Motor vehicle

• US 9,919,644 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2015
• Issued: 03/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Original Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
• Inventors: Meinzer, Patric, Wirtz, Wolfgang, Klimke, Max, Sieler, Marcel
• Primary Examiner(s): Breval, Elmito
• Application Number:
  US14/939,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20160059771A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0023 the element being a sensor, e.g. distance sensor, camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/0076 Switches therefor B60Q1/1446, B60Q1/343, B60Q1/40 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/247 for illuminating the close surroundings of the vehicle, e.g. to facilitate entry or exit for reverse drive B60Q1/22; by opening a side door B60Q1/323
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2696 Mounting of devices using LEDs
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/32 for indicating vehicle sides , e.g. clearance lights
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/323 on or for doors illuminated exterior door handles B60Q1/2669; illuminated door locks E05B17/10
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2400/40 Welcome lights, i.e. specific or existing exterior lamps to assist leaving or approaching the vehicle

Abstract

A motor vehicle has a surroundings-illuminating device for producing a light distribution on the ground surrounding the motor vehicle. The surroundings-illuminating device includes one or more projection modules for producing the light distribution, wherein every projection module has at least one light source and an array of projection optical systems which from the light of the at least one light source generates at least a part of the light distribution.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle, comprising:

a surroundings-illuminating device that generates a light distribution on a ground in surroundings around the motor vehicle, wherein the surroundings-illuminating device comprises;

one or more projection modules that generate the light distribution, wherein

each projection module comprises at least one light source and one array of projection optical systems,

the array of projection optical systems generating at least a portion of the light distribution from light from the at least one light source,

each respective projection module is configured so that each projection optical system projects a single image on the ground that covers essentially an entirety of the light distribution, and

the light distribution comprises a superpositioning of individual single images of the projection optical systems.

2. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein each projection optical system comprises at least one micro lens having a diameter of 2000 micrometers or less.

3. The motor vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the array comprises between 100 and 400 projection optical systems.

4. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light source comprises one or more LEDs and/or laser diodes.

5. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising:

a light shaft that extends into a body of the motor vehicle, wherein

the one or more projection modules are arranged in the light shaft.

6. The motor vehicle according to claim 5, wherein an installation position of the one or more projection modules in the motor vehicle is adjustable.

7. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the light distribution is a light pattern.

8. The motor vehicle according to claim 7, wherein

the light pattern comprises a striped pattern, and

a density of stripes of the striped pattern decreases in a predetermined direction on the ground with an increase in distance of the striped pattern from an installation position of the one or more projection modules in the motor vehicle.

9. The motor vehicle according to claim 7, wherein

the light pattern comprises a pattern of dots and/or graphic elements, and

a density of the dots and/or graphic elements decreases in a predetermined direction on the ground with an increase in distance of the pattern from an installation position of the one or more projection modules in the motor vehicle.

10. The motor vehicle according to claim 7, wherein

the light pattern comprises a pattern of dots and/or graphic elements, and

a diameter of the dots and/or graphic elements decreases in a predetermined direction on the ground with an increase in distance of the pattern from an installation position of the one or more projection modules in the motor vehicle.

11. The motor vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the light pattern becomes blurred and/or has a decreased brightness at a remote end of the light pattern from an installation position of the one or more projection modules in the motor vehicle.

12. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the light distribution widens along a predetermined direction on the ground with an increase of distance of the light distribution from an installation position of the one or more projection modules in the motor vehicle.

13. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an unlocking of a central lock of the motor vehicle and/or an opening of an access door of the motor vehicle activates the surroundings-illuminating device to generate the light distribution.

14. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light source of the one or more projection modules is dimmed-up so as to activate the light distribution.

15. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the one or more projection modules are mounted in an access door region of the motor vehicle so as to generate the light distribution in an opening region of the access door, the light distribution not being shaded by the access door.

16. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the one or more projection modules are provided in a door sill of the motor vehicle at an installation position situated in front, in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle, of an entry door for people.

17. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein, during operation, the one or more projection modules generate a light distribution that:

extends on one side of the motor vehicle essentially along a forwardly located driver or passenger entry door and a rearwardly located passenger entry door, or

extends beneath and/or in a longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle behind a luggage compartment access door.

18. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the light distribution indicates on the ground a detection field of a wireless sensor,

the detection field being an operating field so that an operating action is automatically triggered on the motor vehicle when a body part or object is introduced into the operating field.

19. The motor vehicle according to claim 18, wherein the wireless sensor is configured such that, upon detecting a foot in the detection field, a luggage compartment access door is automatically unlocked or opened.