DE102010032858A1 - Method for automatic actuation of windscreen wiper of e.g. passenger car, involves controlling wiper depending on amount of moisture on brightness and depending on whether forthcoming vehicle is present in area before vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves automatically detecting amount of moisture on a windscreen (3) of a vehicle (1) e.g. lorry. Environment brightness in environment of the vehicle is automatically detected. Image information is automatically detected from area in a driving direction before the vehicle. A windscreen wiper (8) of the vehicle is automatically controlled depending on the detected amount of moisture on the windscreen on the environment brightness and depending on whether a forthcoming vehicle is present in the area in the driving direction before the vehicle. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a windscreen wiper controller for a vehicle (2) a vehicle including a rain sensor.

Description

The present invention relates to a method for automatically actuating a windshield wiper of a vehicle and a corresponding windshield wiper control.

In modern vehicles, such as cars or trucks, there is a rain sensor and a controller coupled thereto, which detects a moisture amount or a drop amount on a windshield of the vehicle and with the help of this information allows automatic control of the windshield wiper of the vehicle. In this way, the windshield of the vehicle is reliably kept free of moisture and raindrops to allow the driver of the vehicle an unobstructed view without the driver being distracted by operating the windshield wiper.

In this context, the DE 10 2004 061 831 A1 a method and apparatus for the combined evaluation of the signals of a rain sensor and a camera ready. In the method, an additional signal for an expected water surge on the windshield is switched to a windshield wiper control with a positive rain signal and detecting a vehicle in front and / or oncoming.

The DE 197 56 504 A1 provides a control device for a windshield wiper device which can be activated by means of a manually operable wiper switch and a drive motor of the wiper device in a switching stage of the wiper switch according to a characteristic dependent on a signal of a rain sensor automatically controls, the operating data for the drive motor depends on the vehicle externally acting illumination and / or temperature and / or driving speed influences are changeable.

The DE 42 00 700 A1 provides a device for automatically driving a wiper motor of a wiper system for motor vehicles. The device includes a rain sensor whose output is fed to an amplifier which is connectable to an interval control circuit for the wiper motor. The amplifier is provided with an external circuitry for automatically varying its gain factor, and the external circuitry is influenced in dependence on the ambient brightness such that the amplification factor is increased with increasing darkness. Preferably, the amplification factor is variable as a function of brightness fluctuations by oncoming vehicles detecting the glare sensor.

The DE 103 16 794 A1 relates to a rain sensor for a motor vehicle with a camera and an associated image processing unit. The camera is directed to a vehicle-mounted object in front of the windshield and the image processing unit is configured to compare the image taken by the camera with a stored image of the object when the windshield is dry and to detect moisture on the windshield based on detected deviations between the images. The camera and the image processing unit may be part of a driver assistance system.

The DE 10 2006 016 774 A1 discloses a rain sensor disposed in a vehicle and including a camera and a processor. The camera takes an image of a scene outside the vehicle with an infinite focal length through a windshield of the vehicle. The processor detects rain based on a degree of scattering of intensities of pixels in the image versus an average intensity of pixels.

At night, the driver's dazzle sensitivity increases significantly, especially in oncoming traffic and rain on the windshield. For this reason, as is apparent from the above-cited prior art, the sensitivity of the rain sensor is raised in the dark. However, this general increase in sensitivity leads in driving situations without oncoming traffic to the fact that the rain sensor triggers implausible wipers from the driver's point of view.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an improved method for the automatic actuation of a windshield wiper, which avoids implausible wiper cycles and can nevertheless be realized inexpensively.

This object is achieved according to the present invention by a method for automatically actuating a windshield wiper of a vehicle according to claim 1, a windshield wiper control according to claim 10 and a vehicle according to claim 12. The dependent claims define preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention.

