DE102016003814B4 - Motor vehicle with at least one headlight and a device for determining the location of the motor vehicle and method for operating at least one headlight of a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Motor vehicle (1) with one (2) or more (2, 2 ') headlights, each with at least one light source (3), and - an investigation device (4) for determining in which of at least two countries the motor vehicle ( 1) is currently staying, characterized in that the motor vehicle (1) further has a control device (5) for controlling a light intensity in the center of the light beam (6) emitted by the headlight (2) or the headlights (2, 2 '). emitted light beams (6, 6 ') and / or for controlling a light distribution of the headlight (2) or the headlights (2, 2') with at least one light function, and - a first storage device (7) or an access option to a first storage device ( 7) with data stored therein of the maximum light intensity permissible in the at least two countries in the center of the light beam (6) or the emitted light beams (6, 6') emitted by the headlight (2) or headlights (2, 2') and / or a light distribution of the headlight (2) or the headlights (2, 2 ') for at least one light function, wherein - the control device (5) is set up to do so on the basis of the information received from or queried by the determination device (4). current location of the motor vehicle (1) in one of the at least two states and the data from the first storage device (7) the one (2) or the several (2, 2 ') switched on headlights or from switching on the one (2) or the several (2, 2') headlights to automatically control one (2) or the several (2, 2') headlights in such a way that a maximum light intensity permissible for the state in which the motor vehicle (1) is currently located in the center of the light beam (6) emitted by the headlight (2) or headlights (2, 2') or the light beams (6, 6') emitted and/or a permissible light distribution of the headlight (2) or headlights (2, 2') is given with at least one light function, characterized in that the motor vehicle (1) is designed to carry out a first determination of the whereabouts after starting the motor vehicle (1) and then to repeat the determination of the whereabouts within predeterminable time intervals, whereby if the motor vehicle is moving towards a border of a neighboring state, the time intervals are chosen to be ever shorter to the point of a continuous determination or if the motor vehicle is moving away from the border, the time intervals are chosen to be increasingly longer.

Description

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle with at least one headlight and a device for determining the location of the motor vehicle, as well as a method for operating at least one headlight of a motor vehicle.

To illuminate an area in front of a motor vehicle mainly in the direction of travel, motor vehicles are known to have a vehicle lighting system with at least one headlight (e.g. on motorcycles) or two or more headlights (e.g. on motor vehicles, tractors), through which at least the lighting functions low beam and high beam can be implemented .

Different countries around the world have different regulations regarding the light that is permissibly emitted by the headlight or headlights of a vehicle lighting system of a motor vehicle. For example, the regulations for high beam in the USA differ from the corresponding regulations that apply in the states of the European Union, both with regard to the light distribution within the high beam and with regard to the maximum permissible light intensity in the center of the high beam.

Against this background, headlight devices were developed with which the legal requirements of at least two different countries can be met using just one version.

That's how it describes DE 197 50 495 B4 a headlight system for vehicles with at least one low beam headlight and at least one high beam headlight, the headlight system being designed to meet at least two different legal regulations that specify different maximum illuminance levels in the center of the high beam and different minimum required illuminance levels in lateral areas for the high beam.

The high beam headlight produces a high beam that meets the first of the two legal regulations. In order to fulfill the second legal regulation, the illuminance levels required on the traffic side to fulfill the second legal regulation are generated by the low beam beam emitted by at least one low beam headlight.

And the DE 10 2013 204 063 A1 The object is a headlight which has at least one first light module for generating a high beam distribution according to a first legal regulation and at least one second light module for generating a dimmed light distribution with a substantially horizontal light-dark limit. The headlight generates a high beam distribution in accordance with a second legal regulation that deviates from the first regulation when the two light modules are switched on together. In order to generate high beam with one and the same headlight in accordance with different legal regulations, it is proposed that the at least one second light module is designed to specifically radiate light into an area of the light distribution on an oncoming traffic side above the light-dark limit, in which according to the second legal regulation A higher light intensity is required for high beam than in accordance with the first legal regulation.

The DE 101 51 514 A1 describes a headlight for motor vehicles and adjustment methods for headlights of a motor vehicle from right-hand or left-hand traffic to the other type of traffic with an asymmetrical cut-off point, with both low-beam light modules first being lowered by means of a headlight range adjustment and then at least the low-beam light module being the new one The side of the road corresponds to the extent that it is pivoted in the direction of the new edge of the road by means of a horizontal pivoting device, so that the gusset of the low beam is used to illuminate the lane of the motor vehicle and the oncoming lane.

And from the DE 198 02 595 A1 a motor vehicle with a navigation system is known, which has a receiver and an evaluation unit connected to it for evaluating received navigation data to determine position data of a current position of the vehicle. A country determination device connected to the evaluation unit is provided, which determines from the position data in which country the vehicle is in the current position.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a novel and advantageous solution compared to the previously known prior art for being able to use one and the same headlight in at least two countries with different regulations with regard to the maximum permissible light intensity and/or the light distribution.

This task is solved by the motor vehicle according to claim 1 and the method according to claim 9. Advantageous developments of the motor vehicle and the method are the subject of the subclaims.

• - einem oder mehreren Scheinwerfern mit jeweils wenigstens einer Lichtquelle, und
• - einer Ermittlungs-Einrichtung zur Ermittlung, in welchem von wenigstens zwei Staaten sich das Kraftfahrzeug aktuell aufhält.

According to the invention, a motor vehicle is proposed with

• - one or more headlights, each with at least one light source, and
• - an investigation facility for determining in which of at least two countries the motor vehicle is currently located.

