DE102009054138A1 - Method for operating display unit in vehicle, involves producing measuring signal by brightness sensor, and activating night-display-view or day-display-view of display device in dependent of measuring signal of brightness sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves producing a measuring signal (M1) by a brightness sensor (SE1). The measuring signal represents brightness of the light, which is discharged to a vehicle from outer side in reference to the vehicle. A night-display-view or day-display-view of the display device is activated in dependent of measuring signal of the brightness sensor. A display unit (10) has a brightness sensor (SE2) to produce another measuring signal (M2), which represents the brightness of the light in a front end of the vehicle. Entry and exit of a tunnel are recognized dependent upon the signals. An independent claim is also included for a device for operating the display unit.

Description

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for operating a display unit for a vehicle, which comprises a control and display illumination device with a day-display view and a night-display view, and a first brightness sensor.

WO 2007/101712 A2 discloses a portable navigation device including a processor configured to observe, for example, a signal from a light sensor mounted on a circuit board of the navigation device and to select display settings associated with the current ambient brightness conditions, such as a day view or a night -View.

The object on which the invention is based is to provide a method and device which enables reliable operation of a display unit.

The object is solved by the features of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are characterized in the subclaims.

The invention is characterized by a method and a corresponding device for operating a display unit for a vehicle. The display unit comprises a display device with a day display view and a night display view, and a first brightness sensor. The first brightness sensor is configured to generate a first measurement signal that is representative of the brightness of the light incident on the vehicle with respect to the vehicle from above. Depending on the first measurement signal of the first brightness sensor, either the day display view or the night display view is activated.

The first measurement signal is thus representative of the brightness of the light impinging on the vehicle in the direction of the vertical axis, taking into account a detection angle. This allows timely detection of changes in the brightness conditions relevant to the driver. Preferably, a sensor is used, which is already present in the vehicle, such as a rain sensor.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the display unit comprises at least one second brightness sensor, which is designed to generate a second measurement signal, which is representative of the brightness of the light in advance of the vehicle. Depending on the second measurement signal of the second brightness sensor, either the day display view or the night display view of the display device is activated.

In order to detect the light in advance of the vehicle, the second brightness sensor comprises a measuring cone directed forward with respect to the vehicle, that is to say in the direction of the vehicle longitudinal axis. The measuring cone thus widens in the forward direction of travel of the vehicle. This has the advantage that an imminent change in brightness, for example due to a tunnel exit or tunnel entrance, can be detected at an early stage.

By way of example, it is also possible for the display unit to comprise a further second brightness sensor with a measuring cone directed forwardly in the forward direction of travel with respect to the vehicle, and slightly pointing downwards onto the roadway. The further second brightness sensor generates a further second measurement signal. Disturbances that are, for example, by brief changes in brightness in the run-up of the vehicle, for example, by lighting up the brake lights of a vehicle ahead, can be detected even more reliable.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the display unit comprises a third brightness sensor which is configured to generate a third measurement signal which is representative of the brightness of the light incident with respect to the vehicle in a rear region of the vehicle. Depending on the third measurement signal of the third brightness sensor, either the day display view or the night display view of the display device is activated.

The third brightness sensor is arranged in the interior of the vehicle, for example in the dashboard. The third brightness sensor includes a rearward detection cone with respect to the vehicle. Due to this detection cone, not only light incident to the vehicle from behind in the rear area with respect to the vehicle is detected, but also light laterally incident on the vehicle is detected.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, a tunnel entrance and / or a tunnel exit is detected as a function of the first measurement signal and / or the second measurement signal and / or the third measurement signal and either the day-display view or night-display view activated depending whether a tunnel entrance or a tunnel exit was detected.

With the aid of an evaluation of the first measurement signal and / or the second measurement signal and / or the third measurement signal with regard to a possible Changing the ambient brightness, for example, a tunnel entrance or a tunnel exit can be detected before the vehicle is already retracted into the tunnel or extended out of the tunnel. This allows on-demand activation of either the day-view view or the night-view view of the display device.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, switching from the day-display view to the night-view view is performed at the earliest when the day-view view has been activated a predetermined first dwell time and switching from the night-view view performed on the tag display view at the earliest when the night display view was activated for a predetermined second dwell time.

