DE102024106804A1 - User proximity detection for activating a lighting function on a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a system for activating at least one lighting function on a parked motor vehicle (10), in which the lighting function is activated by a control unit (12) of the motor vehicle (10) when a user (20) is located in a defined zone outside the parked motor vehicle (10). The position of the user (20) is determined via the absolute location of a mobile device (31) that the user (20) carries. The location is determined by a communication system (30) to which the mobile device (31) is connected. Thus, a component of the communication system (30) which is located away from the motor vehicle (10) can send an activation signal to the control unit (12) of the motor vehicle (10), which, based on this activation signal, activates at least the lighting function of the motor vehicle (10) if the distance between the queried, absolute location of the mobile device (31) and a stored location of the parked motor vehicle (10) is below a first defined reference distance (13).

Description

The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 1 and an associated system according to the preamble of claim 8, for activating at least one lighting function on a parked motor vehicle, in which the lighting function is activated by a control unit of the motor vehicle when a user is located in a defined zone outside the parked motor vehicle.

In a further aspect of the invention, a motor vehicle is shown which has a control unit which is designed for such activation of a lighting function.

Today, lighting functions in motor vehicles are not only activated when the vehicle is operated in the dark, but also, under certain conditions, when a user approaches the vehicle and/or performs certain actions. This particularly includes so-called welcome functions, which are intended to provide the user with a certain level of comfort upon arrival at a vehicle. A variety of methods and systems are known for this purpose.

Many passenger car users also take their vehicle for trips to remote areas near forests, lakes, etc., or to isolated event locations. They have a very active lifestyle and participate in sports such as hiking, cycling, and canoeing, even in remote areas. This is often done for adventure purposes. The vehicle is parked in these remote locations for an extended period of time until the user returns from their trip. The vehicle is then used as a base camp, providing space and storage for equipment. However, when the user(s) returns to the vehicle late in the day, it may already be dark, which is a problem if infrastructure is limited and there is no light. Loading or returning equipment, as well as boarding children and pets, for example, can become problematic without lights.

In addition, one may feel unsafe in the darkness surrounding the vehicle.

It is therefore already known to activate all external light sources as well as the trunk light as soon as the vehicle occupant is within a certain distance from the vehicle, illuminating the surrounding area as a convenience feature for safe entry and exit. This is also advantageous when a vehicle is parked in dark and obscured areas within a city, as the area surrounding the vehicle is illuminated as a occupant approaches.

This is for example from the US 2007 / 0 200 672 A1 known, which discloses a system in which the user of a vehicle carries a mobile device. As soon as a controller on the vehicle detects that the user or the mobile device is in a specific area outside the vehicle, the controller controls a function of the vehicle. This can include, for example, turning on the vehicle's lights and/or honking a horn as a welcome function for the user.

From the DE 11 2017 001 383 T5 A system and method for guiding light are even known, particularly to assist a user when entering or exiting a vehicle. The system provides for projecting an illuminated path onto the ground by activating one or more light sources associated with the vehicle, extending between the vehicle and a location remote from the vehicle. However, the projection is initiated when local detection on the vehicle determines that the vehicle user is exiting or approaching the vehicle.

The DE 10 2014 224 999 A1 describes another system for activating a welcome function on a vehicle when a user approaches, which may include activating a light. In addition to a short-range transmitter that covers an approach zone near the vehicle, a wireless communication system is used to detect activity outside this approach zone, which is achieved with reduced power consumption. Detection at longer distances of approximately 50 meters is not provided, but this can be advantageous, especially in remote areas.

Given the state of the art described above, there is still room for improvement in detecting the proximity of a user to a vehicle.

The invention is based on the object of providing a method and a system for activating at least one lighting function on a parked motor vehicle when a user is in a defined zone outside the parked motor vehicle, whereby this should already be possible over long distances, so that a user can already see his vehicle from Can be seen from afar and can be used especially as a beacon.

According to the invention, the object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1. The object is also achieved by a system for activating at least one lighting function on a parked motor vehicle having the features of claim 8. Further, particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the respective dependent subclaims.

It should be noted that the features and measures listed individually in the following description can be combined with one another in any technically reasonable manner and demonstrate further embodiments of the invention. The description further characterizes and specifies the invention, particularly in conjunction with the figures.

