DE102023117979A1 - method for operating a motor vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle (1), in which a current situation in which a person using the motor vehicle (1) and/or the motor vehicle (1) is located is automatically determined by means of an electronic computing device (9) of the motor vehicle (1). By means of the electronic computing device (9), one of the operating states is automatically selected and set for at least one component (10) of the motor vehicle (1) depending on the determined situation from a plurality of operating states of the component (10) that are different from one another and can be set and perceived by the person.

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle, in particular a motor car.

The US 2013/0325202 A1 A driver state module for communication with a vehicle is known. Furthermore, the EP 2 544 914 B1 a non-distracting and non-invasive on-board system for detecting, personalizing and monitoring a driver’s cardiac activity in a vehicle. In addition, JP 2015503491 A A method for personalizing a vehicle is known.

The object of the present invention is to provide a method for operating a motor vehicle so that a particularly advantageous usability, in particular drivability, of the motor vehicle can be realized.

This object is achieved according to the invention by a method having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle, also referred to simply as a vehicle, whose interior, also referred to as a passenger cell or passenger compartment, is formed by a structure of the motor vehicle, for example designed as a self-supporting body. The motor vehicle is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car.

In the method, a current situation in which a person using the motor vehicle, such as the driver of the motor vehicle and/or the motor vehicle, is located is automatically determined by means of an electronic computing device of the motor vehicle. For this purpose, for example, the electronic computing device carries out at least one calculation process in order to determine the situation and/or the electronic computing device receives, for example, at least one signal, in particular an electrical one, characterizing the situation, wherein the electronic computing device automatically determines the situation, for example by receiving the signal and/or depending on the signal. In the method, for at least one component of the motor vehicle, one of the operating states is automatically selected and set, i.e. activated, from a plurality of different, adjustable and perceptible operating states of the component, by means of the electronic computing device of the motor vehicle, depending on the determined situation, so that the component is then operated at least temporarily in the one selected and set operating state. The feature that the operating states of the component are perceptible to the person is to be understood as meaning that the different operating states allow the person to perceive the motor vehicle differently, since, for example, the different, adjustable operating states affect the driving of the motor vehicle and/or the emissions of the motor vehicle that are perceptible to the person haptically and/or acoustically and/or visually. If, for example, the component is operated in a first of the operating states in such a way that the first operating state is set, i.e. activated, the person perceives the motor vehicle in a first way, and if, for example, a second of the operating states of the component is set, i.e. activated, so that the component is operated in the second operating state, the person perceives the motor vehicle in a second way that is different from the first way. The method according to the invention allows the component and thus the motor vehicle to be adapted automatically and as required to the current situation, so that a particularly advantageous usability, in particular drivability, of the motor vehicle can be realized for the person. For example, the first operating state comprises a first combination of set, i.e. activated, sub-operating states of subcomponents of the component, and for example, the second operating state comprises a second combination of set, i.e. activated, sub-operating states of the subcomponents of the component, which is different from the first combination. This means in particular that, for example, the component has the subcomponents mentioned, namely at least one first subcomponent and at least one second subcomponent. For the first subcomponent, for example, several different first sub-operating states can be set, and for the second subcomponent, for example, several different second sub-operating states can be set, so that the first subcomponent can be operated in the first sub-operating states and the second sub-component in the second sub-operating states. The method according to the invention enables different combinations of the first sub-operating states and the second sub-operating states, in particular depending on the situation determined, so that, for example, optionally a first of the first sub-operating states and at the same time a first of the second sub-operating states or the first of the first Sub-operating states and at the same time a second of the second sub-operating states or a second of the first operating states and at the same time the first of the second operating states can be set, i.e. activated. The method according to the invention thus makes it possible to set and vary the way in which the person perceives the motor vehicle as needed and in particular adapted to the situation, so that an emotionality of the motor vehicle, also simply referred to as a vehicle, can be set, i.e. varied, as needed and adapted to the situation.

In order to be able to realize a particularly advantageous usability, in particular drivability, of the motor vehicle, it is provided in one embodiment of the invention that at least one variable is automatically detected by means of at least one detection device of the motor vehicle, wherein the electronic computing device automatically determines the situation depending on the detected variable.

