dirk Brinkert
Original assignee: Audi Ag
Priority date: 2022-09-05
Filing date: 2023-08-28
Publication date: 2024-03-14
Also published as: DE102022122398A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a lighting device (2) comprising a plurality of lamps (1), in which method: a plurality of trigger conditions (5) are analyzed by a controller (3), the compliance with which conditions depends on input signals (4) of the controller (3); each of the trigger conditions (5) is assigned a step list (11) of lighting-step data records (12); the relevant step list (11) specifies the control signals (29) generated by the controller (3) for controlling the lamps (1) at least when exclusively the trigger condition (5) assigned to this step list (11) is met; the relevant lighting-step data record (12) specifies a selection mask (28) indicating which ones of the lamps (1) are controlled jointly by the controller (3) during processing of this lighting-step data record (12), in order to specify, on the basis of this lighting-step data record (12), a color (13) and/or brightness (14) of the lighting of all the lamps (1) that are jointly controlled.

Description

Method for operating a lighting device, lighting device and motor vehicle comprising several lamps

DESCRIPTION:

The invention relates to a method for operating a lighting device comprising a plurality of lamps, wherein a control device evaluates a plurality of triggering conditions, the fulfillment of which depends on input signals from the control device, a step list of lighting step data sets being assigned to the triggering conditions, the respective step list at least if exclusively the trigger condition assigned to this step list is met, which specifies control signals generated by the control device for controlling the lamps.

In particular in motor vehicles, but also in other areas of application, for example in the area of home automation, lighting devices with a large number of individual lamps are increasingly being used, which are to be controlled in certain patterns when certain conditions are met. For example, it is known from the document DE 10 2016 211 737 A1 to control several lamps when a light effect identifier is received and to play out a light pattern assigned to this identifier, which specifies a time course of the brightness under the luminous color for each of the lamps.

If such a time course is to be specified for a large number of lamps, a relatively large amount of data is required per lamp and light pattern. On the one hand, this makes the design or modification of a lighting pattern quite complex and, on the other hand, it requires a lot of memory.

The invention is therefore based on the object of reducing the effort required to implement or adapt a light pattern output, so that In particular, despite limited memory, several different lighting pattern groups can be kept available, for example in order to be able to output different types of lighting patterns in the same operating situation in the motor vehicle depending on the driving mode used or depending on user preferences, or so that in particular an adaptation of lighting patterns is possible with little effort.

The object is achieved according to the invention by a method of the type mentioned at the outset, whereby the respective lighting step data set specifies a selection mask which indicates which of the lamps are jointly controlled by the control device as part of the processing of this lighting step data set in order to determine a luminous color and/or luminous brightness of all of them which are controlled together Lamps to be specified depending on this lighting step data set.

In the context of the invention, it was recognized that when using lighting devices with several lamps in one lighting step, the light output of several lamps is typically changed simultaneously and in the same way. In this case, the use of a selection mask according to the invention makes it possible that not all the information required to control the respective lamp in this lighting step has to be kept available for each lamp, but rather that information, such as the desired luminous color brightness, can be specified for all controlled lamps at the same time. The respective selection mask can select exactly one of the lamps or several of the lamps, with preferably at least one of the selection masks used selecting several lamps. This results in significant memory savings, particularly when specifying complex lighting patterns for lighting devices with a large number of lamps.

This can be used in particular to store a larger number of different step lists in the same memory for the fulfillment of the respective steps A trigger condition must be provided so that, for example, color vision deficiency or photosensitivity of occupants can be taken into account, whereby the ability to detect output information for such occupants can be significantly improved or even made possible in the first place. On the other hand, by selecting a suitable group of step lists for the trigger conditions, additional information regarding the driving mode used or similar can be output, for example. In addition, for example, the vehicle interior or a light pattern emitted to the outside can be adapted to user preferences by selecting a group of step lists that are played when a respective trigger condition is met.

