Communication device of a motor vehicle

1. A communication device of a motor vehicle, the communication device comprising:

a primary imaging optical system to create an input image from a received scenic image, wherein the scenic image may comprise a light vehicle-to-vehicle communication, a light vehicle-to-infrastructure communication including traffic-relevant information, or a combination thereof, wherein the light vehicle-to-vehicle communication is a signal that is emitted by a lighting device of a vehicle and includes the traffic-relevant information coded in the scenic image, wherein the light vehicle-to-infrastructure communication is a signal that is emitted by infrastructure and includes the traffic-relevant information coded in the scenic image;

a primary optical sensor;

a secondary imaging optical system;

an electronic control unit; and

a digital micromirror device array of mirrors for a reception of the input image and its subsequent transmission via the secondary imaging optical system to the primary optical sensor,

wherein the digital micromirror device array of mirrors is connected to the electronic control unit,

wherein the primary optical sensor is adapted to convert the input image received from the digital micromirror device array of mirrors to an electric signal and to send the electric signal to the electronic control unit,

wherein the electronic control unit is configured to—

(i) process the electric signal to thereby determine positioning of the light vehicle-to-vehicle communication or the light vehicle-to-infrastructure communication in the input image,

(ii) convert positions of pixels corresponding to the light vehicle-to-vehicle communication or the light vehicle-to-infrastructure communication on the primary optical sensor to positions of individual mirrors in the digital micromirror device array of mirrors, and

(iii) send a control signal to the digital micromirror device array of mirrors for the digital micromirror device array of mirrors to change position of the individual mirrors to thereby send a selection image that includes only those parts of the input image where the light vehicle-to-vehicle communication or the light vehicle-to-infrastructure communication were determined, via an optical member to a secondary optical sensor, wherein the secondary optical sensor is configured to convert the selection image to a second electric signal and to send the second electric signal to the electronic control unit for the electronic unit to evaluate the second electrical signal and create decoded information,

wherein the electronic control unit is further connected to electronic equipment of the vehicle for the transfer of decoded information from the primary optical sensor, the secondary optical sensor, or the primary optical sensor and the secondary optical sensor to the electronic equipment of the vehicle.

2. The communication device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the position of the mirrors of the digital micromirror device array of mirrors is controlled by the electronic control unit by the control signal in such a way that after sending the selection image to the secondary optical sensor, the position of the mirrors can be reset for sending of the subsequent input image to the primary optical sensor.

3. The communication device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the light vehicle-to-vehicle communication is emitted by a lighting device of an oncoming vehicle, a vehicle travelling in the same direction, or a standing vehicle.

4. The communication device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the light vehicle-to-infrastructure communication or the light vehicle-to-vehicle communication provides one or more of the following types of traffic-relevant information: information about the duration of individual colors of traffic lights, or information about the traffic situation, including panic braking, traffic density, traffic jams, conditions of surrounding vehicles, obstacles on the way, congestions, accidents, climatic conditions, carriageway conditions, or insufficient distance.

5. The communication device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the motor vehicle comprises a light device to send the light vehicle-to-vehicle communication or the light vehicle-to-infrastructure communication to the owner of infrastructure or other vehicles and the electronic equipment of the motor vehicle is connected to this light device to ensure the possibility of issuing a command for this light device to emit the light vehicle-to-vehicle communication or the light vehicle-to-infrastructure communication based on the decoded information.

6. The communication device in accordance with claim 5 , wherein the light device is part of lighting equipment of the motor vehicle.

7. The communication device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the electronic equipment is an application unit or an on-board unit.

8. The communication device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the primary imaging optical system is an objective lens.

9. The communication device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the primary optical sensor is a charge-coupled device chip.

10. The communication device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the optical member is a focusing optical system.

11. The communication device in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the secondary optical sensor is a phototransistor.