Device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle

1. A device for improving the visibility conditions in a motor vehicle, comprising:

a radiation source for infrared radiation for irradiating the surroundings of the vehicle,

an infrared-sensitive camera for collecting radiation reflected from at least part of the irradiated surroundings and converting the radiation into image data,

a display unit for displaying the image data, and

a control unit for controlling the device,

wherein the control unit has a switch for switching off the display after a predefined time period t has expired.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the switch, in addition to the display, switches off the camera and/or the radiation source after a predefined time period t k .

3. The device according to claim 1 , further comprising an additional switch for switching on the display after switching off occurs.

4. The device according to claim 3 , wherein the additional switch is implemented in a region of the steering wheel, in particular by a headlamp flasher or a steering wheel rocker.

5. The device for according to claim 1 , wherein the display is switched off suddenly.

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the switching off of the display is gradual.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured in such a way that before the switching off takes place the control unit causes the switching off to be signaled.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein a residual running time is displayed for the purpose of signaling.

9. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the time period t lies in the minute range, in particular in the range of half a minute.

10. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the time period t is adjustable.

11. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is embodied in such a way that switching off occurs when a vehicle velocity v above a predefined maximum velocity v max is exceeded.