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DE-102025132093-A1 - Procedures for operating a vehicle and vehicle

DE102025132093A1DE 102025132093 A1DE102025132093 A1DE 102025132093A1DE-102025132093-A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for operating a vehicle (1) which has a battery (2) and a lighting device (5) for indicating a state of charge of the battery (2) to an observer located outside the vehicle (1). A light signal (6) is emitted to indicate the state of charge, depending not only on the state of charge but also on the ambient brightness in the vicinity of the vehicle (1). The invention also relates to a vehicle operated in this manner (1).

Inventors

  • Thomas Hehl
  • Oliver Lütkemeyer
  • Dennis Wanner
  • Hüseyin Semi Cete

Assignees

  • Mercedes-Benz Group AG

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20250812

Claims (10)

  1. Method for operating a vehicle (1) comprising a battery (2) and a charging interface (4) for coupling with an external energy interface for the purpose of transferring electrical energy between the battery (2) and the energy interface, and with a lighting device (5) which emits a light signal (6) which depends on a state of charge of the battery (2) and is visible to an observer located outside the vehicle (1), characterized in that an ambient brightness in the vicinity of the vehicle (1) is determined and the light signal (6) is also emitted depending on the determined ambient brightness.
  2. Procedure according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the lighting device (5) has at least one diode (9) which at least partially generates the light signal (6) as a light-emitting diode (10), and that the ambient brightness is determined by means of the diode (9) as a photodiode (11).
  3. Procedure according to Claim 2 , characterized in that the diode (9) is used as a photodiode (11) when the diode (9) does not generate a light signal (6).
  4. Procedure according to Claim 2 or 3 , characterized in that a photovoltage is determined at the photodiode (11) to determine the ambient brightness.
  5. Procedure according to Claim 4 , characterized in that the photovoltage is determined at a high-impedance connection of the lighting device (5).
  6. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the light signal (6) is emitted in the area of the charging interface (4) or at the charging interface (4).
  7. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that the light intensity of the light signal (6) is reduced with decreasing ambient brightness and/or increased with increasing ambient brightness.
  8. Vehicle (1), - with a battery (2), in particular a traction battery (3), - with a charging interface (4) for connecting to an external energy interface for the purpose of transferring electrical energy between the battery (2) and the energy interface, - with a lighting device (5) which, when in operation, emits a light signal (6) such that the light signal (6) is visible to an observer located outside the vehicle (1), - with a control device (13) which is connected to the lighting device (5) and is configured such that it operates the vehicle (1) according to the method of one of the preceding claims.
  9. Vehicle after Claim 8 , characterized in that the lighting device (5) is arranged in the area of or at the charging interface (4) so that the light signal is output in the area of or at the charging interface (4).
  10. Vehicle after Claim 8 or 9 , characterized in that the lighting device (5) has a diode (9) which is controlled by the control device (13) according to one of the Claims 2 until 6 is operated, - that a light guide (15) and/or a diffuser (16) is arranged between the diode (9) and the environment of the vehicle (1).

Description

The present invention relates to a method for operating a vehicle comprising a battery and a charging interface for transferring electrical energy via the battery, as well as a lighting device that outputs a light signal dependent on the battery's state of charge. The invention also relates to a vehicle operated in this manner. An increasing number of vehicles have a battery that can be charged via a charging interface. From the DE 10 2018 209 168 A1 It is known to use a lighting device in such a vehicle to indicate the state of charge to an observer located outside the vehicle by means of a light signal. The present invention addresses the problem of providing improved or at least alternative embodiments for a method for operating a vehicle of the aforementioned type and for such a vehicle. This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims. The present invention is therefore based on the fundamental idea of emitting a light signal to externally indicate the state of charge of a vehicle's battery, depending on the ambient light level. Thus, the light signal is always clearly visible and recognizable to an observer, even under changing ambient light conditions. In addition to increased comfort, this leads to reduced energy consumption, because the light signal can be generated with lower light intensity in darker environments. According to the invention, the vehicle has a battery and a charging interface. The charging interface serves to connect to an external energy interface for the purpose of transferring electrical energy between the battery and the energy interface. The vehicle also has a lighting device for generating and outputting a light signal. This light signal is visible to an observer outside the vehicle and is generated and output depending on the battery's state of charge. According to the invention, the ambient brightness in the vicinity of the vehicle is measured, and the light signal is output depending on this measured ambient brightness. Preferably, the generation and output of the light signal, which depends on the ambient brightness, is such that the light intensity, and in particular the brightness, of the light signal is increased with increasing ambient brightness and/or reduced with decreasing ambient brightness. The battery should preferably be a rechargeable battery or accumulator. The battery is preferably a traction battery for the vehicle. In addition to indicating the charging status, the light signal can also serve the purpose of simplifying the user's search for the charging interface. The charging interface can be designed as a socket on the vehicle for connecting a plug of a charging cable as an energy interface. Similarly, the charging interface can be designed for wireless coupling with the power interface. Particularly preferred are embodiments in which the lighting device includes at least one diode that is used both to generate the light signal and to determine the ambient brightness. The diode is thus used and operated as both a light-emitting diode (LED) and a photodiode. This means that the lighting device includes at least one diode that generates the light signal at least partially as an LED and by means of which the ambient brightness is determined as a photodiode. This results in a considerable simplification of the design and operation of the vehicle. In particular, this makes it possible to dispense with central vehicle controls for operating the lighting device and determining the ambient brightness. The latter is especially advantageous because the vehicle is usually in a standby state, i.e., switched off and turned off, during energy transfer via the charging interface. Preferably, the diode is used as a photodiode when it is not generating a light signal. This means that the ambient brightness is determined using the diode while the LED is off. Therefore, distortions in the ambient brightness measurement caused by the diode operating as a light-emitting diode are avoided. This avoids or at least reduces the risk of contamination. Furthermore, this method optimizes the efficiency of the diode's operation as a light-emitting diode. The ambient brightness is preferably determined using the diode or photodiode by measuring a photovoltage across the diode. In preferred embodiments, the photovoltage is determined at a high-impedance connection, particularly of the lighting device. This results in a reduced load on the diode, which allows the use of more cost-effective diodes and/or leads to an increased diode lifespan. In principle, the diode can be located directly on the outer shell of the vehicle. It is also conceivable that a light guide and/or a diffuser is arranged between the diode and the vehicle's surroundings. Preferably, the light signal is emitted in the vicinity of the charging interface. This means that the light signal is prefe