In order to achieve a particularly advantageous usability of the motor vehicle, it has proven to be particularly advantageous if the variable is a current position of the motor vehicle on the earth and/or a current weight, i.e. a current mass of the motor vehicle and/or a current coupling state in which the motor vehicle is coupled to a trailer, in particular in an articulated manner, and/or a current date and/or a current time and/or a current weather in a current environment of the motor vehicle and/or a current temperature, also referred to as ambient temperature, in the current environment of the motor vehicle and/or a current temperature, also referred to as interior temperature or interior temperature, in the interior of the motor vehicle and/or a driving behavior of the person as driver of the motor vehicle and/or a traffic volume in the current environment of the motor vehicle and/or a physical condition and/or a state of mind, thus a mental or psychological state of the person and/or a number of people in the interior of the motor vehicle and/or a current loading state of at least one luggage compartment of the motor vehicle and/or a currently active user profile of a person currently trained as a driver of the motor vehicle and/or a predicted, i.e. foreseen or forecasted driving behaviour of the driver of the motor vehicle.

A further embodiment is characterized in that the component comprises at least one drive component for driving the motor vehicle. The drive component is or comprises, for example, at least or exactly one electric machine by means of which the motor vehicle can be driven, in particular purely electrically. Alternatively or additionally, the drive component is or comprises, for example, at least or exactly one internal combustion engine by means of which the motor vehicle can be driven. The background to this embodiment is in particular that the drive properties of the motor vehicle can thus be adjusted, i.e. varied, as required and adapted to the situation, wherein in particular by varying the drive properties the emotionality of the motor vehicle and thus an emotional perception of the motor vehicle by the person can be advantageously varied, in particular because the drive properties in particular affect an emotional perception of the motor vehicle by the person.

Preferably, the method provides that the person does not receive a suggestion for setting the respective operating state of the component with regard to the component and thus, for example, with regard to the drive component and thus, in particular, with regard to a drive comprising the drive component and designed to drive the motor vehicle, but rather the component and thus, in particular, the drive configures itself automatically. This means that the component, in particular the drive component and thus, for example, the drive, is automatically set depending on the situation in such a way that, depending on the situation, one of the operating states of the component, in particular the drive component and thus the drive, is set and set, and thus activated, from the several possible operating states, in particular precisely, in particular that active intervention by the person is required for this. In particular, compared to conventional, static and thus fixed setting options, the invention enables at least almost any combination, for example of the previously mentioned sub-operating states, so that a particularly needs-based and thus advantageous adaptation or adaptability to different situations can be realized.

In order to be able to adapt the component and thus the motor vehicle to the situation in a particularly advantageous manner and thus to advantageously change the person's perception of the motor vehicle, it is provided in a further embodiment of the invention that setting the one operating state includes switching the component from another of the adjustable operating states to the one operating state. Example For example, the aforementioned first operating state is one operating state which is automatically set, i.e. activated, whereby, for example, the aforementioned second operating state is the other operating state.

In one embodiment of the invention, the other operating state is a first drive state, which means that the other operating state is also referred to as the first drive state, and the one operating state is a second drive state, so that, for example, the one operating state is also referred to as the second drive state. In order to adapt the component and thus the motor vehicle automatically and particularly advantageously to the situation and thus create a particularly advantageous usability, in particular drivability, of the motor vehicle, it is further preferably provided that in the other operating state a first drive power that can be provided by the drive component to drive the motor vehicle is permitted and/or that in the other operating state a first torque that can be provided by the drive component to drive the motor vehicle is permitted. In one operating state, a second drive power that is less or greater than the first drive power and that is the maximum that can be provided by the drive component is permitted to drive the motor vehicle, and/or in one operating state, a second torque that is less or greater than the first torque and that is the maximum that can be provided by the drive component is permitted to drive the motor vehicle, so that when switching from the other operating state to the one operating state, the drive power and/or the torque is limited or eliminated. In this way, the emotionality of the motor vehicle and thus the person's perception of the motor vehicle can be influenced in a particularly advantageous way and, in particular, adapted to the situation, so that the motor vehicle can be used and driven in a particularly advantageous way.

In a further, particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the component comprises a lighting device for at least partially illuminating the interior of the motor vehicle. In particular, by varying the lighting of the interior, the person's perception of the vehicle can be varied particularly well and thus adapted to the situation.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous if, in the other operating state, the lighting device provides light with a first color in order to at least partially illuminate the interior using the light. It is also preferably provided that, in the one operating state, the lighting device provides light with a second color that is different from the first color in order to at least partially illuminate the interior using the light. This allows the motor vehicle to be automatically adapted to the situation in a particularly advantageous manner, so that particularly advantageous usability can be achieved.