In particular, if the selection masks are provided by a separate mask list, as will be explained later, a corresponding step list can also be adapted very largely by a designer or, at least for non-safety-relevant trigger conditions or step lists, by a user with very little effort. In a simple example, the respective lighting step data set can, for example, only include selection information for selecting the selection mask, a color value and a brightness value, so that individual lighting steps or entire animations can or even be adjusted in terms of their color and/or brightness by editing individual or a few values the selection of the lamps used can be changed.

For example, it may be possible to load step lists for individual triggering conditions or groups of triggering conditions from a data storage medium, for example a USB stick or an SD card, or from a mobile phone coupled to the lighting device or a motor vehicle comprising it, or to transfer step lists via to edit a user interface of the motor vehicle, a mobile device coupled to the motor vehicle and / or via a backend server of the vehicle manufacturer or similar. Preferably, the lighting step data sets have a fixed length. In this case, the lighting step data sets of a respective step list can be located one behind the other in a memory or in a data structure and, for example, can be processed sequentially one after the other or, for example, in order to implement loops explained later, can be addressed there based on their number or an offset. The step lists can also be arranged one behind the other in a memory or a data structure, in particular with free memory areas in between, in order to enable the extension of individual step lists, and the respective trigger condition can be assigned address information via which the respective step list can be addressed.

The evaluation of the trigger conditions can in particular be carried out repeatedly. In particular, in at least one operating mode of the lamp or the device comprising the lamp, for example in an operating mode of a motor vehicle, a periodic evaluation of the triggering conditions can take place, it being also possible for different triggering conditions to be evaluated at different frequencies, so that, for example, safety-relevant triggering conditions are evaluated more frequently can be evaluated.

If several triggering conditions are met, a prioritization can be carried out, for example, which specifies which of the step lists assigned to the fulfilled triggering conditions is played out, or different parts of the lamp can be controlled according to different step lists. This will be explained in more detail later.

The luminous color and luminous brightness can preferably be stored as separate values in the lighting step data sets. For example, a hue, a color saturation and a brightness can be specified in each lighting step data set. However, it is also possible to use color spaces in which brightness and color are linked, for example the RGB color space. The input signals can be physical signals, but also information technology signals that can be provided, for example, via a software interface. Analog or, preferably, digital signals can be used as physical input signals.

The selection mask can be implemented, for example, as a bit mask in which the individual lamps or predetermined groups of lamps are each assigned a bit that indicates whether this lamp or group is controlled in the current step. For example, if a 7-byte-long selection mask is used, up to 56 separate lamps or groups of lamps can be controlled.

The respective lighting step data record can include selection information, on the basis of which the control device selects the selection mask or a base mask, depending on which the selection mask is specified, from a predetermined mask list.

Separating the selection masks into a separate list has several advantages: On the one hand, this can further reduce the required memory consumption in many applications, especially if many lamps or groups of lamps are to be controlled separately, since the same selection masks are often relevant for many lighting patterns. On the other hand, the mask list can form a kind of abstraction layer, so that, for example, different motor vehicles or equipment variants in which different numbers or arrangements of lamps are installed can be controlled using the same step lists.

The respective lighting step data set can additionally include selection reversal information, depending on which the control device either uses the selected base mask as a selection mask or uses the inverted selected base mask as a selection mask. When using an inverted selected base mask, exactly those lamps are not controlled that would be controlled if the selected base mask was used as a selection mask and vice versa. By using the selection reversal information, memory requirements can be further reduced since inverted masks do not have to be stored separately. The selection reversal information may be a single bit. For example, the selection information can comprise 7 or 15 bits and by using the selection reversal information as the most significant bit, this can be expanded to one or two bytes.

Priority information can be assigned to each triggering condition, with the lamps or at least some of the lamps only being controlled depending on the step list assigned to a currently fulfilled triggering condition if the priority information does not correspond to another triggering condition that is at the same time as or before the currently fulfilled triggering condition is fulfilled and whose respective step list has not yet been completely played out, indicates a higher priority than the priority information of the currently fulfilled trigger condition.

