Method for operating a taillight of a motor vehicle, and motor vehicle

US12331903B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AUDI AG · DE

Inventors

• Valentin Schmidt · Leibnizweg, DE
• Daniel Matthew Halbig · Ballston Lake, US
• Ernst REITER · Ingolstadt, DE
• Roman Horst · Ingolstadt, DE
• Viktor Hahn · Ingolstadt, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 17, 2021
• Grant date: Jun 17, 2025
• Expiry date: Jun 17, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60Q2400/20
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A method for operating a taillight of a motor vehicle, wherein the taillight, in particular in addition to a functional light source assigned to at least one further light function, has a taillight source assigned to a taillight function, having a plurality of lighting regions that can be controlled independently with respect to operation and brightness, wherein at least one environment sensor of the motor vehicle records sensor data describing other traffic participants behind within a predefined distance range from the rear of the motor vehicle, wherein if at least one activation criterion evaluating the sensor data and checking for the presence of at least one further traffic participant within a predetermined distance range from the rear of the motor vehicle, a brightness-increasing switching operation, in particular an activation and/or a dimming, of a second lighting region of the taillight source which was previously inactive or is operating with lower brightness than at least one other, first lighting region is carried out in such a way that the emitted total brightness of a portion of the taillight comprising at least the taillight source remains constant.