The method according to the invention serves to activate at least one lighting function on a parked motor vehicle, in which the lighting function is activated by a control unit of the motor vehicle when a user is located in a defined zone outside the parked motor vehicle.

1. a) Abspeichern des Standorts eines abgestellten Kraftfahrzeugs durch ein Kommunikationssystem, wobei das Kommunikationssystem wenigstens durch ein mobiles Gerät, welches ein Nutzer mit sich führt, und eine zentrale, kommunikativ mit dem mobilen Gerät in Verbindung stehende Recheneinheit, welche sich entfernt von dem Kraftfahrzeug befindet, gebildet wird, wobei das Kommunikationssystem ferner in kommunikative Verbindung mit der Steuereinheit des Kraftfahrzeugs bringbar ist oder in kommunikativer Verbindung mit der Steuereinheit des Kraftfahrzeugs steht;
2. b) Abfrage des absoluten Standorts des mobilen Geräts durch das Kommunikationssystem;
3. c) Überprüfen durch das Kommunikationssystem, ob die Entfernung zwischen dem abgefragten, absoluten Standort des mobilen Geräts und dem abgespeicherten Standort des abgestellten Kraftfahrzeugs unterhalb einer ersten definierten Referenzentfernung liegt, und falls diese Bedingung gegeben ist,
4. d) Senden eines Aktivierungssignals von dem Kommunikationssystem an die Steuereinheit des Kraftfahrzeugs, welche
5. e) aufgrund dieses Aktivierungssignals wenigstens die Beleuchtungsfunktion des Kraftfahrzeugs aktiviert.

According to the invention, at least the following steps are provided:

1. a) storing the location of a parked motor vehicle by a communication system, wherein the communication system is formed by at least one mobile device which a user carries with him and a central computing unit which is communicatively connected to the mobile device and which is located remotely from the motor vehicle, wherein the communication system is further communicatively connected to the control unit of the motor vehicle or is communicatively connected to the control unit of the motor vehicle;
2. b) query of the absolute location of the mobile device by the communication system;
3. c) Checking by the communication system whether the distance between the requested absolute location of the mobile device and the stored location of the parked motor vehicle is below a first defined reference distance, and if this condition is met,
4. d) Sending an activation signal from the communication system to the control unit of the motor vehicle, which
5. e) activates at least the lighting function of the motor vehicle on the basis of this activation signal.

The method according to the invention therefore does not employ the usual procedure of determining the distance of a user's mobile device relative to a motor vehicle, for example, by using near-field sensors, radio technology, or cameras, etc. Instead, the absolute location of a mobile device is determined independently of the motor vehicle using a communications system. The mobile device can be, for example, a mobile phone, a vehicle key, or another portable electronic device that the user can carry with them.

The absolute location of this mobile device can then be determined, for example, using a GPS (Global Positioning System) signal from the mobile device. If the electronic device is part of a mobile network, location determination relies on the continuous knowledge of the cell in which the electronic device is located. A switched-on mobile phone, for example, is always connected to a base station. This allows the location to be precisely assigned and determined based on the cell in question. Other options for determining the absolute location are also possible.

The communication system includes at least one central processing unit with which several electronic devices communicate wirelessly. In particular, the central processing unit is one or more servers operated remotely from the motor vehicle. The communication system is, in particular, a cloud-based computer system, with application software (application - app) running on the various mobile electronic devices of the users. The cloud-based computer system offers high-performance computing services including high computing power and storage capacity. Furthermore, it enables activation of motor vehicle functions from great distances, and the system is highly configurable. In addition, information from various components that are also part of the cloud-based computer system can be processed.

A user's mobile electronic device has wireless communication means configured for wireless communication with the cloud-based computer system. The control unit of a motor vehicle is ideally also operatively coupled with communication means to also communicate with the cloud-based computer system. based computer system. For this purpose, the wireless communication means of the motor vehicle's control unit are connected, for example, to a vehicle-based modem that is configured, among other things, for wireless communication with the cloud-based computer system.