A further embodiment is characterized in that the other operating state is a first lighting state or is also referred to as the first lighting state. For example, one operating state is a second lighting state or the one operating state is also referred to as the second lighting state. In order to be able to realize a particularly advantageous usability, in particular drivability, of the motor vehicle, it is preferably provided that in one of the lighting states the interior is not illuminated by the lighting device, wherein in the other lighting state the lighting device at least partially illuminates the interior.

Finally, it has been shown to be particularly advantageous if the component comprises at least one device influencing a vibration behavior of at least a partial area of the motor vehicle and/or at least one device influencing an axle load distribution of the motor vehicle and/or at least one, in particular electronic, playback device, by means of which visually perceptible images and/or acoustically perceptible sounds can be output in the interior of the motor vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, the component comprises a steering handle arranged in the interior of the motor vehicle and designed, for example, as a steering wheel for steering the motor vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, the component comprises, for example, shock absorbers and/or springs of a chassis of the motor vehicle, wherein by setting the one operating state, a hardness of the respective shock absorber and/or the respective spring is changed. Alternatively or additionally, the component comprises an accelerator pedal of the motor vehicle, wherein a drive torque for driving the motor vehicle can be adjusted by means of the accelerator pedal. Thus, for example, by setting one operating state, a path and/or a characteristic of the accelerator pedal can be changed, so that, for example, in the other operating state, moving the accelerator pedal to a position of the accelerator pedal causes the drive to generate a first torque for driving the Motor vehicle, and so that, for example, in one operating state, moving the accelerator pedal to the same position causes the drive to provide a second torque that is greater or smaller than the first torque for driving the motor vehicle.

For example, the current situation in particular can be recognized on the basis of map data, so that it can be recognized, for example, that the motor vehicle is currently in a city, on a country road or on a motorway. Alternatively or additionally, it can be determined, for example, on the basis of the map data whether the person, in particular as the driver of the motor vehicle, has just been shopping and/or has done another activity. By recognizing or determining the driving behavior, it can be determined, for example, whether the driver drives the motor vehicle in a sporty or moderate manner. The traffic volume can be determined, for example, by radio and/or via the Internet, in particular in real time. A preferred driving behavior of the person, in particular as the driver of the motor vehicle, can be predicted, for example, using input variables and/or logic and/or artificial intelligence. Switching the drive components and thus the drive from the other operating state to one operating state can, for example, take place with or without a query. For example, the vehicle can be predictable, in particular via settings, and always show the same emotions. It is conceivable to adapt control levers that can be perceived by the person, in particular drive control levers, such as noise, power and/or torque availability, gradients, vibration behavior, axle load distribution, so that the person can feel, and therefore perceive, the switching of the component, in particular acoustically and/or haptically and/or visually, under safe driving conditions. If there is a corresponding requirement, the emotional behavior of the vehicle can be expanded, for example with regard to less power.

Further details of the invention emerge from the following description of a preferred embodiment with the accompanying drawing. The only 1 a schematic representation of a motor vehicle.

The only 1 shows a schematic representation of a motor vehicle 1, also simply referred to as a vehicle, the interior 2 of which, also referred to as a passenger cell or passenger compartment, is formed by a structure of the motor vehicle 1, for example designed as a self-supporting body. The motor vehicle 1 is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car. While the motor vehicle 1 is traveling, people such as the driver of the motor vehicle 1 can be present in the interior 2. The motor vehicle 1 has at least or exactly two vehicle axles 3 and 4 arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the motor vehicle. The respective vehicle axle 3, 4 has at least or exactly two respective vehicle wheels 5 and 6 or 7 and 8. The respective vehicle wheels 5 and 6, reference numerals 7 and 8 of the respective vehicle axle 3, 4 are arranged on sides of the motor vehicle 1 that are opposite one another in the transverse direction of the motor vehicle 1.