• - eine Steuereinrichtung zum Steuern einer Lichtstärke im Zentrum des von dem Scheinwerfer oder den Scheinwerfern ausgestrahlten Lichtbündels oder der ausgestrahlten Lichtbündel und/oder zum Steuern einer Lichtverteilung des Scheinwerfers oder der Scheinwerfer bei wenigstens einer Lichtfunktion, und
• - eine erste Speichereinrichtung oder eine Zugriffsmöglichkeit auf eine erste Speichereinrichtung mit darin gespeicherten Daten der in den wenigstens zwei Staaten jeweils zulässigen maximalen Lichtstärke im Zentrum des von dem Scheinwerfer oder den Scheinwerfern ausgestrahlten Lichtbündels oder der ausgestrahlten Lichtbündel und/oder einer Lichtverteilung des Scheinwerfers oder der Scheinwerfer bei wenigstens einer Lichtfunktion aufweist, wobei
• - die Steuereinrichtung dazu eingerichtet ist, aufgrund des von der Ermittlungs-Einrichtung empfangenen oder von dieser abgefragten aktuellen Aufenthaltsorts des Kraftfahrzeugs in einem von den wenigstens zwei Staaten und den Daten der ersten Speichereinrichtung den einen oder die mehreren eingeschalteten Scheinwerfer oder ab einem Einschalten des einen oder der mehreren Scheinwerfer den einen oder die mehreren Scheinwerfer derart automatisch anzusteuern, dass eine für den Staat, in dem sich das Kraftfahrzeug aktuell aufhält, zulässige maximale Lichtstärke im Zentrum des von dem Scheinwerfer oder den Scheinwerfern ausgestrahlten Lichtbündels oder der ausgestrahlten Lichtbündel und/oder eine zulässige Lichtverteilung des Scheinwerfers oder der Scheinwerfer bei wenigstens einer Lichtfunktion gegeben ist.

The motor vehicle according to the invention is characterized in that it continues

• - a control device for controlling a light intensity in the center of the light beam or beams emitted by the headlight or headlights and / or for controlling a light distribution of the headlight or headlights in at least one light function, and
• - a first storage device or an access option to a first storage device with data stored therein of the maximum light intensity permissible in the at least two states in the center of the light beam or beams emitted by the headlight or headlights and / or a light distribution of the headlight or headlights has at least one light function, where
• - the control device is set up to, based on the current location of the motor vehicle in one of the at least two states received by or queried by the determination device and the data from the first storage device, the one or more headlights that are switched on or from one or more of the headlights being switched on of the multiple headlights to automatically control the one or more headlights in such a way that a maximum light intensity permissible for the state in which the motor vehicle is currently located in the center of the light beam or beams emitted by the headlight or headlights and / or a permissible one Light distribution of the headlight or headlights is given with at least one light function.

The motor vehicle is designed to carry out an initial determination of the whereabouts after starting the motor vehicle and then to repeat the determination of the whereabouts within predetermined time intervals, whereby if the motor vehicle moves towards a border of a neighboring state, the time intervals become shorter and shorter a continuous determination is chosen or if the motor vehicle moves away from the border the time intervals are chosen to be longer and longer.

The present invention provides location-dependent control of the light intensity and/or the light distribution of the headlight(s) of a motor vehicle, whereby the different requirements of different countries can be taken into account with just a single type of headlight. This results in great advantages in terms of the expenses required for the design, production and logistics of headlights. Also, for example, in the event that a lower maximum light intensity for a light function is permissible in a first country than in a neighboring, second country, when the motor vehicle is traveling from the first country to the second country, the headlight or headlight is switched on from the border crossing The switched on headlights are automatically controlled in such a way that the maximum light intensity permitted in the second country is given for the light function, which may provide the driver with improved visibility and thus reduce the increased risk of accidents, especially at night. When you return to the first country, the headlight(s) are automatically activated again in accordance with the regulations valid for that country.

In a corresponding manner, according to the present invention, the light distribution for various light functions can also be controlled as an alternative or in addition to the maximum permissible light intensity.

According to a first advantageous development of the motor vehicle, the one headlight has one or more light sources or the several headlights each have one or more light sources that can be selected or are made up of a halogen lamp, a xenon burner, a surface-modulatable LED matrix pixel light system, a surface-modulatable laser Matrix pixel light system, area-modulatable LED-DMD pixel light system, area-modulatable laser-DMD pixel light system, area-modulatable LED-LCD pixel light system, area-modulatable laser-LCD pixel light system, area-modulatable LED-LCoS pixel light system, area-modulatable laser-LCoS pixel light system and/or beam-guided laser -Pixel light system.

• - eine Empfangseinrichtung für Signale von Navigationssatelliten,
• - eine Empfangseinrichtung für Signale von Mobilfunk-Zellen, und/oder
• - eine Empfangseinrichtung für Signale von WLAN-Funkeinrichtungen sowie eine zweite Speichereinrichtung oder eine Zugriffsmöglichkeit auf eine zweite Speichereinrichtung mit Positionsdaten von WLAN-Funkeinrichtungen aufweisen.

In the motor vehicle, according to a second advantageous development, the determination device

• - a receiving device for signals from navigation satellites,
• - a receiving device for signals from mobile radio cells, and/or
• - have a receiving device for signals from WLAN radio devices and a second storage device or an access option to a second storage device with position data from WLAN radio devices.

• - digitalen Straßen-Karten, und/oder
• - Positionsdaten von Mobilfunk-Zellen

aufweisen.The motor vehicle or the detection device can advantageously also have a second storage device or an access option to a second storage device

• - digital street maps, and/or
• - Position data from mobile phone cells

exhibit.

According to yet another advantageous development, in the motor vehicle the first storage device can store data on the maximum light intensity permissible in the at least two states in the center of the light beam or beams emitted by the headlight or headlights and/or a permissible light distribution of the headlight or headlights have low beam and/or high beam for the lighting function.

Likewise, the first storage device can advantageously store data regarding the admissibility and, in the case of admissibility, data of the respectively permissible maximum light intensity in the center of the light beam or beams emitted by the headlight or headlights and/or a light distribution of the headlight or headlights in the at least two states of at least one of the light functions, which can be selected from adaptive high beam, glare-free high beam, city light, country road light, highway light, adaptive cornering light, marker light and logo projection light.

In a corresponding manner, the control device in the motor vehicle can advantageously be set up to determine one or more of the current location of the motor vehicle in one of the at least two states received from or queried by the determination device and the data from the first storage device switched on headlights or from switching on the one or more headlights to automatically control the one or more headlights in such a way that a maximum light intensity permissible for the state in which the motor vehicle is currently located is in the center of the light beam emitted by the headlight or headlights or the emitted light beams and/or a permissible light distribution of the headlight or headlights is given with the low beam and/or high beam light function.

Likewise, in the motor vehicle (in addition to or as an alternative to the development mentioned in the previous paragraph), the control device can advantageously be set up to be in one of the at least two states based on the current location of the motor vehicle received by or queried by the determination device and the data from the first storage device to automatically control the one or more headlights that are switched on or, once the one or more headlights are switched on, the one or more headlights in such a way that a maximum light intensity permissible for the state in which the motor vehicle is currently located in the center of the light beam or beams emitted by the headlight or headlights and / or a permissible light distribution of the headlight or headlights for at least one of the light functions adaptive high beam, glare-free high beam, city light, country road light, motorway light, adaptive cornering light, marker light and logo projection light is.