By prioritizing the trigger conditions and thus ultimately also the lighting patterns, the same lighting device can be used, for example, to output safety or driving-relevant information and, for example, to provide ambient lighting or entertainment information at times when such output does not take place. As will be explained below, it is possible that displayed light patterns only reserve parts of the light sources. For example, if a wiping flashing pattern is currently output in a side area of the lighting device in order to signal an active flasher, a different light pattern can still be output in the central area of the lighting device when a corresponding trigger condition is triggered, even if its trigger condition has a lower priority than the flashing pattern.

It is possible that only that part of the lamps depends on the step list assigned to the trigger condition or a currently fulfilled one is controlled for which a blocking condition is not met. As explained above, this makes it possible to continue to output light patterns in parts of the lighting device, even if other parts or certain lamps are blocked due to the fulfillment of a higher priority trigger condition. Alternatively or additionally, blocking can also occur independently of the fulfillment of the triggering condition, for example if parts of the lighting device are to be controlled in a specific operating mode by a control device other than the control device that evaluates the triggering conditions.

In particular, each triggering condition can be assigned one or more priority pieces of information, with the blocking condition for a respective lamp being fulfilled when at least one other triggering condition, which is fulfilled at the same time as or before the currently fulfilled triggering condition and whose respective step list has not yet been completely played out , has priority information that indicates a higher priority than the priority information of the currently fulfilled trigger condition and at the same time is assigned to a step list that specifies a blockage of the respective lamp.

Blockages of lighting devices can be specified in the context of the step list in particular by using a blockage data record instead of a lighting step data record in at least one step of the step list, which in particular, apart from being identified as a blockage data record, can have the same length and structure as a lighting step data record. For example, by setting a specific bit, by specifying a specific color and/or brightness value, by specifying a holding time of zero or by similar markings, a blockage data set can be marked, with the selection mask assigned to the blockage data set specifying the lamps that are to be used after being played out of the blocking data record, for example until the end of the respective step list is reached or until another blocking data record is played out within the same step list. The control device can process Boolean values as input signals, with a logical combination of the input signals being predetermined for each of the trigger conditions, the respective trigger condition being fulfilled if the result of the respective predetermined logical combination is true. This makes it possible, in particular, to modify or supplement triggering conditions with little effort. For each triggering condition, a text file, a bit mask or the like can be used to specify which input signals are linked and how.

A pointer or other reference to one of the step lists can also be assigned to the link or trigger condition, so that the assigned step list can be played out when the trigger condition is fulfilled. This makes it possible to define new operating states of the lighting device or a device comprising it, e.g. a motor vehicle, in which certain light patterns are to be displayed, with little effort, for example as part of a software update or even as desired by a user himself. Ultimately, lighting patterns can be flexibly assigned to any number of operating situations that can be recognized based on the input signals, without any intervention in the programming of the corresponding control device being necessary.

For example, a triggering condition can evaluate whether a respective turn signal is set, and if the triggering condition is met, for example, a wiping pattern can be output on the edge of the lighting device. Additionally or alternatively, for example, if appropriate sensors detect that a door is closed and an assigned seat is occupied, a light animation can be played as a welcome scenario. However, if a seat is occupied and a door is opened, a farewell scenario can be played out. For example, it can be additionally or alternatively recognized when a predetermined distance to the vehicle in front is not reached and the brakes are not actuated In this case, a warning signal, for example a full-surface red glow of the lighting device, can be played. If the hazard warning system is active, wiping animations can be played on both sides of the lighting device, for example. The scenarios mentioned, i.e. combinations of trigger conditions and step lists, are purely examples and, as explained above, can be supplemented as needed.

The respective lighting step data set can specify a holding time, whereby at least if only the triggering condition assigned to exactly one of the step lists is met, the lighting means are controlled when the respective lighting step data set is reached within this step list for the holding time according to this lighting step data set, before a change to according to this Step list subsequent lighting step data record takes place. By using a hold time per lighting step data set, individual lighting step data sets can be played out longer than other lighting step data sets. In principle, a similar result could also be achieved by playing out the same lighting step data set multiple times, but using longer holding times instead of using the same lighting step data set multiple times can significantly reduce the memory requirement for storing certain lighting patterns, since the same lighting step data set does not have to be repeated can. This also makes it easier to create or modify step lists or new light patterns.