First, the communications system saves the location of the parked vehicle. This can again be done via a GPS signal from the vehicle or the radio cell within which the vehicle is located and registers with its communication devices. The location can be saved in various components of the communications system, i.e., within the cloud-based computer system. For example, it is saved on a server or the location is stored locally in the application software of the mobile device. The location of the mobile device is preferably continuously queried and compared with the saved location of the parked vehicle. The communications system checks whether the distance between the queried, absolute location of the mobile device and the saved location of the parked vehicle is below a first defined reference distance. This check can again be performed by various components of the communications system. For example, the check is performed on the central processing unit or in the application software on the mobile device. Since the communication system is formed by a large number of units that are communicatively connected to each other, the check can take place in a suitable component and be transmitted to another component.

If the communication system or one of its components determines that the distance between the requested absolute location of the mobile device and the stored location of the parked vehicle is below a first defined reference distance, this means that the user has approached the parked vehicle to within a defined distance. Only if this condition is met does the central processing unit send an activation signal to the vehicle's control unit, which, based on this activation signal, activates at least the vehicle's lighting function.

This first reference distance is preferably greater than 20 m, in particular, it is 60 m or more, for example. According to the invention, it is thus detected even at a great distance that a user is approaching a parked motor vehicle. At least one lighting function of the motor vehicle is then activated, so that the illuminated motor vehicle can serve as a beacon or lighthouse for the user on their way back to the vehicle. Once the user has reached the vehicle, the lighting assists them in stowing equipment and in boarding, for example, children and/or pets.

An alternative way to detect a person near the vehicle could be to use the vehicle key. However, this solution is typically limited to a maximum range of 20 m and is not sufficient for the task at hand. The vehicle should be able to act as a beacon for the user and preferably be seen from a distance. The "phone as key" function would also be an option for activating a number of the vehicle's lights. The idea is that in such a case, the vehicle should not be opened if the user is still at a certain distance from the vehicle, which is why the "phone as key" function would block opening and only activate the lights. This represents a further aspect of the invention.

In addition to at least one lighting function, additional functions can be activated. This includes, for example, the one-time or multiple activation of a horn to acoustically identify the vehicle. Furthermore, typical functions such as starting a heater or even unlocking the vehicle (if the user is close enough) can be beneficial, with the functions to be activated preferably being determined by the user. This can be done, for example, via the application software running on their mobile device.

The location of the motor vehicle is preferably stored when it is parked. Before the method is initiated and an activation signal is sent, the location of the parked motor vehicle is preferably verified by the communication system. This is done, for example, by querying its current location with the motor vehicle's control unit.

In addition to the minimum requirement that the user has approached the motor vehicle within a certain distance, further conditions may exist that must be met for a lighting function to be activated. For example, the activation signal is only sent when the user actually approaches the motor vehicle, i.e., they do not just move within a certain distance without reducing the distance. In one embodiment of the invention It is therefore provided that step e) only occurs if the condition in step c) is met, and f) the distance between the queried, absolute location of the mobile device and the stored location of the parked motor vehicle continuously decreases. This continuous decrease can be determined, for example, by repeatedly querying the absolute location of the mobile device. If the distance does not continuously decrease, this suggests that the user is moving around the motor vehicle within a certain distance and is not on the way back. Furthermore, the user could move away from the motor vehicle within the first reference distance, and the distance increases again. If condition f) is therefore not met, the lighting function is not activated in this embodiment. In this case and also in the following, this means that the activation signal is not sent or that the control unit of the motor vehicle does not convert a received activation signal into a lighting function if the control unit has information that excludes a lighting function.

Furthermore, it can be provided that step e) only occurs if the condition in step c) is met, and g) the distance between the queried, absolute location of the mobile device and the stored location of the parked motor vehicle is below a second defined reference distance. This second reference distance is, for example, less than the first reference distance. It is, for example, 40 m. Falling below the first reference distance is then used to start the method, but the activation signal is only sent or the lighting function is only implemented by the control unit when the user has moved even closer to the motor vehicle. The interim time can be used by the communication system to conduct further queries and/or to analyze the user's movement more precisely. For this purpose, additional technologies in the immediate vicinity of the motor vehicle can be used, for example.