In accordance with the present invention, a method of automatically actuating a windshield wiper for a vehicle is provided. In the method, a moisture amount is automatically detected on a windshield of the vehicle. The amount of moisture may, for example, be a drop of raindrops in one include certain area of the windshield. Furthermore, an ambient brightness in the surroundings of the vehicle, that is, for example, outside the vehicle, automatically detected. In an area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle, image information is automatically detected and automatically determined from the image information whether there is an oncoming vehicle in the area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle. Depending on the detected amount of moisture on the windshield, the ambient brightness and whether there is an oncoming vehicle in the area in front of the vehicle in the direction of travel, then the windshield wiper of the vehicle is automatically controlled. The detection of the amount of moisture on the windshield of the vehicle may be performed by means known in the art. The automatic detection of the image information of the area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle and the automatic determination of whether there is a countervailing vehicle in the area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle can be carried out, for example, with the aid of a camera-based light assistance system of the vehicle. As a result, a cost-effective implementation of the method for automatically actuating the windshield wiper is possible. The light assistance system can, for example, automatically control a high beam of the vehicle as a function of whether an oncoming vehicle has been determined in the area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle. The method described can be used in particular for driving a windshield wiper for wiping a windshield of the vehicle. In addition, a control of example headlight wipers is possible.

According to one embodiment, an automatic wiping cycle of the windshield wiper is performed during automatic driving of the windscreen wiper. As a result, glare of the driver can be reliably prevented by raindrops on the disc in sudden oncoming traffic by the wheel is wiped immediately.

According to a further embodiment, the automatic activation of the windscreen wiper comprises setting a wiping interval between two wiping operations. For example, if no oncoming vehicle was detected, a wiping interval could be used, which would typically be used during the day. If, however, an oncoming vehicle detected, the wiping interval can be shortened to avoid dazzling the driver by droplets on the disc.

According to a further embodiment, the automatic activation of the windscreen wiper comprises adjusting a wiping speed of a wiping operation of the windscreen wiper. In this way, in heavy rain, the wiper speed can be increased as soon as an oncoming vehicle is detected in the dark, to avoid dazzling the driver.

According to one embodiment, a day mode or a night mode is selectively selected depending on the detected ambient brightness, and the windshield wiper is automatically controlled depending on the selected mode. Thereby, a simple and reliable control of the windshield wiper can be achieved. If a certain ambient brightness is undershot, d. That is, when a night mode is selected, based on the information as to whether a vehicle is coming from the front, it is judged how the amount of moisture detected by a rain sensor on the windshield is used to control the windshield wiper. As long as no vehicle is detected from the front, the wiper control in night mode may substantially correspond to the control in day mode. If a vehicle is detected from the front, the wiping frequency or the wiping speed can be increased and a wiping cycle can also be performed immediately depending on the amount of moisture or drop quantity already on the disk.

According to the present invention, there is further provided a wiper control for a vehicle. The wiper control comprises a first detection terminal for coupling the wiper control with a rain sensor for detecting a moisture amount on a windshield of the vehicle and a second detection terminal for coupling the wiper control with a brightness sensor for detecting an ambient brightness in the vicinity of the vehicle. The wiper control further includes a third detection port for coupling the wiper control to an image acquisition and processing unit. The image acquisition and processing unit is configured to detect image information from an area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle and to determine whether there is an oncoming vehicle in the area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle. Via a windshield wiper control terminal of the windscreen wiper control, the windscreen wiper control is coupled to a windshield wiper of the vehicle, for example, to set a wiping frequency and a wiper speed of the windshield wiper. A processing unit of the windscreen wiper control is configured, depending on the detected amount of moisture on the windshield, the detected ambient brightness and whether in the area in the direction of travel before Vehicle is an oncoming vehicle to control the wiper.

The windscreen wiper control is therefore designed such that it is suitable for carrying out the previously described method for automatically actuating the windscreen wiper. Therefore, the windscreen wiper control provides a reliable control, in particular for a windshield wiper of a windshield of the vehicle, which provides an optimal wiping frequency and wiping speed, in particular in the dark, rain and oncoming traffic.