The respective lighting step data set can specify a transition time, whereby at least if only the triggering condition assigned to exactly one of the step lists is met, when the respective lighting step data set within this step list is reached, the luminous color and / or luminous brightness of all jointly controlled lamps are continuously or gradually over the transition time in at least three levels from a luminous color and/or luminous brightness present before the lighting step data record is reached to a luminous color and/or luminous brightness predetermined by the lighting step data record is changed. This means that light animation can be achieved using just a single lighting step data set. While it would in principle be possible, for example, to represent a continuous increase in brightness through a large number of successive lighting step data sets, such an approach reduces the memory consumption of the step list on the one hand and, on the other hand, makes it easier for designers or users to create or modify lighting patterns.

The step list can specify a predetermined sequence of the lighting step data sets, the respective lighting step data set comprising return information, with a return condition being checked after processing a respective currently achieved lighting step data set, the fulfillment of which depends on the return information and leads to a repetition of the step list from one in the sequence before lighting step data set currently achieved. In particular, the lighting step data record to which a jump is made can depend on the return information.

The return information can specify a number of repetitions after which the return condition is no longer fulfilled when the lighting step data record containing the return information is reached and the step list is therefore continued. Using the procedure described, loops can be implemented within the step list, whereby relatively complex lighting patterns can be mapped using relatively short step lists or a few lighting step data sets. This reduces the memory consumption of the step lists and makes it easier to modify or design light patterns.

In addition to the method according to the invention, the invention relates to a lighting device, in particular for illuminating an interior of a motor vehicle, comprising a plurality of lighting devices and a control device, the control device being set up to carry out the method according to the invention. The lamps can be arranged in the lighting device in particular in one or two rows or generally as an array. A respective line can run in a straight line, but also curved, for example to follow a vehicle contour. The lighting device preferably comprises between 8 and 200 lamps, in particular between 30 and 150 lamps. In the area mentioned, the use of the method explained is particularly advantageous, since when there are too many lamps, for example with high-resolution OLED screens, animations are unlikely to be created manually and with very small numbers of lamps, the advantages of the method according to the invention are only partially apparent step.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle which includes a lighting device according to the invention. When using the lighting device according to the invention in a motor vehicle, the control device of the lighting device can also serve to implement other vehicle functions or even primarily serve to implement other vehicle functions. The control device can also be arranged at a significant distance from the lighting means and, for example, be part of a vehicle-side multimedia device or a central control device of the motor vehicle. The lighting means can extend in particular in a line-like manner along the root of the window or a cockpit contour, but also along a door, the dashboard or the like.

Further advantages and details of the invention result from the following exemplary embodiments and the associated drawings. Show schematically:

1 shows a flowchart of an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention for operating a lighting device comprising several lamps, 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a motor vehicle according to the invention, which includes an exemplary embodiment of a lighting device according to the invention, and

Fig. 3 shows an exemplary mask list for defining selection or base masks in the exemplary embodiment discussed with reference to Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 shows a flow chart of a method for operating a lighting device 2 comprising several lamps 1, as shown by way of example in Fig. 2 as part of a motor vehicle 36. For reasons of clarity, a lighting device 2 with only eight lamps 1 is used in the examples discussed. However, the method explained is particularly advantageous if lighting devices with a relatively large number, for example more than fifty, lamps are used, as has already been explained in the general section.

Fig. 1 shows a relatively complex exemplary embodiment, so that the general structure of the method should first be explained for better understanding. The control device 3 of the lighting device 2 or the motor vehicle 36 evaluates several trigger conditions 5, the fulfillment of which depends on input signals 4 of the control device 3. A step list 11 of lighting step data sets 12 is assigned to the trigger conditions 5. At least when only one of the trigger conditions 5 is met, the step list 11 assigned to this trigger condition 5 specifies the control signals 29 according to which the lamps 1 are controlled.

In order, on the one hand, to achieve low memory consumption for the step lists 11 and thus the lighting patterns and, on the other hand, to simplify the design or adaptation of lighting patterns, the respective lighting step data record 12 specifies a selection mask 28, which indicates which of the lamps 1 is used in the processing of this Illumination step data set 12 is controlled jointly by the control device 3 in order to specify a luminous color 13 or luminous brightness 14 of all commonly controlled lamps 1 depending on this lighting step data record 12.