Preferably, the first and/or second reference distance can be freely defined by the user in the communication system within certain conditions. In particular, they can enter these values via the application software on their mobile device. One condition that the user would have to comply with when making this selection is, for example, that the respective reference distance is below a maximum value defined by the communication system. This prevents the user from selecting distances that are too great, which are not permitted for various reasons. The maximum value can also be made dynamically dependent on the charge level of the vehicle's battery. If the charge level is too low for long-term lighting, for example, the lighting can only be activated near the vehicle. If, on the other hand, the charge level is sufficient, activation from greater distances is theoretically permitted.

Another condition that must be met for the activation of the lighting function is, for example, that lighting is actually necessary and permissible in the respective vicinity of the parked motor vehicle. In one embodiment of the invention, it is therefore provided that step e) only occurs if the condition in step c) is met, and h) the communication system determines that the activation of the lighting function is permissible at the stored location of the motor vehicle. This permissibility or its requirement can arise, for example, from general information about the parking location and/or user input. The user can select whether or not they consider lighting over long distances to be necessary in the vicinity of a parked motor vehicle. This may be the case for some areas, and if the motor vehicle is parked there, the permissibility or requirement is met. Other areas, for example, are better visible or otherwise illuminated, so that the requirement is not met for a parking location in these areas. The user then doesn't have to indicate whether they want the lighting function activated upon approach every time they park the vehicle; instead, this function is automatically determined based on the area in which the vehicle is parked. Additional information can be incorporated into the verification of these conditions. Furthermore, for example, in some areas, it may be prohibited to leave a vehicle's lights on for an extended period of time to protect nature. Information about this can also be available to the communication system from other sources.

It is also relevant whether the activation of a lighting function is required at all or not. This can, on the one hand, be made dependent on the time of day. In a further exemplary embodiment, for example, it is provided that step e) only takes place if the condition in step c) is met, and i) detection means determine a brightness in the immediate vicinity of the location of the parked motor vehicle below a reference value and transmit this to the control unit. If it is therefore sufficiently bright, no lighting function is required upon approach. This existing brightness can be determined in various ways. For example, sensors can be used and/or the external The motor vehicle's lighting units report whether their illuminance is below a certain limit. This limit is, for example, in the range of 35 lux. The detection means report the brightness in the immediate vicinity of the motor vehicle to the control unit. The control unit, in turn, can transmit the brightness to the communication system, or it may not convert an activation command into a lighting function if the low-brightness condition is not met. However, information about the brightness in the surroundings of the motor vehicle can also be retrieved and processed by the communication system from any other source.

A further condition for activating the lighting function can be that the vehicle is not already moving and is in driving mode. For this state, a different type of lighting is typically provided, so that no welcome lighting needs to be activated. In one embodiment of the invention, step e) therefore only occurs if the condition in step c) is met, and j) detection means determine that the parked motor vehicle is in parking mode. These detection means are preferably formed on the vehicle itself and report the movement mode of the motor vehicle to the control unit. The control unit, in turn, can transmit the mode to the communication system, or it may not convert an activation command into a lighting function if the parking mode condition is not met.

• - wenigstens ein Kraftfahrzeug mit einer Steuereinheit;
• - ein Kommunikationssystem, das wenigstens durch ein mobiles Gerät, welches ein Nutzer mit sich führt, und eine zentrale, kommunikativ mit dem mobilen Gerät in Verbindung stehende Recheneinheit, welche sich entfernt von dem Kraftfahrzeug befindet, gebildet wird, wobei das Kommunikationssystem ferner in kommunikative Verbindung mit der Steuereinheit des Kraftfahrzeugs bringbar ist oder in kommunikativer Verbindung mit der Steuereinheit des Kraftfahrzeugs steht.

The invention further encompasses an associated system for activating at least one lighting function on a parked motor vehicle, in which the lighting function is activated by a control unit of the motor vehicle when a user is located in a defined zone outside the parked motor vehicle. The system therefore comprises at least the following components:

• - at least one motor vehicle with a control unit;
• - a communication system which is formed by at least one mobile device which a user carries with him, and a central computing unit which is communicatively connected to the mobile device and which is located remotely from the motor vehicle, wherein the communication system can further be brought into communicative connection with the control unit of the motor vehicle or is in communicative connection with the control unit of the motor vehicle.