In the following, 1 A method for operating the motor vehicle 1 is described, which is also simply referred to as a vehicle. In the method, by means of a 1 The electronic computing device 9 of the motor vehicle 1, which is shown particularly schematically, automatically determines a current situation in which a person using the motor vehicle 1 and/or the motor vehicle 1 is located. By means of the electronic computing device 9, for at least one in 1 The particularly schematically illustrated component 10 of the motor vehicle 1, depending on the situation determined, automatically selects and sets, i.e. activates, one of the operating states of the component 10, in particular precisely, from a plurality of different, adjustable, i.e. activatable and perceptible by the person, so that the component 10 is then operated at least temporarily in the selected and set operating state. For example, another of the possible adjustable operating states was previously set, so that the component 10 was previously operated in a different operating state. By setting, and thus activating, one operating state, the component 10 is switched from the other operating state to the one operating state, wherein the one operating state is also referred to as the first operating state and the other operating state is also referred to as the second operating state. The component 10 is thus switched, for example, from the second operating state to the first operating state.

In the 1 In the embodiment shown, the component 10 comprises at least one drive component 11, by means of which, for example, the vehicle wheels 7 and 8 of the vehicle axle 4 and thus the motor vehicle 1 can be driven. In particular, it can be provided that in the method the drive component 11 drives the vehicle wheels which drives the 7 and 8 and thus the motor vehicle 1. In particular, the drive component 11 can be an electric machine by means of which the vehicle wheels 7 and 8 and thus the motor vehicle 1 can be or are driven purely electrically. The drive component 11 is part of a drive of the motor vehicle 1, also referred to as a drive device, which can be driven by means of the drive. The drive defines or includes drive properties of the motor vehicle 1, wherein the drive properties are changed by switching from the other operating state to the one operating state of the drive. The drive properties form or define an emotion of the motor vehicle 1, so to speak, since when the person uses the motor vehicle 1 and in particular drives it, they primarily perceive the drive properties of the motor vehicle 1, in particular acoustically and/or haptically. By switching from the other operating state to the one operating state, the drive can thus, for example, reflect one or more emotions of the person.

For example, it is planned that by means of a 1 at least one variable is automatically detected by the particularly schematically illustrated, in particular electronic, detection device 12 of the motor vehicle 1, wherein the electronic computing device 9 automatically determines the situation depending on the detected variable. For example, the detection device 12 can be a component of the computing device 9. The variable includes, for example, a current position of the motor vehicle 1 on the earth and/or a current traffic volume in an environment 13 of the motor vehicle 1. If it is thus determined, for example, based on the variable that the motor vehicle 1 is currently in a traffic jam, a power and/or torque limitation of the drive can be provided, for example by switching from the other operating state to the one operating state. It is thus provided, for example, that in the other operating state the drive, in particular the drive component 11, is permitted to provide a maximum of a first drive power and/or a first torque for driving the motor vehicle 1. In one operating state, for example, the drive, in particular the drive component 11, is permitted to provide a maximum of a second drive power that is lower than the first drive power and/or a second torque that is lower than the first torque to drive the motor vehicle 1. Furthermore, it is conceivable, for example, that the variable comprises at least a temperature of the motor vehicle 1, in particular of the component 10 and very particularly of the drive or the drive component 11. If, for example, the temperature is lower than a threshold value, then at least a partial area of the interior is illuminated with blue or green light. If, for example, the temperature is greater than or equal to the threshold value, then at least the partial area of the interior is not illuminated with green or blue light, but with red light, for example. This makes it possible, for example, to communicate a current state of the motor vehicle 1, in particular of the drive, to the person who is in the interior 2, for example, in particular optically. If, for example, it is recognized, in particular based on the size, that the person driving the motor vehicle 1 is driving roughly, vibrations of at least one partial area of the motor vehicle 1 can be reduced, for example by switching from the other operating state to the one operating state, so that, for example, by switching from the other operating state to the one operating state, a vibration behavior, also referred to as vibration behavior, of at least one partial area of the motor vehicle 1, in particular of the drive and/or a chassis of the motor vehicle 1, can be changed. This can be done in such a way that the driver, i.e. the person using the motor vehicle 1, feels vibrations of at least part of the motor vehicle 1 more or less strongly by switching from the other operating state to the one operating state, thus that the vibrations of at least the partial area of the motor vehicle 1 become stronger or weaker by switching from the other operating state to the one operating state, thus stronger vibrations are permitted or the vibrations are reduced by switching from the other operating state to the one operating state.

