Device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle
View Patent ↗The invention relates to a device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle, having a radiation source for infrared radiation for irradiating the surroundings of the vehicle, having an infrared-sensitive camera for taking images of at least part of the irradiated surroundings, having a display unit for displaying collected image data, and having a control unit for controlling the device. Furthermore, a sensing unit for a recommended maximum velocity v max is provided and is connected to the control unit. A velocity sensor which is connected to the control unit is provided in such a way that the control unit causes the display to be switched off when the vehicle velocity v exceeds the maximum velocity v max . The display is preferably switched on when the vehicle velocity v drops below the maximum velocity v max .
1. A device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle, having
a radiation source for infrared radiation for irradiating the surroundings of the vehicle,
an infrared-sensitive camera for taking images of at least part of the irradiated surroundings,
a display unit for displaying collected image data, and
a control unit for controlling the device,
wherein a sensing unit for a recommended maximum velocity v max is provided and is connected to the control unit, in that a velocity sensor is provided connected to the control unit, and
wherein the control unit is designed in such a way that when a vehicle velocity v exceeds the maximum velocity v max the display is switched off.
2. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control unit is designed in such a way that when a vehicle velocity v drops below the maximum velocity v max the display is switched on.
3. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 2 , wherein in that a signal transmitter is provided which is connected to the control unit and which is actuated in such a way that when the vehicle velocity v exceeds the maximum velocity v max a visual, audible and/or haptic warning signal is output.
4. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control unit is designed in such a way that when a vehicle velocity v drops below the maximum velocity v max by a velocity difference v 0 the display is switched on.
5. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the velocity difference v 0 is selected in the vicinity of a few per cent of the maximum velocity v max , in particular in the range of 5%.
6. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensing unit is designed for a recommended maximum velocity v max in such a way that the recommended maximum velocity v max is determined from the road profile or from the driving behavior of the vehicle or from received radio signals.
7. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control unit is designed in such a way that the maximum velocity v max can be output on the display.
8. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control unit is embodied in such a way that the display can be switched off delayed by a time code t 0 .
9. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein, in addition to an on/off switch for the device, an additional switch for switching on the display after switching off is provided.
10. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the additional switch is implemented in the vicinity of the steering wheel, in particular by means of a headlamp flasher switch or a rocker on the steering wheel.
11. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the display is switched off suddenly.
12. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the display is switched off in a gradual fashion.
13. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control device is connected to the radiation source for infrared radiation and is suitable for controlling this radiation in terms of the radiation power or the orientation as a function of the vehicle velocity v.
14. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control device is designed in such a way that the display is switched off when the vehicle velocity v exceeds a second defined maximum velocity v smax , and the display is switched on in particular when the vehicle velocity v drops below the second predefined maximum velocity v smax .
15. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein in that the control device is embodied in such a way that, in addition to the display, the camera and/or the radiation source can also be switched off and on as a function of the velocity.
16. The device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control unit is designed in such a way that signaling takes place before the display is switched off owing to the maximum speed v max being exceeded.