• - Ermitteln des aktuellen Aufenthaltsorts des Kraftfahrzeugs in einem von wenigstens zwei Staaten mittels einer fahrzeugseitigen Ermittlungs-Einrichtung;
• - Ermitteln der in dem Staat, in dem sich das Kraftfahrzeug aktuell aufhält, zulässigen maximalen Lichtstärke im Zentrum des von dem Scheinwerfer oder den Scheinwerfern ausgestrahlten Lichtbündels oder der ausgestrahlten Lichtbündel und/oder einer zulässigen Lichtverteilung des Scheinwerfers oder der Scheinwerfer bei wenigstens einer Lichtfunktion mittels entsprechender Daten, die in einer ersten Speichereinrichtung gespeichert sind, und
• - automatisches Ansteuern aufgrund des von der Ermittlungs-Einrichtung empfangenen oder von dieser abgefragten aktuellen Aufenthaltsorts des Kraftfahrzeugs in einem von den wenigstens zwei Staaten und den Daten der ersten Speichereinrichtung des einen oder der mehreren eingeschalteten Scheinwerfer oder ab einem Einschalten des einen oder der mehreren Scheinwerfer des einen oder der mehreren Scheinwerfer durch eine fahrzeugseitige Steuereinrichtung derart, dass eine für den Staat, in dem sich das Kraftfahrzeug aktuell aufhält, zulässige maximale Lichtstärke im Zentrum des von dem Scheinwerfer oder den Scheinwerfern ausgestrahlten Lichtbündels oder der ausgestrahlten Lichtbündel und/oder eine zulässige Lichtverteilung des Scheinwerfers oder der Scheinwerfer bei wenigstens einer Lichtfunktion gegeben ist.

The present invention also includes a method for operating one or more headlights of a motor vehicle, comprising the following steps:

• - Determining the current location of the motor vehicle in one of at least two countries using a vehicle-side investigation device;
• - Determining the maximum permissible light intensity in the state in which the motor vehicle is currently located in the center of the light beam or beams emitted by the headlight or headlights and / or a permissible light distribution of the headlight or headlights for at least one light function by means of appropriate Data stored in a first storage device, and
• - automatic control based on the current location of the motor vehicle in one of the at least two states received by the determination device or queried by it and the data from the first storage device of the one or more headlights that are switched on or from switching on the one or more headlights of the one or more headlights by a vehicle-side control device such that one for the state in which the motor vehicle is currently located holds, permissible maximum light intensity in the center of the light beam or beams emitted by the headlight or headlights and / or a permissible light distribution of the headlight or headlights is given for at least one light function.

After the motor vehicle is started, an initial determination of the whereabouts is carried out and then the determination of the whereabouts is repeated within predeterminable time intervals, whereby if the motor vehicle moves towards a border of a neighboring state, the time intervals are chosen to become increasingly shorter, up to a continuous determination or If the motor vehicle moves away from the border, the time intervals are chosen to be longer and longer.

• - Empfangen von Signalen von Navigationssatelliten, Signalen von einer oder mehreren Mobilfunk-Zellen, und/oder von Signalen von einer oder mehreren WLAN-Funkeinrichtungen durch die Ermittlungs-Einrichtung, und
• - Ermitteln des aktuellen Aufenthaltsorts des Kraftfahrzeugs in einem von wenigstens zwei Staaten aufgrund von Daten einer zweiten Speichereinrichtung, die digitale Straßen-Karten, Positionsdaten von Mobilfunk-Zellen und/oder Positionsdaten von WLAN-Funkeinrichtungen enthält, durch die Ermittlungs-Einrichtung.

The method can advantageously be developed in such a way that it further comprises:

• - Receiving signals from navigation satellites, signals from one or more mobile radio cells, and/or signals from one or more WLAN radio devices by the detection device, and
• - Determining the current location of the motor vehicle in one of at least two states based on data from a second storage device, which contains digital road maps, position data from mobile radio cells and / or position data from WLAN radio devices, by the determination device.

The present invention also includes all other methods, their advantageous developments and refinements, which are apparent to a person skilled in the art from the description of the motor vehicle, the claims directed to a motor vehicle, the following description of preferred embodiments and examples, the figure and the description of the figures without result in more.

The present invention is explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing.

• 1 in schematischer Weise ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel des Kraftfahrzeugs gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung;
• 2 in schematischer Weise ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel des Kraftfahrzeugs gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung; und
• 3 ein Beispiel für einen Ablauf des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens.

Show:

• 1 schematically a first embodiment of the motor vehicle according to the present invention;
• 2 schematically a second embodiment of the motor vehicle according to the present invention; and
• 3 an example of a sequence of the method according to the invention.

The representations in the figure are purely schematic and not to scale. Within the figure, the same or similar elements are given the same reference numbers.

The exemplary embodiments explained below represent preferred embodiments of the present invention. The present invention is of course not limited to these embodiments.

The features and combinations of features mentioned in the above description as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned in the following description of embodiments, exemplary embodiments and the description of the figures and/or shown in the figure alone are not only in the combination specified in each case, but also in other combinations or in Can be used alone without departing from the scope of the present invention.

• - einen 2 oder mehrere 2, 2' Scheinwerfer mit jeweils wenigstens einer Lichtquelle 3,
• - eine Ermittlungs-Einrichtung 4 zur Ermittlung, in welchem von wenigstens zwei Staaten sich das Kraftfahrzeug 1 aktuell aufhält,
• - eine Steuereinrichtung 5 zum Steuern einer Lichtstärke im Zentrum des von dem Scheinwerfer 2 oder den Scheinwerfern 2, 2' ausgestrahlten Lichtbündels 6 oder der ausgestrahlten Lichtbündel 6, 6' und/oder zum Steuern einer Lichtverteilung des Scheinwerfers 2 oder der Scheinwerfer 2, 2' bei wenigstens einer Lichtfunktion, und
• - eine erste Speichereinrichtung 7 (oder wenigstens eine Zugriffsmöglichkeit auf eine erste Speichereinrichtung 7) mit darin gespeicherten Daten der in den wenigstens zwei Staaten jeweils zulässigen maximalen Lichtstärke im Zentrum des von dem Scheinwerfer 2 oder den Scheinwerfern 2, 2' ausgestrahlten Lichtbündels 6 oder der Lichtbündel 6, 6' und/oder einer Lichtverteilung des Scheinwerfers 2 oder der Scheinwerfer 2, 2' bei wenigstens einer Lichtfunktion.