In the example of such a method shown in FIG. 1, input signals 4 from various vehicle-side devices are first detected by the control device 3 in step S1. Corresponding input signals 4 are provided, for example, by a turn signal control unit 31, an ignition 32, a seat occupancy sensor 33, a door opening sensor 34 and a distance sensor 35.

In step S2, several trigger conditions 5 are evaluated in parallel. If the input signals 4 are Boolean values or if Boolean values are determined from the input signals, the respective triggering condition 5 can define a logical combination 6 of at least parts of the input signals 4 or the Boolean values and the respective triggering condition 5 can be fulfilled if the result of this Link 6 is true.

As has already been explained, a step list 11 of lighting step data sets 12 should be assigned to each of the trigger conditions 5. In the example explained, this is done by specifying a data structure 10 in step S3, for example an array or a list, which stores the step lists 11 or their lighting step data sets 12. The trigger condition 5 specifies a length 7 and an offset or an address 8 in this data structure 10, i.e. at which point in the data structure 10 the step list 11 begins and how many lighting step data sets 12 it includes.

In order to enable prioritization, for example, of the output of safety-relevant light patterns, priority information 9 is also assigned to the trigger conditions 5. In the example explained, it is assumed that only the light pattern with the highest priority should be output. As has already been explained in detail in the general part of the description, it is also possible that only a subgroup of the lamps is marked as blocked or that a blocking condition is met for them, while a step list with a higher priority is played out. In this case, the step list 11 assigned to a trigger condition 5 with lower priority can still be used to specify control signals 29 for those of the lamps 1 for which the blocking condition is not met.

For better understanding, it is assumed below that only one of the trigger conditions 5 is currently fulfilled. However, the same steps are carried out if, for example, a trigger condition 5 with a lower priority is to be used exclusively to specify control signals 29 for those of the lamps 1 whose blocking condition is not met.

In step S4, the lighting step data record 12 to be played out is read in from the data structure 10. Immediately after triggering condition 5 has been fulfilled, the lighting step data record 12 addressed by address 8 is read in. In later repetitions, the immediately following lighting step data sets can be read in in step S4 or, as will be explained in step S8, jumps back to previous lighting step data sets 12 can also take place.

In the example, the respective lighting step data record 12 describes a luminous color 13 and a luminous brightness 14 for the jointly controlled lamps 1. The luminous color 13 can also be described by separate values, for example by specifying a hue and a color saturation. As an alternative to separately specifying the luminous color 13 and luminous brightness 14, these variables can also be specified by control information that affects both the luminous color and the luminous brightness, for example through RGB values. As already explained above, the lighting step data set 12 should also specify a selection mask 28. In principle, it would be possible to save the respective selection mask 28 directly in the lighting step data record 12. In particular, if a relatively large number of lamps 1 are to be controlled, it may be expedient to define the selection masks 28 with the aid of a mask list 20, which is shown by way of example and in extracts in FIG. In the example, the mask list 20 also does not directly store all possible selection masks 28, but only basic masks 21 to 26, which can potentially be inverted to provide the selection mask 28. Therefore, the respective illumination step data record 12 includes selection information 15, on the basis of which the control device 3 selects one of the base masks 21 to 26 from the mask list 20 in step S5 and in step S6 a decision is made depending on selection reversal information 16 as to whether the respective base mask 21 to 26 immediately is used as a selection mask 28 or whether the selected base mask 21 to 26 is inverted to provide the selection mask 28. Instead, it would also be possible to immediately save different selection masks 28 in the mask list 20 and select them based on the selection information 15.

The selection masks 28 or the base masks 21 to 26 can in particular be specified as bit masks. For example, bits that are assigned to lighting devices to be controlled together can be set to one, which is symbolized by a cross in FIG. 3, and the remaining bits can be set to zero, which is shown by an empty box in FIG. As explained, the procedure described is particularly advantageous if a relatively large number of lamps are to be controlled. For example, a complete basic mask 21 to 26 or selection mask 28 for controlling up to 56 lamps 1 can be saved in just 7 bytes.