• - Abspeichern des Standorts eines abgestellten Kraftfahrzeugs durch das Kommunikationssystem;
• - Abfrage des absoluten Standorts des mobilen Geräts durch das Kommunikationssystem;
• - Überprüfen durch das Kommunikationssystem, ob die Entfernung zwischen dem abgefragten, absoluten Standort des mobilen Geräts und dem abgespeicherten Standort des abgestellten Kraftfahrzeugs unterhalb einer ersten definierten Referenzentfernung liegt, und falls diese Bedingung gegeben ist,
• - Senden eines Aktivierungssignals von einer Komponente des Kommunikationssystems an die Steuereinheit des abgestellten Kraftfahrzeugs, welche aufgrund des Aktivierungssignals wenigstens die Beleuchtungsfunktion des Kraftfahrzeugs aktiviert.

The system is designed to perform the steps of the described method. It is therefore designed to perform at least the following steps:

• - Storing the location of a parked motor vehicle by the communication system;
• - Query of the absolute location of the mobile device by the communication system;
• - Checking by the communication system whether the distance between the requested absolute location of the mobile device and the stored location of the parked motor vehicle is below a first defined reference distance, and if this condition is met,
• - Sending an activation signal from a component of the communication system to the control unit of the parked motor vehicle, which activates at least the lighting function of the motor vehicle based on the activation signal.

These steps can be designed and combined with one another as set out, wherein the communication system, the mobile device and/or the control unit of a motor vehicle are designed accordingly to carry out the steps.

Similar to the described process of turning on the lights when approaching a vehicle, the lights can also be turned off when moving away, provided they are already turned on. Thus, if the user moves beyond a certain reference distance from the area illuminated by the vehicle, the vehicle's lights will turn off.

This could also be used to implement theft protection. For example, if the distance between the vehicle and the user changes or increases faster than the user is moving (a slow-changing user's location signal compared to a significantly faster-changing vehicle's location signal), theft can be assumed. The communication system can then initiate appropriate actions, such as acoustic alarms, theft notifications, and/or deactivation of driving functions. This, of course, only occurs after verification if the user has not designated a second user and entrusted the vehicle to them.

As already explained, the communication system is preferably formed by a cloud-based computer system, with application software running on the user's mobile device. is used, and the at least one remotely located computing unit is a server. The application software on the user's mobile device is therefore an application through which the user can enter and retrieve information. This application can also be used for other purposes. This also applies to the cloud-based computer system. The remotely located computing unit is formed by one or more servers, which for simplicity are referred to as a computing unit.

An associated motor vehicle must be appropriately configured to communicate with this cloud-based computer system and receive an activation signal. Furthermore, it must be configured to convert the activation signal into a lighting function, and/or the motor vehicle's control unit must also independently perform checks and may not convert a received activation signal into a lighting function if one of these checks fails.

The invention also encompasses a motor vehicle having a control unit configured to activate a lighting function of the motor vehicle based on a received activation signal generated by a method according to an embodiment of the invention and transmitted from the communication system to the control unit.

• 1 eine schematische Darstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Systems, und
• 2 ein Ablaufdiagramm zu einer Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims and the following description of the figures.

• 1 a schematic representation of the system according to the invention, and
• 2 a flowchart of an embodiment of the method according to the invention.

In the different figures, identical parts are always provided with the same reference symbols, which is why they are usually only described once.

In the 1 The system 1 according to the invention is shown schematically in order to explain the method 2 according to the invention by way of example based on its components. The system 1 essentially comprises a motor vehicle 10, which is assigned to a user 20. This user 20 has parked his motor vehicle 10 and has moved away from it. The user 20 carries a mobile device 31, which is part of a communication system 30. This communication system 30 is in the 1 It is depicted very schematically and is preferably a cloud-based computer system. This includes an architecture with one or more servers, collectively referred to as a computing unit 32, which is located remotely from the motor vehicle 10. Since it is a cloud-based computer system, this computing unit 32 is depicted as a cloud for illustrative purposes.

The communication system 30 includes a plurality of mobile devices, with an exemplary mobile device 31 being communicatively connected to the computing unit 32. This communication preferably occurs in both directions, so it is represented by a double arrow. A control unit 12 of the motor vehicle 10 is also communicatively connected to the computing unit 32. This control unit 12 can comprise various individual components, which are not shown to simplify the illustration. A communicative connection in both directions also exists between the computing unit 32 of the communication system 30 and this control unit 12, which is again represented by a double arrow.