As in 1 shown purely schematically and not to scale, a motor vehicle 1 according to the present invention has at least

• - one or more 2, 2' headlights, each with at least one light source 3,
• - an investigation device 4 for determining in which of at least two states the motor vehicle 1 is currently located,
• - a control device 5 for controlling a light intensity in the center of the light beam 6 or the emitted light beams 6, 6' emitted by the headlight 2 or the headlights 2, 2' and/or for controlling a light distribution of the headlight 2 or the headlights 2, 2' with at least one light function, and
• - a first storage device 7 (or at least one access option to a first storage device 7) with data stored therein of the maximum light intensity permissible in the at least two states in the center of the light beam 6 or the light beams emitted by the headlight 2 or the headlights 2, 2 ' 6, 6' and/or a light distribution of the headlight 2 or the headlights 2, 2' with at least one light function.

Insofar as the term “motor vehicle” 1 is used in the present application, it is to be understood as meaning any type of motor vehicle, motorcycle and tractor, regardless of the type of engine or combination of engines used to move the motor vehicle 1 (e.g. internal combustion engine, electric motor or combination thereof). ).

Insofar as a “light function” is referred to in the present application, this is to be understood as meaning one of the following lighting functions: low beam, high beam, adaptive high beam, glare-free high beam, city light, country road light, motorway light, adaptive cornering light, marker light and logo projection light. However, the term “light function” is not limited to this. To the extent that one or more additional lighting functions that can be provided by a motor vehicle headlight 2, 2' are permitted in a state, this lighting function or these lighting functions also fall under the term “lighting function” used here. The same applies to other lighting functions not mentioned here, which may only be developed in the future.

The number of states whose data are stored in the first storage device 7 is at least 2, but the number is not particularly limited. The data (parameters) of at least one light function are stored for each of the states; of course, data relating to several (e.g. two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, etc.) light functions per state can be stored in the storage device 7 be saved.

The one or more 2, 2' headlights of the motor vehicle 1 can be any suitable headlight that is permitted for the respective type of motor vehicle.

Conventional headlights 2, 2' have one or more incandescent or halogen lamps as the light source 3. The luminous intensity of these light sources can be regulated by controlling the level of the supply voltage. Headlights 2, 2' with a xenon burner as a light source 3 have also been known for several years. A xenon burner can be operated with different outputs depending on the technical circumstances, which means that different light intensities can be achieved with one and the same xenon burner.

In the recent past, headlights 2, 2' have been developed with which a larger number of defined, each comparatively small segments (pixels) in the surroundings of the motor vehicle 1 can be individually illuminated, the size and position of each illuminated segment being determined by a predefinable horizontal and vertical angular range with which the light for the respective segment is emitted by the headlight 2, 2 ', and the distance of the segment from the headlight 2, 2' is defined. The light sources 3 used in such headlights 2, 2' are generally referred to as pixel light systems, whereby the term "pixel" here is not associated with a definition in relation to a pixel-like arrangement of light-emitting elements in the light source (although such an arrangement may exist), but rather, quite generally, what is meant is a pixel-like illumination of the surroundings of the motor vehicle 1, i.e. divided into definable segments. Depending on the number of pixels that can be illuminated by a headlight 2, 2 ', a rough distinction can be made between low and high resolution pixel light systems.

An example of a headlight 2, 2' with a low-resolution pixel light system is, for example, a full LED matrix headlight 2, 2'. The pixel light system of such a headlight 2, 2' can have a number of up to approximately 180 LEDs in currently commercially available models and a further increase in the number of LEDs is to be expected in the future. Each of the LEDs emits light with a predetermined horizontal and vertical angular range, so that a number of pixels (segments) in the surroundings of the motor vehicle 1 corresponding to the number of LEDs can be illuminated. If several LEDs emit light with the same predetermined horizontal and vertical angular range, the number of pixels (segments) that can be illuminated corresponds to the number of LED groups formed in this way. By means of a control device 5, the individual LEDs or groups of LEDs can be controlled individually, i.e. switched on, switched off or dimmed (for example by means of pulse length modulation) and so one or more pixels (segments) can be specifically illuminated, hidden or dimmed in a manner be illuminated. Such pixel light systems are also referred to in the present application as “area-modulatable LED matrix pixel light systems”.

Instead of LEDs, laser diodes can also be used in a matrix pixel light system. In current laser-based vehicle headlights 2, 2', blue laser light is usually generated (regardless of the type of modulation of the laser light generated) using one or more laser diodes, which is converted into white light using a converter (phosphorus conversion).

In a “surface-modulatable laser matrix pixel light system” a single or multi-row array of laser diodes (matrix beam, MxB) is provided, whereby individual laser diodes can be specifically switched on/off and/or dimmed using a control device 5. Since the individual laser diodes - similar to the individual LEDs or LED groups in the aforementioned area-modulatable LED matrix pixel light system - are each intended to illuminate a specific area in front of the motor vehicle, they can be switched on/off or dimmed up/down of lasers Diodes, for example, produce several areas illuminated with different levels of brightness.

Another type of area-modulatable pixel light system can be realized with the help of a “Digital Micromirror Device” (DMD), i.e. with the help of a mirror array, in which in the range of several thousand to several million (currently up to about 8 million) pivotally arranged, microscopic small mirrors are arranged on a semiconductor chip. The micromirrors of a DMD have an on, off and flat state. In the ON state, the light from the light source is deflected onto the projection surface. In the “off” state, the light is absorbed. Such DMD headlights 2, 2' are generally designed as high-resolution headlights 2, 2'.

Each of the micromirrors can be switched on and off several thousand times, for example 4000 times per second, by means of a control device 5. If a micromirror is turned on more often than it is off, it will produce a gray dot. A mirror that is turned off even more often will produce a dot of even darker gray. In this way, the micromirrors can produce several hundred different levels of brightness.