By suitably specifying the first and second dwell times, it is easy to prevent switching between day-display and night-display views alternately at short intervals, for example due to disturbances. The first and second residence time thus have a debouncing effect.

One possibility to ensure that the switching takes place at the earliest after the first or the second residence time is the first measurement signal and / or the second measurement signal and / or the third measurement signal and / or one of the first measurement signal and / or the second measurement signal and / or or debounce the third measurement signals dependent operating signal. This is done, for example, by means of a respective first and second predetermined threshold value and / or at least a first dwell time, in which case a binary first status signal is determined and, depending on the first status signal, either the day-display view or the night-display view of the display device is activated.

The first and second threshold values may contribute to the fact that the first state signal does not switch to a second state value already at small brightness changes, for example from a first state value, or from a second state value to a first state value. The first dwell time prevents the desired debouncing occurring in the case of short-term brightness changes, for example through tunnel lighting or avenue trees.

For example, alternatively or additionally depending on further possible combinations of the first and / or second and / or third measuring signal analogous to the procedure described in the immediately preceding section further suitable state signals can be determined and depending on these suitable state signals either the day-view view or the night display of the display device are activated.

Another way to ensure that the switching takes place at the earliest after the first or second dwell time is to limit a slew rate and / or a fall rate of the first measurement signal and / or the second measurement signal and / or the third measurement signal by filtering.

This has the advantage that short-term changes in the ambient brightness, for example by tunnel lighting or avenue trees, are suppressed in the control of the day display view and night display view. The limitation, for example, of the respective rate of increase may be formed differently than the limitation of the respective waste rate. This allows, for example, a changeover of the night display view to day display view with a sudden increase in the ambient brightness is faster than switching the day display view on night display view in a sudden reduction in ambient brightness.

Embodiments of embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the schematic drawings.

Show it:

1 an embodiment of a display lighting system 100 and

2 a flowchart for a program for operating a display unit 10 ,

A display lighting system 100 ( 1 ) comprises a display unit 10 for a vehicle and a device for operating the display unit 10 , The device for operating the display unit 10 includes a control unit 15 , The display unit 10 includes a display device 30 , a first brightness sensor SE1, a second brightness sensor SE2, another second brightness sensor SE2 ', and a third brightness sensor SE3.

The display device 30 includes, for example, a navigation display and / or a control display and / or an information display in the vehicle interior, such as speedometer, clock and speed display, and / or an operator display, such as a switch or a button.

For example, in the tag display view, the respective dial, the respective scale, the respective functional lighting and / or the respective pointer in light color, for example, white, backlit. Text and numeric values are displayed in light color, for example white. In the night display view, for example, the respective dial, the respective scale, the respective function lighting and / or the respective pointer in a darker color, such as orange and / or green, backlit. For example, text and numbers are displayed in the same color, orange and / or green.

The first brightness sensor SE1 is configured to generate a first measurement signal M1, which is representative of the brightness of the light incident on the vehicle from above with respect to the vehicle. The first brightness sensor SE1 is arranged, for example, in the interior of the vehicle, centrally in the upper region of the front windshield, just below the roof area. The first brightness sensor SE1 is designed to detect the ambient brightness of the vehicle. The first brightness sensor SE1 comprises a detection cone in the direction of the vertical axis, which is wide, for example.

The second brightness sensor SE2 is designed to generate a second measurement signal M2, which is representative of the brightness of the light in front of the vehicle. The second brightness sensor comprises a measuring cone directed with respect to the vehicle, ie in the direction of the vehicle longitudinal axis. The further second brightness sensor SE2 'is designed to generate a further second measurement signal M2', which is representative of the brightness of the light in front of the vehicle. The further second brightness sensor SE2 'optionally includes a forward facing in the forward direction of travel of the vehicle, slightly down to the roadway second detection cone. The second and the further second brightness sensor SE2, SE2 'are arranged, for example, in the interior of the vehicle, centrally in the upper region of the front windshield, just below the roof area.

The third brightness sensor SE3 generates a third measurement signal M3, which is representative of the brightness of the light incident on the vehicle in a rear area of the vehicle in the vehicle. The third brightness sensor SE3 is arranged in the interior of the vehicle, for example in the dashboard.

