Motor vehicle

• US 9,738,212 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2012
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Mayer, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yu, Royit
• Application Number:
  US14/358,398
• Publication Number:
  US 20140313026A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,768 Days
• Field of Search: 340449
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/00 Arrangement of optical signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor for lighting vehicle interior B60Q3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/18 Safety devices; Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 17/22 Devices for monitoring or checking brake systems; Signal devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2510/068 Engine exhaust temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/0688 Engine temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2710/184 Brake temperature, e.g. of fluid, pads or discs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2302/03 Actuating a signal or alarm device
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/90 Driver alarms
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 13/082 of tailpipe, e.g. with means for mixing air with exhaust for exhaust cooling, dilution or evacuation F01N13/20 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2510/00 Surface coverings
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/14 Indicating devices; Other safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 11/12 using changes in colour, translucency or reflectance

Abstract

A motor vehicle has at least one drive unit, at least one brake device and at least one component which heats up when the drive unit and/or the brake device are operated. The component includes at least one warning device which is designed to output a visual warning information item when a component-specific limiting temperature is exceeded by the component, and/or can be actuated to output a visual warning information item when an information item which relates to a component-specific limiting temperature being exceeded is present.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle comprising:

wheels;

a vehicle drive;

a brake device;

a vehicle component which heats up when the vehicle drive and/or the brake device are operated;

a warning indicator to output first visual warning information when a vehicle component-specific limiting temperature is exceeded by the vehicle component; and

a light source disposed at the vehicle component to at least partially illuminate the vehicle component to output second visual warning information, when the limiting temperature is exceeded by the vehicle component and/or when the vehicle component receives an information item which relates to the limiting temperature being exceeded, and only when a predetermined compartment of the motor vehicle is opened or when the motor vehicle is stationary, and is prevented from illuminating the vehicle component when the motor vehicle is not stationary; and

a controller configured;

to determine, based on a rotational speed of the wheels, whether the motor vehicle is stationary, and

to prevent the light source from illuminating the vehicle component, independently of whether the predetermined compartment of the motor vehicle is opened or closed, when the controller determines, based on the rotational speed of the wheels, the motor vehicle is not stationary, even when the limiting temperature is exceeded by the vehicle component,

wherein

the warning indicator includes a material applied to the vehicle component which changes color characteristics to output the first visual warning information, when the limiting temperature is exceeded, and the material comprises a predetermined three-dimensional surface patterning to improve visual perceptibility when the limiting temperature is exceeded.

2. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the warning indicator further outputs additional visual warning information using a thermochromic element which is connected to the vehicle component, and/or a thermochromic substance which is contained within the vehicle component, wherein the material applied to the vehicle component is a thermochromic coating.

3. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source is formed of a material which produces a red or reddish light when heated to provide the second visual warning information.

4. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a color intensity of the color of the vehicle component depends on a temperature of the vehicle component.

5. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a secondary device disposed in an interior of the motor vehicle, outputs audible warning information when the limiting temperature is exceeded and/or when the vehicle component receives the information item which relates to the limiting temperature being exceeded.

6. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the warning indicator outputs audible warning information when the limiting temperature is exceeded and/or when the vehicle component receives the information item which relates to the limiting temperature being exceeded.

7. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a proximity sensor to determine a distance of an object from the vehicle component,

wherein the light source is adaptable to output the second visual warning information when the distance is less than a predetermined threshold and the limiting temperature is exceeded and/or when the vehicle component receives the information item which relates to the limiting temperature being exceeded.

8. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the object corresponds to a human body part.

9. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle component corresponds to at least one of a part of the exhaust system, a part of the brake device, and the vehicle drive.

10. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material outputs first material visual warning information corresponding to a first temperature of a first region of the vehicle component, and outputs second material visual warning information corresponding to a second temperature of a second region of the vehicle component.

11. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a color of the material changes in accordance with a change in temperature of the material, and an intensity of the color increases as the temperature of the material increases, and the intensity of the color decreases as the temperature of the material decreases.

12. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source emits light that changes in color intensity in accordance with a change in temperature of the vehicle component.

13. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein

the material is a thermochromic coating, and

the thermochromic coating has a chemical structure that causes the thermochromic coating to exhibit a reddish color tone when the limiting temperature is exceeded.

14. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined three-dimensional surface patterning includes a three-dimensional surface patterning in the form of a prism shape or in the form of a Fresnel lens shape.

18. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1,

wherein

the brake device is disposed at at least one of the wheels,

the light source is configured to at least partially illuminate the brake device when the limiting temperature is exceeded by the vehicle component and only when the motor vehicle is stationary, and

the controller prevents the light source from illuminating the brake device when the motor vehicle is not stationary.