Further examples of surface-modulatable light systems that can be used in a headlight 2, 2 'according to the present invention are an LCD pixel light system (LCD = Liquid Crystal Display), in which light passes through at least one LCD matrix (for a colored display also three or even four LCD matrices) is passed through, and an LCoS pixel light system (LCoS = Liquid Crystal on Silicon; liquid crystals on a silicon (substrate)), in which light is reflected by the liquid crystals. These headlights 2, 2' can also be designed as low-resolution or high-resolution headlights 2, 2'.

LCoS pixel light systems include a silicon substrate (often a silicon foil), a thin layer of liquid crystals on this silicon substrate, and a cover for the liquid crystals (often in the form of a thin sheet of glass). The polarized light from a light source (polarization is often achieved using a polarizing mirror) is directed onto the layer of liquid crystals, where the liquid crystal molecules are aligned by applying an appropriate electrical voltage so that the light is reflected with the desired brightness.

Either one or more LEDs or one or more laser light sources, such as laser diodes, can serve as the light source for a surface-modulatable pixel light system.

In addition to area-modulatable pixel light systems, beam-guided pixel light systems are also known, in which laser light is currently used exclusively. An example of a beam-guided laser pixel light system is one in which laser light is deflected, i.e. scanned, in 1-axis or 2-axis using at least one optic or at least one micromirror, with the brightness of each pixel (segment in the environment) determined by the Laser power and dwell time are determined, which are controlled by the control device 5. Beam-guided pixel light systems based on laser light can in principle be designed as high-resolution headlights 2, 2 ', but the resolution theoretically possible with laser light is not achieved due to the currently required phosphorus conversion.

The pixel light systems described here and their functionality, including the options for controlling them, are known to those skilled in the art, so that there is no need to go into this in more detail in the present application.

The person skilled in the art is also aware of a number of modifications and further developments of the above-mentioned headlights and pixel light systems from the prior art, which can also be used for the present invention. Also usable for the present invention are headlights that have two or more different light sources. The reflectors and lenses or lens system used in headlights 2, 2' need not be discussed in more detail in the present application, since these and their functions are well known to a person skilled in the art.

With regard to the determination device 4 for determining which of at least two states the motor vehicle 1 is currently located in, there are no particular restrictions and any device 4 can be used for the present invention, with which a position of the motor vehicle 1 can be determined can.

For example, the determination device 4 can include a vehicle-side display device which shows a driver the last specified state when the motor vehicle 1 starts and through which the driver is asked to confirm that the motor vehicle 1 is still in the specified state. or - if this is not the case - select and/or enter the current state.

Preferably, however, the determination device 4 is one with which the current position of the motor vehicle 1 and thus the position within a specific state automatically, continuously or at predeterminable time intervals, and can be determined without specific operating actions by a vehicle occupant.

Therefore, the vehicle-side determination device 4 is preferably one that has a receiving device 8 for signals from navigation satellites, signals from mobile radio cells, and / or signals from WLAN radio devices.

As is known to those skilled in the art, the position of the receiving device 4 and thus, in the present case, of the motor vehicle 1 can be determined with each of the signals mentioned.

Navigation satellites (such as the US NAVSTAR GPS, the Russian GLONASS, the European Galileo or the Chinese Beidou system) send out radio signals that are received by the receiving device 8. The radio signals contain the exact position of the respective satellite and the time.

To determine the position, it is sufficient if a receiving device 8 receives the signals from at least four satellites at the same time. The pseudo signal transit times are measured in the receiving device 8 and the current position of the motor vehicle 1 is determined from this. From the position determined in this way - with knowledge of the spatial extent of the various states, which can be read out from a vehicle-side or vehicle-external database, for example - it can be determined in which state the motor vehicle 1 is currently located. According to the present invention, it can be provided that the receiving device 8 can receive and evaluate the signals from different navigation satellite systems in order to increase the reliability and/or accuracy of determining the location of a motor vehicle 1.

The (at least approximate) location of a motor vehicle 1 in a specific country can also be determined from the signals from mobile phone cells. A mobile radio cell is defined as the area in which the signal sent by a transmitter of a mobile radio network can be received and decoded without errors. Mobile phone cells vary greatly in size depending on the location, which often does not allow precise positioning (as is possible using satellite-based positioning). However, such an exact position determination is not required according to the present invention.

Each mobile phone cell sends out a country code defined by the ITU in the E.212 standard, the so-called “Mobile Country Code”, which is used together with the Mobile Network Code to identify a mobile network. If the receiving device 9 and thus the motor vehicle 1 is within a transmission range of a mobile phone cell, the country in which the motor vehicle 1 is currently located can also be determined from the received “Mobile Country Code”.

If the transmission range of two or more mobile radio cells overlaps, the signal from the mobile radio cell that is received by the receiving device 8 with the greatest signal strength can be used to determine the current location of the motor vehicle 1. To determine the location of a motor vehicle with the help of mobile radio cells, the so-called TA parameter (TA = Timing Advance) can also be taken into account, which indicates what time difference is required so that data from a mobile device reaches the receiving station of a mobile phone cell in a timely manner reached. The TA parameter is greater the further away the transmitting device is from the receiving station.

Another variant for a (more precise) determination of the location of the motor vehicle 1 with the help of mobile radio cells is the so-called EOTD method (EOTD = Enhanced Observed Time Difference). Here, the receiving device 8 determines the difference between the arrival times of certain Signals from several different transmitting stations are determined and the position in relation to the various transmitting stations can be determined from this.

The third option for determining the position of a motor vehicle 1 is the reception of signals from WLAN radio devices. To determine the position by detecting WLAN networks, the WLAN networks received by the receiving device 8 are compared with the locations of WLAN networks stored in one or more databases. Determining your position using Wi-Fi networks is particularly possible in densely populated areas, as there are relatively many Wi-Fi networks (Wi-Fi routers, Wi-Fi hotspots) in such areas.

To determine the approximate location of the motor vehicle 1 based on received signals from WLAN radio devices (WLAN routers), the determination device 4 has a second storage device 9 or has access to a second storage device 9 with position data from WLAN radio devices. By comparing the received WLAN radio signals, which usually also contain information regarding the WLAN radio network name, with the data from the storage device 9, at least the approximate location of the motor vehicle 1 can be determined.