According to the present invention, there is further provided a vehicle having a rain sensor, a brightness sensor, an image capture and processing device, a windshield wiper, and a wiper control. The rain sensor is for detecting a moisture amount on a windshield of the vehicle, and the brightness sensor is configured to detect an ambient brightness in the vicinity of the vehicle. The image acquisition and processing device is used for detecting image information in an area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle and determines whether there is an oncoming vehicle in the area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle. The wiper control is coupled to the rain sensor, the brightness sensor, the image capture and processing device, and the windshield wiper. Depending on the detected amount of moisture on the windshield, the detected ambient brightness and whether there is an oncoming vehicle in the area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle, the windshield wiper control controls the windshield wiper.

The vehicle may further include a high beam for illuminating an area in front of the vehicle and a high beam controller. The high beam controller is coupled to the high beam and the image capture and processing device and configured to control the high beam of the vehicle depending on whether there is an oncoming vehicle in the area in front of the vehicle in the direction of travel. In addition, the high beam controller may use further information from the image information in the area in front of the vehicle to drive the high beam, such as whether there is a preceding vehicle in the area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle. By using the image acquisition and processing device for both the high beam control and the wiper control, a cost effective implementation of the wiper control can be achieved. Moreover, the image acquisition and processing device provides particularly reliable information as to whether an oncoming vehicle is in the forward direction in front of the vehicle, so that a reliable and accurate windscreen wiper control for the vehicle can be achieved.

The present invention will be explained below with reference to the drawings based on preferred embodiments.

The sole FIGURE shows a vehicle with a windshield wiper control according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The only figure shows a vehicle 1 with a windshield 3 and a headlight with a high beam 10 , To wipe the windshield 3 is on the windshield 3 a windshield wiper 8th , The windshield wiper 8th is powered by a windscreen wiper motor 7 driven. A brightness sensor 4 is for example in the field of windshield 3 arranged such that it has an ambient brightness of an environment of the vehicle 1 detected. A rain sensor 2 is in a wiping area of the windshield wiper 8th on the windshield 3 attached to a quantity of moisture or a drop in the wiping area on the windshield 3 capture. The vehicle 1 further comprises an image capture device 5 , such as a camera, which is arranged so that it can detect an area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle. The camera 5 For example, as shown in the figure, it may be located in the vicinity of a front bumper of the vehicle or, for example, adjacent to or integrated with the rain sensor 2 in the mop area of the windshield 3 be arranged. The camera 5 is an image processing device 6 associated with that of the camera 5 captured image and analyzed, for example, to provide a signal indicating whether there is an oncoming vehicle or not in the area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle. The vehicle 1 further comprises a windshield wiper control 9 which have multiple connections 12 - 14 for collecting information for the wiper control 9 having. A first detection terminal 12 is with the rain sensor 2 coupled to detect information about a moisture amount or drop amount on the windshield. A second detection terminal 13 is with the brightness sensor 4 coupled to detect the ambient brightness. A third detection connection 14 is for example via a vehicle bus with the image processing device 6 coupled to capture information as to whether a vehicle is coming from the front. The over the detection terminals 12 - 14 Information collected is a processing unit 16 the windscreen wiper control 9 fed and the processing unit 16 controls in response to the detected information via a windshield wiper control port 15 the windscreen wiper motor 7 as will be described in more detail below.

On the basis of the brightness sensor 4 certain ambient brightness, a day mode or a night mode is selected. In day mode, the wiper motor becomes 7 essentially regardless of whether a vehicle was detected from the front, depending on the rain sensor 2 controlled amount of droplets. For example, as the amount of drops on the windshield increases, a wiping interval between two wiping cycles of the windshield wiper begins 8th reduced to give the driver an unobstructed view through the windshield 3 to ensure. If it is no longer possible to reduce the distance between two wiping cycles, the wiping speed with which a wiping cycle is carried out can be increased. Will lower amount of moisture or drop on the windshield 3 has been determined, the wiping speed can be reduced again or the distance between two wiping operations can be increased.

