Method for controlling a lighting brightness of a lit motor vehicle instrument as well as a motor vehicle with at least one dimmably lit motor vehicle instrument

• US 9,623,819 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2014
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Frommann, Markus, Schreiber, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Mancho, Ronnie
• Application Number:
  US14/575,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20150175106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• Field of Search: 353 13, 701 45, 701 36, 345 8, 345 7, 345204, 345690, 3404255, 248148
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/149 Instrument input by detecting viewing direction not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/21 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/349 Adjustment of brightness
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/00 Instruments specially adapted for vehicles; Arrangement of instruments in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/10 Input arrangements, i.e. from user to vehicle, associated with vehicle functions or specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 37/00 Dashboards as road-vehicle superstructure sub-units B62D25/14
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 3/18 for varying the light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/037 for occupant comfort , e.g. for automatic adjustment of appliances according to personal settings, e.g. seats, mirrors, steering wheel

Abstract

A method for controlling a lighting brightness of a lit motor vehicle instrument is described in which a viewing direction of a driver is ascertained. From the viewing direction of the driver, a direct field of vision and a peripheral field of vision are ascertained. The lighting brightness of the motor vehicle instrument is increased, if it lies in the direct field of vision of the driver. The method may be implemented in a motor vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a lighting brightness of a lit motor vehicle instrument comprising:

ascertaining, by a controller having a memory, a viewing direction of a driver;

determining, by the controller, a direct field of vision from the viewing direction of the driver; and

controlling, by the controller, a first display element to increase a lighting rightness of the first display element when the first display element lies in the direct field of vision of the driver.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprises:

determining, by the controller, a peripheral field of vision from the viewing direction of the driver; and

decreasing, by the controller, the lighting brightness of the first display element when the first display element lies in the peripheral field of vision of the driver.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein a position of the eyes of the driver is ascertained by the controller.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein locations of reflections of the illumination of the first display element are calculated from a position and alignment of windows of the motor vehicle, wherein the lighting brightness of the first display element is reduced, if the reflections of the first display element lies in the field of vision of the driver.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein an eye position of the driver is ascertained and included in the calculation of the locations of reflections of the first display element.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the lighting brightness of the first display element comprises several steps and the lighting brightness of the first display element is set to a medium brightness, if the first display element lies in the peripheral field of vision of the driver.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein a change in the viewing direction of the driver is detected, wherein for a change in viewing direction of the driver in direction towards the first display element the lighting brightness of the first display element is increased and wherein for a change in viewing direction of the driver away from the first display element the lighting brightness of the first display element is decreased.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein a change in the viewing direction is detected and wherein for a change in viewing direction in the direction of a reflection of the first display element in a window the lighting brightness of the first display element is decreased.

9. A computer program product with a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, which has commands embedded in it, which when executed by a computer unit cause the computer unit to execute the method according to claim 1.

10. A motor vehicle comprising at least one lit first display element and at least one viewing direction sensor, which serves to detect the viewing direction of a driver of the motor vehicle and to ascertain a direct field of vision and a peripheral field of vision of the driver , wherein a control for the first display element is provided which is adapted to set the lighting brightness of the first display element in dependence of the viewing direction, the direct field of vision and the peripheral field of vision of the driver.

11. The motor vehicle according to claim 10, further comprising an eye position sensor for detecting the position of the eyes of the driver in the motor vehicle.

12. The motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the lighting of the first display element can assume at least two of following lighting brightnesses:

off, maximum and an intermediate state between off and maximum.

13. The motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein a data store is provided, in which the eyes of the at least one first display element and the position of at least one window of the motor vehicle are stored.

14. The motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the at least one viewing direction sensor comprises a camera.

15. The motor vehicle according to claim 10, wherein the at least one viewing direction sensor comprises an infrared source.