Since satellite-based navigation systems are already present or used in many motor vehicles 1, the determination device 4 can advantageously have a second storage device 9 or an access option to a second storage device 9 with digital road maps. The position of the motor vehicle 1 determined using the above-mentioned satellite-supported position determination can be compared with the digital road maps and the whereabouts (here even the relatively precise position) of a motor vehicle 1 in a specific country can be determined. A prediction can also be made (either based on the road currently being traveled or on a route calculated by the navigation system on which the motor vehicle 1 is moving) as to whether and if so, the motor vehicle 1 is likely to cross a state border. With increasing proximity to a state border, according to the present invention, for example, a transition can be made from a discontinuous determination of the current location of the motor vehicle 1 to a continuous determination of the current location of the motor vehicle 1.

There are also constellations in which it is advantageous if the determination device 4 has a second storage device 9 or an access option to a second storage device 9 with position data from mobile radio cells.

In countries such as the USA, India, Australia etc. there are no “Mobile Country Codes” for the individual states. Therefore, it cannot be determined in which state of a state the motor vehicle 1 is located simply via a received “Mobile Country Code”. Nevertheless, it cannot be ruled out and is currently the case in the USA that different regulations exist in individual states of these states with regard to the maximum light intensity and/or the light distribution for different light functions of headlights 2, 2' of motor vehicles 1.

When determining a position by receiving signals from mobile radio cells, this disadvantage can be avoided by the determination device 4 having a second storage device 9 or an access option to a second storage device 9 with position data from mobile radio cells. By means of such a database, in which, as in the database for WLAN radio devices, not only the locations of mobile radio cells but also information for the unique identification of the respective mobile radio cell are available (e.g. cell ID or cell ID together with the location Area Code), the (at least approximate) location of a motor vehicle 1 in a federal state can be determined by comparing the information received from the determination device 4 from a mobile phone cell and the information contained in the database.

Of course, it is encompassed by the present invention that a determination of the whereabouts of a motor vehicle 1 is carried out using a combination of two or all three of the methods mentioned here. As already mentioned above, the automatic determination of the location of a motor vehicle 1 can be carried out continuously or at predeterminable time intervals.

According to the invention, it is provided that a first determination of the location of a motor vehicle 1 takes place immediately after starting the motor vehicle 1 (switching on the ignition in motor vehicles 1 with an internal combustion engine, starting an internal combustion engine, switching on the power supply in (also) electrically powered motor vehicles 1) and then the determination of the whereabouts of the motor vehicle 1 is repeated within predeterminable time intervals. Here, for example, it can be provided that the greater the distance between a motor vehicle 1 and the border of a neighboring state, the longer the time intervals are chosen, which is determined during a current determination of the whereabouts of the motor vehicle 1 (motor vehicle 1 cannot reach the neighboring state within the Time period until the next determination is reached), and conversely, the shorter the time intervals (up to a continuous determination) are selected, the smaller the distance of a motor vehicle 1 is from the border of a neighboring state, which is determined during a current determination of the whereabouts of the motor vehicle 1 becomes. An estimate can also be made, for example using the above-mentioned digital map data, as to whether a motor vehicle 1 is moving towards a border of a neighboring state or not, and depending on the result of this assessment, the time intervals (motor vehicle 1 moves) can be (always) shorter towards the limit; up to a continuous determination) or (always) longer (motor vehicle 1 moves away from the limit).

According to the present invention, for example, in a simple case it can be provided that the first storage device 7 stores data of the maximum light intensity permissible in at least two countries in the center of the light beam 6 or the emitted light beams emitted by the headlight 2 or the headlights 2, 2 ' 6, 6 'has high beam for the lighting function. For example, it can be provided that the maximum light Intensity in the center of the light beam of two headlights 2, 2 'is 75,000 Cd in one state and 150,000 Cd in a second state (Cd = Candela). In a similar way, different maximum (or minimum) illuminance levels can be defined in legal regulations in lux on a measuring screen. In such cases, the term “luminous intensity” used here should be replaced by the term “illuminance”. If the different legal regulations of two countries focus on “luminous intensity” (Cd) and “illuminance” (Lux), one of the two figures can be converted into the other figure.

Due to the determination of the location of the motor vehicle 1 in at least one of the two states, if a driver switches on the high beam lighting function in the headlight 2 or the headlights 2, 2 ', the light source 3 or the light sources 3 can now be controlled by the control device 5 that the maximum permissible light intensity is given. This not only ensures that the motor vehicle 1 drives with headlights that comply with the law, but also provides a driver of a motor vehicle 1 with stronger high beam in a state where this is permitted.

As already mentioned above, different light intensity can be achieved with comparatively simply constructed headlights 2, 2'.

With many types of headlights 2, 2' (for example also with the headlight devices according to the state of the art mentioned in the introductory part), different light distributions can also be achieved for the various light functions, which must be implemented by means of vehicle-side headlights 2, 2' (in the simplest case, low beam and high beam) or can (such as adaptive high beam, anti-glare high beam, city light, country road light, highway light, adaptive cornering light, marker light and logo projection light). Different light distributions can be achieved in a particularly simple manner with the above-mentioned pixel light systems, since these do not require a different mechanical and/or optical structure for a larger number of different light distributions, but rather the different light distributions can be achieved by appropriately controlling the light source 3. the light sources 3 and/or the device(s) for surface modulation or beam guidance can be achieved.

If “different light distributions” are mentioned in the present application, this means, for example, the light distribution on a measuring screen. In many legal regulations, for the various possible lighting functions of a headlight 2 or a combination of headlights 2, 2 'of a motor vehicle 1, there are requirements for the extension specified for a specific lighting function in a horizontal and a vertical and within this extension one is determined by the legal requirements predetermined light intensity distribution on a measuring screen set up at a predeterminable distance from the headlight 2 or headlights 2, 2 '.

Based on the example described above, for example, the legal regulations regarding high beam may differ not only in relation to the maximum permissible light intensity in the center of the light beam of two headlights 2, 2 ', but also in relation to the light distribution, for example what minimum and/or maximum light intensity must be given at a predeterminable angle to the left, right, above and/or below the center of the light beam. These differences can also be taken into account by the present invention automatically and depending on the location of the motor vehicle 1.