list of reference symbols

1

motor vehicle

2

interior

3

vehicle axle

4

vehicle axle

5

vehicle wheel

6

vehicle wheel

7

vehicle wheel

8

vehicle wheel

9

electronic computing device

10

component

11

drive component

12

recording device

13

Vicinity

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

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

Cited patent literature

• US 2013/0325202 A1 [0002]
• EP 2 544 914 B1 [0002]
• JP 2015503491 A [0002]

Claims (10)

Method for operating a motor vehicle (1), in which: - a current situation in which a person using the motor vehicle (1) and/or the motor vehicle (1) is located is automatically determined by means of an electronic computing device (9) of the motor vehicle (1); and - for at least one component (10) of the motor vehicle (1), one of the operating states is automatically selected and set from a plurality of operating states of the component (10) that are different from one another and can be set and perceived by the person by means of the electronic computing device (9). procedure according to claim 1 , characterized in that at least one variable is automatically detected by means of at least one detection device (12) of the motor vehicle (1), wherein the electronic computing device (9) automatically determines the situation depending on the detected variable. procedure according to claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the variable comprises: - a current position of the motor vehicle (1) on the earth; and/or - a current weight of the motor vehicle (1); and/or - a current coupling state in which the motor vehicle (1) is coupled to a trailer; and/or - a current date; and/or - a current time; and/or - a current weather in a current environment of the motor vehicle (1); and/or - a current temperature in a current environment (13) of the motor vehicle (1); and/or - a current temperature in the interior (2) of the motor vehicle (1); and/or - a driving behavior of the person as driver of the motor vehicle (1); and/or - a traffic volume in an environment (13) of the motor vehicle (1); and/or - a physical condition and/or a state of mind of the person; - a number of people in the interior (2) of the motor vehicle (1); - a loading state of at least one luggage compartment of the motor vehicle (1); and/or - a currently active user profile of a person currently registered as the driver of the motor vehicle (1); and/or - a predicted driving behavior of the driver of the motor vehicle (1). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the component (10) comprises at least one drive component (11) for driving the motor vehicle (1). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that setting the one operating state comprises switching the component (10) from another of the adjustable operating states to the one operating state. Procedure according to the claims 4 and 5 , characterized in that : - in the other operating state: ◯ a first drive power that can be provided by the drive component (11) at the maximum is permitted for driving the motor vehicle (1); and/or ◯ a first torque that can be provided by the drive component (11) at the maximum is permitted for driving the motor vehicle (1); and - in one operating state: ◯ a second drive power that can be provided by the drive component (11) at the maximum is permitted for driving the motor vehicle (1) at the maximum than the first drive power; and/or ◯ a second torque that can be provided by the drive component (11) at the maximum is permitted for driving the motor vehicle (1) at the maximum than the first torque. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the component (10) comprises a lighting device for at least partially illuminating the interior (2) of the motor vehicle (1). procedure according to claim 7 in its reference to claim 5 or 6 , characterized in that: - in the other operating state, the lighting device provides light with a first color in order to at least partially illuminate the interior (2) by means of the light; and - in the one operating state, the lighting device provides light with a second color different from the first color in order to at least partially illuminate the interior (2) by means of the light. procedure according to claim 7 in its reference to claim 5 or 6 , characterized in that the other operating state is a first lighting state and the one operating state is a second lighting state, wherein: - in one of the lighting states, the interior (2) is not illuminated by the lighting device; and - in the other lighting state, the lighting device at least partially illuminates the interior (2). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the component (10) comprises: - at least one device influencing a vibration behavior of at least a partial area of the motor vehicle (1); and/or - at least one device influencing an axle load distribution of the motor vehicle (1); and/or - at least one playback device by means of which visually perceptible images can be output in the interior (2) of the motor vehicle (1) and/or acoustically perceptible sounds can be output in the interior (2) of the motor vehicle (1); and/or - a steering handle arranged in the interior (2) of the motor vehicle (1) for steering the motor vehicle (1); and/or - shock absorbers and/or springs of a chassis of the motor vehicle (1), wherein by setting the one operating state a hardness of the respective shock absorber and/or the respective spring is changed; and/or - an accelerator pedal of the motor vehicle (1), wherein a drive torque for driving the motor vehicle (1) can be adjusted by means of the accelerator pedal.

Images