15. A motor vehicle comprising:

wheels;

a vehicle drive;

a brake device;

a vehicle component which heats up when the vehicle drive and/or the brake device are operated;

a warning indicator to output visual warning information when a vehicle component-specific limiting temperature is exceeded by the vehicle component, and/or when the vehicle component receives an information item which relates to the limiting temperature being exceeded,

wherein

the warning indicator includes a light source disposed at the vehicle component to at least partially illuminate the vehicle component to output the visual warning information, when the limiting temperature is exceeded and/or when the vehicle component receives the information item which relates to the limiting temperature being exceeded, and only when a predetermined compartment of the motor vehicle is opened or when the motor vehicle is stationary, and is prevented from illuminating the vehicle component when the motor vehicle is not stationary; and

a controller to control activation of the light source based on a rotational speed of the wheels,

wherein

the brake device is disposed at at least one of the wheels,

the light source is configured to at least partially illuminate the brake device when the limiting temperature is exceeded by the vehicle component and only when the motor vehicle is stationary, and

the controller prevents the light source from illuminating the brake device when the motor vehicle is not stationary.

16. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 15, wherein the motor vehicle includes a temperature sensor system to detect an actual temperature of the vehicle component and to communicate with the vehicle component to determine whether the limiting temperature is exceeded.

17. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 15, wherein the information item which relates to the limiting temperature being exceeded is based on a model which relates to a heating behavior and/or cooling behavior of the vehicle component.

19. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 15, wherein the limiting temperature is predefined or adjustable by a user.

20. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

a memory to store the limiting temperature;

a temperature sensor system to measure an actual temperature of the vehicle component; and

a controller to compare the actual temperature with the limiting temperature, to determine whether the actual temperature exceeds the limiting temperature, and to generate the information item which relates to the limiting temperature being exceeded, when it is determined that the limiting temperature is exceeded.

21. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 15, further comprising:

a memory to store the limiting temperature;

a model which simulates temperature behaviors of the vehicle component, to produce an estimated temperature of the vehicle component; and

a controller to compare the estimated temperature with the limiting temperature, to determine whether the estimated temperature exceeds the limiting temperature, and to generate the information item which relates to the limiting temperature being exceeded, when it is determined that the limiting temperature is exceeded.

22. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a plurality of temperature sensors distributed on a plurality of regions of the vehicle component to measure respective temperatures of the plurality of regions of the vehicle component.

26. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 15, wherein

the warning indicator further includes an electronic audio output device configured to output audible warning information when the limiting temperature is exceeded by the vehicle component and only when the motor vehicle is stationary, and

the controller prevents the electronic audio output device from outputting the audible warning information when the limiting temperature is exceeded and the motor vehicle is not stationary.

23. A motor vehicle comprising:

a vehicle drive;

a brake device;

a vehicle component which heats up when the vehicle drive and/or the brake device are operated;

a warning indicator including;

a material coupled to the vehicle component and a light source to output visual warning information when a vehicle component-specific limiting temperature is exceeded by the vehicle component, and

an electronic audio output device configured to output audible warning information when the limiting temperature is exceeded by the vehicle component and only when the motor vehicle is stationary; and

a controller configured;

to control activation of the light source so that the vehicle component is at least partially illuminated by the light source when the limiting temperature is exceeded by the vehicle component and only when a predetermined compartment of the motor vehicle is opened or when the motor vehicle is stationary,

to prevent the light source from illuminating the vehicle component when the motor vehicle is not stationary, and

to prevent the electronic audio output device from outputting the audible warning information when the limiting temperature is exceeded and the motor vehicle is not stationary

wherein

chemical properties of the material temporarily change in response to a change in temperature of the material,

when the limiting temperature is exceeded, transmission characteristics of the material change so that the material is substantially transparent, thereby revealing a warning layer of color provided on the vehicle component beneath the material, and

the controller varies a color intensity output by the light source as a function of the temperature of the vehicle component such that the color intensity output by the light source is gradually reduced during cooling of the vehicle component.

24. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 23, wherein the material is substantially transparent when transmission characteristics of the material is at least 80%, thereby revealing the warning layer of color provided on the vehicle component beneath the material.

25. The motor vehicle as claimed in claim 23, further comprising wheels, wherein

the controller determines, based on a rotational speed of the wheels, whether the motor vehicle is stationary, and

the controller prevents the light source from illuminating the vehicle component when the controller determines, based on the rotational speed of the wheels, the motor vehicle is not stationary, even when the limiting temperature is exceeded by the vehicle component.