If, for example, the first storage device 7 (also) contains data regarding the admissibility and, in the case of admissibility, data of the permissible maximum light intensity in the center of the light beam 6 emitted by the headlight 2 or the headlights 2, 2 'or the emitted light beams 6, 6' and/or a light distribution of the headlight 2 or the headlights 2, 2' in the at least two states of at least one of the light functions, which can be selected from adaptive high beam, glare-free high beam, city light, country road light, highway light, adaptive cornering light, marker light and logo projection light, According to the present invention, depending on the determined location of the motor vehicle 1, only the permissible light functions can be made available and when one of the permissible light functions is activated, only one or more headlights 2, 2 'can be activated in such a way that one of them is permissible, but also optimally possible light distribution (maximum light intensity or illuminance and, if possible, optimal light distribution).

• Abblendlicht ist asymmetrisch ausgeführt und bei Rechtsverkehr auf der linken Hälfte (bei Linksverkehr auf der rechten Hälfte) bspw. um 1 % vertikal beschnitten, wodurch eine Blendung des Gegenverkehrs und von vorausfahrenden Verkehrsteilnehmern vermieden wird.

The various lighting functions mentioned here can be characterized as follows:

• Dipped beam is designed asymmetrically and, for example, is cut vertically by 1% on the left half in right-hand traffic (on the right half in left-hand traffic), which avoids dazzling oncoming traffic and road users in front.

High beam provides illumination beyond the low beam area. Since the high beam (e.g. according to the German Road Traffic Act) may only be switched on if no driver of a vehicle in front or oncoming traffic can be blinded, in contrast to the low beam, there is no exact cut-off limit for the high beam.

With adaptive high beam, the high beam is controlled depending on the speed of the vehicle and the detection of other road users in the illumination area of the vehicle headlights. For example, a high beam assistance system can be active from a vehicle speed of 50 km/h or higher. By means of a suitable environment sensor system (e.g. using cameras for visible light or infrared light) and an environment evaluation device for the data supplied by the sensors, the high beam assistance system can detect other road users in the illumination area of the vehicle headlights and the high beam can be controlled in this way so that recognized road users are not blinded. To do this, the beam of the high beam is lowered so far that it ends in front of or near the recognized road user.

With a “glare-free high beam”, other road users in the illumination area of the vehicle headlights are also detected using suitable surroundings sensors and an surroundings evaluation device for the data supplied by the sensors. In contrast to adaptive high beam, with glare-free high beam, individual high beam segments (high beam pixels) are specifically switched off. In this way, oncoming traffic and road users ahead can be reduced in glare, while the full potential of the high beam is retained in the remaining areas.

A “city light” can be realized, for example, in that up to a predeterminable speed of, for example, a maximum of 55 km/h, the light-dark boundary runs horizontally over the entire horizontal illumination area of the lighting device and at the same time is wider and symmetrical compared to the low beam Illumination of the street is provided.

Depending on the speed, a “country road light” illuminates the left edge of the road in right-hand traffic (correspondingly the right edge of the road in left-hand traffic) more widely and, if necessary, brighter, which increases the field of vision for the relevant edge of the road by, for example, around 10 meters.

Using a “highway light” the driver’s field of vision can be increased in several stages if necessary. For example, it can be provided that from a first predeterminable speed, for example from 90 km/h or from 100 km/h, the light intensity of the low beam is increased in order to increase the range of the low beam. Alternatively or in addition to this, from a second speed, for example from 110 km/h or 120 km/h, the vertical cropping of the light cone of the low beam can be reduced from 1% to, for example, 0.5%, in order to further increase the range of the low beam increase.

With “adaptive cornering lights”, the center of gravity of the low beam or high beam is shifted in the direction of the curve following the steering movement. With an LED matrix headlight, for example, the cornering lights are implemented by dimming the external LEDs in the headlight and do not require any mechanics.

Using a “marker light”, individual objects in the vicinity of a vehicle, such as people on the side of the road, animals on the side of the road or on the road, traffic signs, turning signs, buildings, etc. can be specifically illuminated. These objects are detected by an environment sensor system, optionally assigned to a predeterminable class of objects by an environment evaluation device and can be illuminated in a targeted manner, if necessary taking into account further information such as vehicle speed and distance.

And a “logo projection light” is used to project graphic elements onto the road or an object in front of the vehicle. Such elements (logos) can be, for example, a turning arrow, a speed (to be maintained), a warning symbol (e.g. in front of a tight curve, another danger point, the end of a traffic jam ahead, a construction site ahead, etc.), a “virtual” lane boundary (e.g. in the form of a light stripe on the road), a “virtual” lane (e.g. in the form of two light stripes on the road). Using a “marker light” and/or a “logo projection light”, not only can the driver of the vehicle be informed/warned/attention drawn, but these light functions can also be used to interact/communicate with other road users (e.g. other drivers, pedestrians).

If it is mentioned in the present application that the vehicle 1 or the receiving device 8 has an “access option” to a storage device 7, 9, this access option can be implemented in any conceivable way. For example, the storage device can device 7, 9 can be set up outside the motor vehicle 1 (e.g. on an external server that can be accessed via a network) and the motor vehicle 1 or the receiving device 8 can be accessed by means of a communication option (e.g. by means of a long-range mobile radio device). Access storage device 7, 9. The storage device 7, 9 can, for example, also be provided on a mobile terminal that can be accessed within the motor vehicle 1 (for example by means of a USB connection, or a short-range, non-wired connection, for example by means of a Bluetooth connection). NFC connection, a Wi-Fi connection, a connection using light, etc.).

If the motor vehicle 1 itself has a memory device 7, the necessary communication and/or access options (wired, wireless, using a bus system, such as CAN) must of course be provided for and between the respective vehicle-side devices.

With regard to the data stored in the storage devices 7, 9, an update option should advantageously be provided in order to take into account changed legal regulations, changes in state borders, changes in the type, number and position of mobile radio cells, changes in the type, number and To be able to take into account the position of WLAN radio equipment, changes in road maps, etc. over the course of the service life of a motor vehicle 1.

Since the structure, functionality and possible interaction of the devices, devices, assemblies, components, hardware and software etc. mentioned in the present application are known to a person skilled in the art, there is no need to go into this in more detail in the present application.