If the function according to the invention for illuminating a motor vehicle upon approaching a user is activated, a first reference distance 13 is defined around the motor vehicle 10. This first reference distance 13 is, for example, 60 m. Closer to the motor vehicle 10, a second reference distance 14 is defined, which is, for example, 30 m or more (e.g., 40 m). A zone 11 is thus formed between these two reference distances.

The location of the parked motor vehicle 10 is determined and stored in the communication system 30. The absolute location of the electronic device 31 is then preferably continuously queried and checked by the communication system 30. This can be done, for example, via GPS or radio cell location. If the user 20 or the electronic device 31 now moves from outside into zone 11, the check by the communication system 30 shows that the distance between the queried, absolute location of the electronic device 31 and the stored location of the motor vehicle 10 is below the first reference distance 13. In one embodiment of the invention, an activation signal can already be transmitted from the communication system 30 to the control unit 12, which triggers activation of a lighting system 15 on the motor vehicle 10 (shown in a simplified manner).

In another embodiment, further verification steps are now carried out, which are explained below. This includes, in particular, sending an activation signal only if the user 20 also provides a second reference. distance has fallen below 14. This shows 2 for example, a flow diagram of an embodiment of the method 2 according to the invention with a plurality of checks. After the start of the method 2, an application 33 on the mobile device 31 of the user 20, for example, continuously requests the absolute location of the mobile device 31, i.e. it retrieves it. This query is marked with step S1 and in step S2 the mobile device 31 continuously sends its absolute location to the application 33. Now, in step S3, a check is carried out as to whether the distance between the stored location of the parked motor vehicle 10 and the currently detected absolute location of the mobile device 31 is below a predefined first reference distance. In this case, the first reference distance is, for example, 60 m.

If this first reference distance is not undershot (-), the process starts again until the check in step S3 shows that the user has moved into zone 11 by falling below the first reference distance of 60 m (+). Furthermore, step S3 checks whether the detected distance to the motor vehicle is continuously decreasing. The application 33 transmits this information to the computing unit 32, i.e., to the "cloud," which can then provide step S4, in which it wakes the control unit 12 of the motor vehicle from standby mode with a signal. This allows power to be saved in the parked motor vehicle, and the control unit 12 confirms in step S5 that it is now in the active status.

Optionally, the computing unit 32 now queries the motor vehicle's control unit 12 again for its actual location, which occurs in step S6. In step S7, the control unit 12 confirms its location, which ideally matches the stored location of the motor vehicle. If this is not the case, the re-queried location of the motor vehicle is considered to be given.

Also optionally, in step S8, the computing unit 32 now checks whether the typology of the stored location of the motor vehicle 10 even permits activation of the lighting function on the vehicle. To this end, the application 33 on the user's mobile device 31 specifies, for example, user settings 34. These specify, for example, that a lighting function is permitted and required in certain areas and not in others. In a well-lit urban area, for example, it would not be necessary, or in a protected area it might not be permitted under certain circumstances to protect nature. This information is incorporated into the decision in step S8. If a lighting function is not permitted/required, the process restarts.

If, however, this check is positive, the computing unit 32 queries the control unit 12 and/or other sources for the brightness in the vicinity of the parked motor vehicle. This occurs in step S9, and in step S10 the brightness status is transmitted to the computing unit 32. In step S11, this information is processed by checking whether the detected brightness is below a certain limit and whether the user has since approached the motor vehicle. This means that further reference distances are checked and the user is, for example, less than 30 m (or more) away from the motor vehicle. If this check is negative, this means that it is either sufficiently bright in the vicinity of the motor vehicle and/or that the user has not approached any further. In this case, method 2 starts again. If, however, the check is positive, the final check is carried out in step S12 to determine whether the motor vehicle is actually in parking mode. If this is the case, an activation signal is sent to the motor vehicle's control unit 12 in step S13, which triggers a lighting function on the motor vehicle. This can include, for example, the activation of exterior lighting units, interior lighting, and/or trunk lighting. These are collectively referred to as the lighting system 15. If the motor vehicle is not in parking mode, the lighting function is not triggered in step S14 or is deactivated as soon as the user starts driving.