The advantage of a display unit 10 with the first SE1, the second SE2, the further second SE2 ', and third sensor element SE3, the day-view view and night-view view may be controlled depending on a plurality of ambient brightness readings. The display unit 10 For example, it may also include only the first brightness sensor SE1 and / or the second brightness sensor SE2 and / or the third brightness sensor SE3.

The first measurement signal M1 and / or second measurement signal M2 and / or the further second measurement signal M2 'and / or the third measurement signal M3 become the control unit 15 fed.

The control unit 15 For example, it may comprise a central processor unit with a program memory and a data memory. The control unit 15 is formed, for example, depending on the first measurement signal and / or second measurement signal and / or third measurement signal and / or an operating signal, which is determined depending on the first measurement signal and / or the second measurement signal and / or the third measurement signals, a binary first brightness state signal To determine "lightness". For example, depending on the first measurement signal M1 and the second measurement signal M2 and the further second measurement signal M2 'and predetermined weighting factors, the operating signal is formed and dependent on the operating signal and a predetermined first brightness threshold and a predetermined second brightness threshold and at least one predetermined first Dwell time, the binary first brightness state signal Lightness determined.

Furthermore, for example, depending on the third measurement signal M3 and a predetermined first luminance threshold and a predetermined second luminance threshold and at least one predetermined second dwell, a binary second brightness state signal Luminance is determined.

For example, the first brightness state signal Lightness and the second brightness state signal Luminance may assume a first brightness state value Tag or a second brightness state value Night.

The control unit 15 is further configured to detect a tunnel entrance and / or a tunnel exit depending on the first measurement signal M1 and / or the second measurement signal M2 and / or the third measurement signal M3 and at least a first tunnel state signal Status_Tunnel and / or a second tunnel state signal Status_Tunnel_Anfang and / or third tunnel state signal Status_Tunnel_Hell to determine.

The first tunnel state signal Status_Tunnel indicates, for example, whether a tunnel exit was detected by day. The second tunnel state signal Status_Tunnel_Anfang indicates, for example, whether a tunnel entrance was detected by day. The third tunnel state signal Status_Tunnel_ Bright, for example, indicates whether a detected tunnel is brightly lit.

Depending on the first brightness state signal Lightness and / or the second brightness state signal Luminance and / or the first tunnel state signal Status_Tunnel and / or the second tunnel state signal Status_Tunnel_Anfang and / or the third tunnel state signal Status_Tunnel_Hell, either the day display view or the night display view is activated ,

For example, activating either the day-view view or the night-view view may be dependent on other vehicle control state signals and / or vehicle lighting state signals, for example, depending on the switching state of a clamp terminal 15 and / or depending on whether Parking light is switched on.

2 shows an embodiment of a flowchart for a program for activating either the day-view view or the night-view view depending on the detected state signals. After a start at S11, a branch follows at S12, depending on whether terminal 15 in the vehicle is in the ON switching state. If this is not the case, it is determined in a further branch in S13 whether the second brightness status signal Luminance has the second state value night; if this is not the case, the day display view is activated in S13.

If, in S13, the second brightness status signal Luminance has the second state value night, the night display view is activated in S15.

If the terminal Kl. 15 in the vehicle is in the switching state ON in S12, a branching S16 determines whether the parking light is switched on. If this is not the case, the day display view is activated in S17.

If the parking light is switched on in S16, a branch follows in S18, depending on whether the second brightness state signal Luminance has the second state value night. If this is not the case, a branch takes place in S19 depending on whether the second tunnel state signal Status_Tunnel_Anfang has a third state value 0. If this is not the case, a tunnel entrance has been detected and despite the fact that the second brightness status signal Luminance has the first state value Tag, the night display view is activated in S20. This allows for predictive switching from the daytime display view to the nighttime view view when entering the tunnel by day.