Claims (10)

Motor vehicle (1) with - one (2) or more (2, 2 ') headlights, each with at least one light source (3), and - an investigation device (4) for determining in which of at least two countries the motor vehicle ( 1) is currently staying, characterized in that the motor vehicle (1) further - a control device (5) for controlling a light intensity in the center of the light beam (6) emitted by the headlight (2) or the headlights (2, 2 ') or the emitted light beams (6, 6 ') and / or for controlling a light distribution of the headlight (2) or the headlights (2, 2') with at least one light function, and - a first storage device (7) or an access option to a first storage device ( 7) with data stored therein of the maximum light intensity permissible in the at least two countries in the center of the light beam (6) or the emitted light beams (6, 6') emitted by the headlight (2) or headlights (2, 2') and / or a light distribution of the headlight (2) or the headlights (2, 2 ') for at least one light function, wherein - the control device (5) is set up to do so based on the information received from or queried by the determination device (4). current location of the motor vehicle (1) in one of the at least two states and the data from the first storage device (7) the one (2) or the several (2, 2 ') switched on headlights or from switching on the one (2) or the several (2, 2') headlights to automatically control one (2) or the several (2, 2') headlights in such a way that a maximum light intensity permissible for the state in which the motor vehicle (1) is currently located in the center of the light beam (6) emitted by the headlight (2) or headlights (2, 2') or the light beams (6, 6') emitted and/or a permissible light distribution of the headlight (2) or headlights (2, 2') is given with at least one light function, characterized in that the motor vehicle (1) is designed to carry out a first determination of the whereabouts after starting the motor vehicle (1) and then to repeat the determination of the whereabouts within predeterminable time intervals, whereby if the motor vehicle is moving towards a border of a neighboring state, the time intervals are chosen to be ever shorter to the point of a continuous determination or if the motor vehicle is moving away from the border, the time intervals are chosen to be increasingly longer. Motor vehicle (1) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the one headlight (2) has one or more light sources (3) or the several headlights (2, 2 ') each have one or more light sources (3), which can be selected from a halogen lamp or a xenon burner , area-modulatable LED matrix pixel light system, area-modulatable laser matrix pixel light system, area-modulatable LED-DMD pixel light system, area-modulatable laser-DMD pixel light system, area-modulatable LED-LCD pixel light system, area-modulatable laser-LCD pixel light system, area-modulatable LED-LCoS pixel light system, area-modulatable laser LCoS pixel light system and/or beam-guided laser pixel light system. Motor vehicle (1) according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the determination device (4) - a receiving device (8) for signals from navigation satellites, - a receiving device (8) for signals from mobile radio cells, and / or - a receiving device (8) for signals from WLAN radio devices and a second storage device (9) or an access option has a second storage device (9) with position data from WLAN radio devices. Motor vehicle (1) according to Claim 3 , characterized in that the motor vehicle (1) or the determination device (4) has a second storage device (9) or an access option to a second storage device (9) with - digital road maps, and / or - position data from mobile radio cells having. Motor vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first storage device (7) stores data on the maximum light intensity permissible in the at least two states in the center of the light emitted by the headlight (2) or the headlights (2, 2 '). Light bundle (6) or the emitted light bundle (6, 6 ') and / or a light distribution of the headlight (2) or the headlights (2, 2') for the low beam and / or high beam light function. Motor vehicle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first storage device (7) stores data regarding the admissibility and, in the case of admissibility, data of the respectively permissible maximum light intensity in the center of the headlight (2) or the headlights (2, 2') emitted light beam (6) or the emitted light beams (6, 6') and / or a light distribution of the headlight (2) or the headlights (2, 2') in the at least two states of at least one of the light functions, which You can choose from adaptive high beam, anti-glare high beam, city light, country road light, highway light, adaptive cornering light, marker light and logo projection light. Motor vehicle (1) according to Claim 5 , characterized in that the control device (5) is set up to, based on the current location of the motor vehicle (1) received by or queried by the determination device (4) in one of the at least two states and the data from the first storage device ( 7) the one (2) or more (2, 2') headlights switched on or from switching on the one (2) or more (2, 2') headlights the one (2) or more (2, 2') ) Automatically control headlights in such a way that a maximum light intensity permissible for the country in which the motor vehicle (1) is currently located is in the center of the light beam (6) emitted by the headlight (2) or headlights (2, 2') or of the emitted light bundles (6, 6 ') and / or a permissible light distribution of the headlight (2) or the headlights (2, 2') is given in the light function low beam and / or high beam. Motor vehicle (1) according to Claim 6 , characterized in that the control device (5) is set up to, based on the current location of the motor vehicle (1) received by or queried by the determination device (4) in one of the at least two states and the data from the first storage device ( 7) the one (2) or more (2, 2') headlights switched on or from switching on the one (2) or more (2, 2') headlights the one (2) or more (2, 2') ) Automatically control headlights in such a way that a maximum light intensity permissible for the country in which the motor vehicle (1) is currently located is in the center of the light beam (6) emitted by the headlight (2) or headlights (2, 2') or of the emitted light bundles (6, 6') and/or a permissible light distribution of the headlight (2) or headlights (2, 2') for at least one of the light functions adaptive high beam, glare-free high beam, city light, country road light, motorway light, adaptive cornering light, marker light and logo projection light is provided. Method for operating one or more headlights of a motor vehicle, comprising the following steps: - Determining the current location of the motor vehicle in one of at least two states using a vehicle-side determination device (S1); - Determining the maximum permissible light intensity in the state in which the motor vehicle is currently located in the center of the light beam or beams emitted by the headlight or headlights and / or a permissible light distribution of the headlight or headlights for at least one light function by means of appropriate Data stored in a first storage device (S2), and - automatic control based on the current location of the motor vehicle in one of the at least two states received by or queried by the determination device and the data of the first storage device of one or the other several headlights switched on or from switching on the one or more headlights of the one or more headlights by a vehicle-side control device in such a way that one for the state in which the motor vehicle is currently located sige maximum light intensity in the center of the light beam or beams emitted by the headlight or headlights and / or a permissible light distribution of the headlight or headlights is given for at least one light function (S3), characterized in that after starting the motor vehicle (1 ) an initial determination of the whereabouts is carried out and then the determination of the whereabouts is repeated within predeterminable time intervals, whereby if the motor vehicle (1) moves towards a border of a neighboring state, the time intervals are chosen to become increasingly shorter until a continuous determination or if As the motor vehicle (1) moves away from the border, the time intervals are chosen to be longer and longer. Procedure according to Claim 9 , comprising - receiving signals from navigation satellites, signals from one or more mobile radio cells, and / or signals from one or more WLAN radio devices by the determination device, and - determining the current location of the motor vehicle in one of at least two states based on data from a second storage device which contains digital road maps, position data from mobile radio cells and/or position data from WLAN radio devices, by the determination device.

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