In step S7, the control device 3 outputs control signals 29 to the individual lamps 1. Here, the lighting means 1 selected through the selection mask 28 are controlled in such a way that The luminous color 13 and luminous brightness 14 specified by the current lighting step data record 12 are set. In order to enable continuous fading, the lighting step data set 12 can specify a transition time 17 over which the luminous color 13 and/or luminous brightness 14 is transferred continuously or stepwise in several steps from the previous value to the value specified by the current lighting step data set 12. The luminous color 13 and luminous brightness 14 of the lamps 1 not selected through the selection mask 28 remain unchanged.

After the control signals 29 have been played out, a holding time 18 predetermined by the read-in lighting step data record 12 can first be waited. The use of an additional holding time 18 enables complex lighting patterns to be specified with little memory effort.

It can be advantageous to also allow loops within light patterns or these predetermined step lists 11. Therefore, in step S8 in the example, a return condition 30 is checked, the fulfillment of which depends on return information 19 of the read lighting step data record 12. For example, the return information 19 can specify how often such a return should take place, for example with each pass a counter of the control device 3 is increased and compared with the limit value specified by the return information in order to check whether the return condition 30 is fulfilled. Preferably, the return information 19 also indicates how far or to which lighting step data record 12 of the respective step list 11 should be returned.

In step S9 it is checked whether all lighting step data records 12 of the respective step list 11 have already been processed. If this is not the case, the system jumps back to step S4 and the following lighting step data record 12 of the respective step list 11 is read in there. Otherwise, the procedure can be repeated from step S1. Below are some examples of possible triggering conditions and the resulting light patterns. If, for example, it is recognized based on an input signal 4 that is provided by the turn signal that a left turn signal of the motor vehicle 36 is set, the lamps adjacent to the left can be activated one after the other sequentially, starting from a light source 1 located in the middle or to the left of the center of the motor vehicle . For this purpose, a selection mask can be used, which selects exactly one of the lamps 1, as shown for the base masks 21, 22 in FIG. 3. Using a corresponding selection mask, the light source to be activated is selected and controlled to light up, resulting in a light bar that is swiped to the left. At the end of a turn signal cycle, all or only the lamps used to output the light pattern can be switched off using a selection mask (not shown). The output of this light pattern can be repeated for each turn signal cycle.

Symmetrical selection masks can be used to output a hazard warning signal or a welcome or farewell scenario, which can be triggered, for example, depending on input signals 4 of the control device 3, which are provided by the door opening sensor 34, the seat occupancy sensor 33 and / or the ignition 32 , as shown for the base masks 23, 24 in Fig. 3. In this way, for example, the flashing pattern explained above can be output symmetrically on both sides of the motor vehicle 36 in the event of a warning flashing or, for example, colored bars can be output that build up from the middle or from the sides.

If, for example, charging the motor vehicle or another time-consuming process is to be visualized, the base masks 25, 26 shown in FIG. 3 can be used. For example, by using the base mask 25 as a selection mask 28, the lamps shown can first be activated and then deactivated. You can then go through Using the base mask 26 as a selection mask, the lamps shown there are activated and then deactivated, then the inverted selection mask 25 is used and then the inverted base mask 26 is used as a selection mask 28. This creates the overall impression of a block of light running to the right in FIG. 3.

If progress is to be visualized at the same time, a left section of the lighting device 2 can be reserved, for example by a trigger condition with higher priority, and show permanently brightly lit lamps 1, whereby the length of the reserved section can, for example, describe the charging status of the motor vehicle. Since the blocking condition already explained above is fulfilled for the reserved lamps 1 in this case, the explained bar running to the right is only shown in the remaining section of the lighting device 2 according to the base masks 25, 26.