If the second brightness state signal Luminance has the second state value night in S18, a branch follows in S21 depending on whether the third tunnel state signal Status_Tunnel_Hell has the third state value 0. If this is not the case, no brightly lit tunnel was detected and it follows in S22 another branch depending on whether the first brightness state signal Lightness has the second state value night. If this is not the case, the routine continues in S19. If the second tunnel state signal Status_Tunnel_Anfang has a fourth state value 1 in S19, a tunnel entrance was detected and in S20 the night display view is activated, although the brightness state signal Lightness has the first state value Tag. This allows for predictive switching from the daytime display view to the nighttime view view when entering the tunnel by day.

If in S19 the second tunnel state signal Status_Tunnel_Anfang the third state value 0, no tunnel entrance at day was detected and in S23 the day-view view is activated, in particular the first brightness state signal Lightness, which is representative of the leading and ambient brightness of the vehicle, has the first brightness state value day.

If in S22 the brightness state signal Lightness has the second state value night, a branch follows in S24. If in S24 the first tunnel state signal Status_Tunnel has the third state value 0, a tunnel exit was detected by day and in S25 the day display view is activated. This allows for a predictive switch from the night-view view to the day-view view when leaving the tunnel by day.

If in S24 the first tunnel status signal Status_Tunnel does not have the fourth status value 1, no tunnel exit was detected and in S26 the night display is activated.

In S21, if the third tunnel state signal Status Tunnel Hell has the third state value 0, a tunnel entrance has been known where the tunnel is brightly lit, and in S26 the night display is activated. During a night drive, when entering a brightly lit tunnel, the switchover to day display view is suppressed.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

display unit

15

control unit

30

display device

100

Display Lighting System

M1

first measurement signal

M2

second measurement signal

M2 '

another second measuring signal

M3

third measurement signal

SE1

first brightness sensor

SE2

second brightness sensor

SE2

another second brightness sensor

SE3

third brightness sensor

Cl. 15

clamp

Lightness

first brightness state signal

Luminance

second brightness condition signal

Status_Tunnel

first tunnel state signal

Status_Tunnel_Anfang

second tunnel state signal

Status_Tunnel_Hell

third tunnel state signal

Day

first state value

night

second state value

0

third state value

1

fourth state value

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

• WO 2007/101712 A2 [0002]

Claims (6)

Method for operating a display unit ( 10 ) for a vehicle comprising - a display device ( 30 ) having a day display view and a night display view, and a first brightness sensor (SE1) configured to generate a first measurement signal (M1) that is representative of the brightness of the light relative to the vehicle impacts the vehicle from above, the method comprising: activating either the day-view view or the night-view view of the display device ( 30 ) depending on the first measurement signal (M1) of the first brightness sensor (SE1). Method according to Claim 1, in which the display unit ( 10 ) comprises at least one second brightness sensor (SE2) which is designed to generate a second measurement signal (M2) which is representative of the brightness of the light in advance of the vehicle and dependent on the second measurement signal (M2) of the second brightness sensor (SE2) either the day display view or the night display view of the display device ( 30 ) is activated. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the display unit ( 10 ) comprises a third brightness sensor (SE3) configured to generate a third measurement signal (M3) which is representative of the brightness of the light incident on a rear area of the vehicle relative to the vehicle and dependent on the third measurement signal (M3). M3) of the third brightness sensor (SE3) either the day-display view or the night-display view of the display device ( 30 ) is activated. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which a tunnel entrance and / or a tunnel exit is detected as a function of the first measurement signal (M1) and / or the second measurement signal (M2) and / or the third measurement signal (M3) and either the tag display View or Night Display view, depending on whether a tunnel entrance or a tunnel exit has been detected. Method according to one of the preceding claims, in which switching from the day-display view to the night-view view is performed at the earliest when the day-view view has been activated a predetermined first dwell time and a switchover from the night display View of the tag display view occurs at the earliest when the night display view has been activated for a predetermined second dwell time. Device for operating a display unit ( 10 ) for a vehicle, the display unit comprising - a display device ( 30 ) having a day display view and a night display view, and a first brightness sensor (SE1) configured to generate a first measurement signal (M1) that is representative of the brightness of the light relative to the vehicle impinges on the vehicle from above, wherein the device is designed to display either a day-display view or a night-view view of a display device () depending on a first measurement signal (M1) of a first brightness sensor (SE1). 30 ) to activate.

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