Method and control unit

1 . A method for ascertaining which one of at least two traffic light systems located in an area in front of a motor vehicle has to be observed by the motor vehicle, the method comprising:

evaluating, using data from an optical sensor of the motor vehicle, the driving behavior of a vehicle traveling in front as a function of a current light status of each of the traffic light systems; and

ascertaining which one of the traffic light systems located in the area in front of the motor vehicle has to be observed by the motor vehicle, based on the evaluation, wherein the ascertaining includes allocating a trust value to at least one of the traffic light systems as a function of the light status of the traffic light system and the driving behavior of the vehicle traveling in front, and selecting the traffic light system for which the trust value exceeds a predefined threshold,

wherein the ascertaining of the traffic light systems to be observed is further based on a position of each traffic light system relative to lane boundaries of a traffic lane in which the motor vehicle is traveling, and relative positions of the traffic light systems with respect to one another.

2 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

allocating the trust value to each of at least one of the traffic light systems as a function of the light status of the traffic light system and the driving behavior of the vehicle driving in front; and

deriving from the at least one trust value which one of the traffic light systems is to be observed.

3 . The method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

allocating the trust value to each traffic light system of the traffic light systems, as a function of the light status of the traffic light system and the driving behavior of the vehicle driving in front; and

deriving from the at least one trust value which one of the traffic light systems is to be observed.

4 . A method for ascertaining which one of at least two traffic light systems located in an area in front of a motor vehicle has to be observed by the motor vehicle, the method comprising:

evaluating the driving behavior of a vehicle traveling in front as a function of a current light status of each of the traffic light systems;

ascertaining which one of the traffic light systems located in the area in front of the motor vehicle has to be observed by the motor vehicle, based on the evaluation; and

a) selecting one of the at least two traffic light systems as a function of at least one predefined parameter, and specifying a trust value for the selected traffic light system;

b) monitoring the driving behavior of a vehicle traveling directly in front as a function of a display status of the selected traffic light system;

c) evaluating whether the trust value is to be increased or reduced as a function of the monitoring according to measure b), and when the evaluation shows that the trust value is to be reduced, then the measures a) through c) of the method are carried out anew in the selection of another traffic light system until a traffic light system is selected for which the evaluation according to the measure c) shows that the trust value is to be increased, or until the measures a) through c) are carried out for all traffic light systems without a traffic light system having been able to be identified for which the trust value is to be increased;

d) when a traffic light system for which the trust value is to be increased is able to be ascertained in measure c): comparing the increased trust value with a predefined threshold value and outputting the current display status of the traffic light system when the trust value is greater than the threshold value.

5 . The method as recited in claim 4 , wherein the measure b) is carried out only when a distance between the motor vehicle and the traffic light system does not exceed a predefined maximum value.

6 . The method as recited in claim 4 , wherein during a first cycle of the method after carrying out the measure c), a direct transition to the measure d) takes place when the evaluation of the measure c) shows during the first cycle that the trust value is to be increased.

7 . The method as recited in claim 4 , wherein a transition to the measure d) takes place for the traffic light system selected during the first cycle when the evaluation of the traffic light system according to the measure c) shows that the trust value is to be reduced and no further traffic light system for which the trust value is to be increased is ascertainable in the measure d).

8 . The method as recited in claim 4 , wherein:

it is evaluated in the measure c) that the trust value is to be increased when a red display status of the traffic light system was detected and a deceleration above a predefined threshold value of the vehicle traveling in front was detected; and

it is evaluated in the measure c) that the trust value is to be increased when a green display status of the traffic light system was detected and no significant change in the speed of the vehicle traveling in front or a speed above a predefined threshold value of the vehicle traveling in front was detected.

9 . The method as recited in claim 4 , wherein

it is evaluated in the measure c) that the trust value is to be reduced when a green display status of the traffic light system was detected and a deceleration above a predefined threshold value of the vehicle driving in front was detected; and

it is evaluated in the measure c) that the trust value is to be reduced when a red display status of the traffic light system was detected and no significant change in the speed of the vehicle traveling in front or a speed above a predefined threshold value of the vehicle traveling in front was detected.

10 . A control unit for a motor vehicle, the control unit being configured to ascertain which one of at least two traffic light systems located in an area in front of a motor vehicle has to be observed by the motor vehicle, the control unit configured to:

evaluate, using data from an optical sensor of the motor vehicle, the driving behavior of a vehicle traveling in front as a function of a current light status of each of the traffic light systems; and

ascertain which one of the traffic light systems located in the area in front of the motor vehicle has to be observed by the motor vehicle, based on the evaluation, wherein the ascertaining includes allocating a trust value to at least one of the traffic light systems as a function of the light status of the traffic light system and the driving behavior of the vehicle traveling in front, and selecting the traffic light system for which the trust value exceeds a predefined threshold,

wherein the ascertaining of the traffic light systems to be observed is further based on a position of each traffic light system relative to lane boundaries of a traffic lane in which the motor vehicle is traveling, and relative positions of the traffic light systems with respect to one another.

11 . A motor vehicle, comprising:

an optical sensor configured to monitor an area in front of the motor vehicle; and

a control unit connected in a data-transmitting manner to the optical sensor so that sensor data pertaining to the area in front are able to be transmitted to the control unit, the control unit being configured to ascertain which one of at least two traffic light systems located in an area in front of a motor vehicle has to be observed by the motor vehicle, the control unit configured to:

evaluate the driving behavior of a vehicle traveling in front as a function of a current light status of each of the traffic light systems; and

ascertain which one of the traffic light systems located in the area in front of the motor vehicle has to be observed by the motor vehicle, based on the evaluation, wherein the ascertaining includes allocating a trust value to at least one of the traffic light systems as a function of the light status of the traffic light system and the driving behavior of the vehicle traveling in front, and selecting the traffic light system for which the trust value exceeds a predefined threshold,

wherein the ascertaining of the traffic light systems to be observed is further based on a position of each traffic light system relative to lane boundaries of a traffic lane in which the motor vehicle is traveling, and relative positions of the traffic light systems with respect to one another.