The lighting device 2 or its lamps 1 can extend in particular in a line-like manner along the root of the window or another vehicle contour. In the example, the lighting device is single-line, but multi-line lighting devices can also be used.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS:

1 . Method for operating a lighting device (2) comprising several lamps (1), wherein a control device (3) evaluates a number of triggering conditions (5), the fulfillment of which depends on input signals (4) of the control device (3), the triggering conditions (5) a step list (11) of lighting step data sets (12) is assigned in each case, the respective step list (11) being fulfilled at least when only the triggering condition (5) assigned to this step list (11) is fulfilled, which is used to control the lamps (1) by the Control signals (29) generated by the control device (3), characterized in that the respective lighting step data record (12) specifies a selection mask (28) which indicates which of the lamps (1) is used as part of the processing of this lighting step data record (12) by the control device ( 3) are controlled together in order to specify a luminous color (13) and / or luminous brightness (14) of all commonly controlled lamps (1) depending on this lighting step data record (12).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective lighting step data record (12) comprises selection information (15), on the basis of which the control device (3) creates the selection mask (28) or a base mask (21 -26), depending on which Selection mask (28) is specified, selects from a specified mask list (20).

3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the respective lighting step data record (12) additionally comprises selection reversal information (16), depending on which the control device (3) either uses the selected base mask (21 -26). Selection mask (28) used or the inverted selected base mask (21 -26) used as selection mask (28). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that priority information (9) is assigned to each triggering condition (5), the lamps (1) or at least some of the lamps (1) only depending on one of the triggering conditions (1) that is currently fulfilled. 5) assigned step list (11) can be controlled if the priority information (9) does not correspond to another trigger condition (5) that is fulfilled at the same time as or before the currently fulfilled trigger condition (5) and whose respective step list (11) has not yet been fully played out is, indicates a higher priority than the priority information (9) of the currently fulfilled trigger condition (5). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that only that part of the lighting means (1) is controlled depending on the step list (11) assigned to the or a currently fulfilled trigger condition (5) for which a blocking condition is not fulfilled. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that each triggering condition (5) is assigned one or more priority pieces of information (9), the blocking condition for a respective lamp (1) being fulfilled if at least one other triggering condition (5) is present at the same time which or time before the currently fulfilled triggering condition (5) is fulfilled and whose respective step list (11) has not yet been completely played out, has priority information (9) which indicates a higher priority than the priority information (9) of the currently fulfilled triggering condition (5 ) and at the same time is assigned to a step list (11), which specifies a blockage of the respective lamp (1).

7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control device (3) processes Boolean values as input signals (4), a logical combination (6) of the input signals (4) being specified for each of the trigger conditions (5), whereby the respective trigger condition (5) is met if the result of the respective predetermined logical link (6) is true.

8. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective lighting step data record (12) specifies a holding time (18), the control being carried out at least when only the trigger condition (5) assigned to exactly one of the step lists (11) is fulfilled the lighting means (1) takes place when the respective lighting step data record (12) is reached within this step list (11) for the holding time (18) according to this lighting step data record (12) before a change to the lighting step data record (12) following according to this step list (11) takes place.

9. The method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective lighting step data record (12) specifies a transition time (17), at least if only the trigger condition (5) assigned to exactly one of the step lists is met, when the respective lighting step data record is reached (12) within this step list (11) the luminous color (13) and/or luminous brightness (14) of all commonly controlled lamps (1) over the transition time (17) continuously or gradually in at least three stages from one before reaching the lighting step data record (12 ) present luminous color (13) and / or luminous brightness (14) is changed to a luminous color (13) and / or luminous brightness (14) specified by the lighting step data set (12).

10. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the step list (11) specifies a predetermined sequence of the lighting step data sets (12), the respective lighting step data set (12) comprising return information (19), a return condition (30) being checked after processing a respective currently achieved lighting step data set (12). the fulfillment of which depends on the return information (19) and leads to a repetition of the step list (11) starting from an illumination step data record (12) lying in the sequence before the currently reached lighting step data record (12). Lighting device, in particular for illuminating an interior of a motor vehicle (36), comprising a plurality of lighting means (1) and a control device (3), characterized in that the control device (3) is set up to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims. Motor vehicle, characterized in that it comprises a lighting device (2) according to claim 11.