List of reference symbols:

1

system

2

Proceedings

10

motor vehicle

11

Zone

12

Control unit

13

First reference distance

14

Second reference distance

15

lighting system

20

Users

30

Communication system

31

Electronic, mobile device

32

Computing unit

33

application program

34

User settings

S1-S15

Procedural steps

QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 2007 / 0 200 672 A1 [0007]
• DE 11 2017 001 383 T5 [0008]
• DE 10 2014 224 999 A1 [0009]

Claims (10)

Method for activating at least one lighting function on a parked motor vehicle (10), in which the lighting function is activated by a control unit (12) of the motor vehicle (10) when a user (20) is located in a defined zone (11) outside the parked motor vehicle (10), characterized by at least the following steps: a) storing the location of a parked motor vehicle (10) by a communication system (30), wherein the communication system (30) is formed by at least one mobile device (31) carried by a user (20) and a central computing unit (32) which is communicatively connected to the mobile device (31) and which is located remotely from the motor vehicle (10), wherein the communication system (30) can further be brought into communicative connection with the control unit (12) of the motor vehicle (10); b) querying the absolute location of the mobile device (31) by the communication system (30); c) Checking by the communication system (30) whether the distance between the queried absolute location of the mobile device (31) and the stored location of the parked motor vehicle (10) is below a first defined reference distance (13), and if this condition is met, d) Sending an activation signal from a component of the communication system (30) to the control unit (12) of the motor vehicle (10), which e) activates at least the lighting function of the motor vehicle (10) on the basis of this activation signal. Procedure according to Claim 1 , characterized in that step e) only takes place if the condition in step c) is met, and f) the distance between the queried absolute location of the mobile device (31) and the stored location of the parked motor vehicle (10) is continuously reduced. Procedure according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that step e) only takes place if the condition in step c) is met, and g) the distance between the queried absolute location of the mobile device (31) and the stored location of the parked motor vehicle (10) is below a second defined reference distance (14). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and/or the second reference distance from the user (20) can be freely defined in the communication system (30) within the framework of certain conditions. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that step e) only takes place if the condition in step c) is met, and h) the communication system (30) determines that the activation of the lighting function is permissible at the stored location of the motor vehicle (10). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that step e) only takes place if the condition in step c) is met, and i) detection means determine a brightness in the direct vicinity of the location of the parked motor vehicle (10) below a reference value and transmit it to the control unit (12). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that step e) only takes place if the condition in step c) is met, and j) detection means determine that the parked motor vehicle (10) is in parking mode. A system for activating at least one lighting function on a parked motor vehicle (10), in particular configured to carry out the method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the lighting function is activated by a control unit (12) of the motor vehicle (10) when a user (20) is located in a defined zone (11) outside the parked motor vehicle (10), characterized by at least the following components: at least one motor vehicle (10) with a control unit (12); a communication system (30) formed by at least one mobile device (31) carried by a user (20), and a central computing unit (32) communicatively connected to the mobile device (31) and located remotely from the motor vehicle (10), wherein the communication system (30) can further be brought into communicative connection with the control unit (12) of the motor vehicle (10); and the system is designed to carry out the following steps: - storing the location of a parked motor vehicle (10) by the communication system (30); - querying the absolute location of the mobile device (31) by the communication system (30); - checking by the communication system (30) whether the distance between the queried absolute location of the mobile device (31) and the stored location of the parked motor vehicle (10) is below a first defined reference distance, and if this condition is met, - Sending an activation signal from a component of the communication system (30) to the control unit (12) of the parked motor vehicle (10), which activates at least the lighting function of the motor vehicle (10) based on the activation signal. System according to Claim 8 , characterized in that the communication system (30) is formed by a cloud-based computer system, wherein application software is operated on the user's mobile device (31) and the at least one remotely arranged computing unit (32) is formed by at least one server. Motor vehicle, comprising a control unit (12) which is designed to activate a lighting function of the motor vehicle (10) on the basis of a received activation signal which is generated according to a method according to one of the Claims 1 until 8 generated and transmitted by the communication system (30) to the control unit (12).