On the other hand, due to the information from the brightness sensor 4 a night mode is selected, for example, because a predetermined brightness threshold was exceeded, the control of the windscreen wiper motor 7 additionally depending on the information from the image processing device 6 whether a vehicle was detected from the front, set. If a vehicle is detected from the front, the rain sensor sensitivity is increased, ie, the wiping interval between two wipes is reduced more than in the day mode or the wiper speed is increased rather than in the day mode. In addition, a wiping cycle can be performed immediately if there is already a significant amount of moisture on the disc and a vehicle is detected from the front. As a result, in a suddenly occurring from the front of the vehicle, for example, after a curve or einbiegendes vehicle, a wiping cycle is performed immediately to avoid glare of the driver by a scattering of the backlight located on the windshield drops.

The vehicle 1 further includes a high beam control 11 , which with the image processing device 6 and the high beam 10 is coupled, the high beam control 11 controls the high beam 10 depending on information of the image processing device 6 at. The information of the image processing device 6 indicates, for example, whether there is a preceding vehicle in front of the vehicle or whether there is an oncoming vehicle in front of the vehicle. If a preceding or oncoming vehicle is detected, the high beam becomes 10 switched off to avoid dazzling the driver of the preceding or oncoming vehicle. By the image capture device 6 both for the high beam control 11 as well as for the windscreen wiper control 9 is used, a cost-effective implementation of the particular wiper control is possible.

The common use of the image capture device 5 and the image processing apparatus 6 for the windscreen wiper control 9 and the high beam control 11 is only a non-limiting example. The windscreen wiper control 9 can also be used, for example, with an image capture device 5 and an image processing device 6 another assistance system of the vehicle, such as a lane departure warning or a distance-maintaining assistants used to ensure a cost-effective implementation of the windshield wiper control. In addition, the wiper control can also have its own image capture device 5 and an image processing device 6 exhibit. When sharing the image capture device 5 and the image processing apparatus 6 through the windscreen wiper control 9 and another assistance system of the vehicle, such as a high beam assistant or a lane departure warning assistant, may be signal converting the information from the image processing device 6 be required to the captured image information in a suitable manner of the wiper control 9 provide. This signal conversion can, for example, in the image processing device 6 be integrated. Alternatively, from the image capture device 5 and the image processing apparatus 6 also a raw data information to the wiper control 9 be forwarded, which evaluates the image data to determine whether there is an oncoming vehicle in the area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle. An information transfer between the image processing device 6 , the high beam control 11 , other (not shown) assistance systems of the vehicle and / or the wiper control 9 For example, it may be transmitted via a bus system of the vehicle directly or via a central control system (not shown) of the vehicle.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

vehicle

2

rain sensor

3

Windshield

4

brightness sensor

5

Image capture device, camera

6

Image processing device, signal converter

7

wiper motor

8th

windshield wipers

9

Windshield wiper control

10

high beam

11

Remote lighting control

12

first detection terminal

13

second detection terminal

14

third detection terminal

15

Wiper control terminal

16

processing unit

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• DE 102004061831 A1 [0003]
• DE 19756504 A1 [0004]
• DE 4200700 A1 [0005]
• DE 10316794 A1 [0006]
• DE 102006016774 A1 [0007]

Claims (13)

Method for automatically actuating a windshield wiper ( 7 . 8th ) of a vehicle ( 1 ), comprising: automatically detecting a quantity of moisture on a windshield ( 3 ) of the vehicle ( 1 ), - automatically detecting an ambient brightness in the surroundings of the vehicle ( 1 ), - automatically capturing image information from an area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle ( 1 ), - automatically determining from the image information, whether in the area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle ( 1 ) an oncoming vehicle is located, and - automatic activation of the windscreen wiper ( 7 . 8th ) of the vehicle ( 1 ) depending on the detected amount of moisture on the windshield ( 3 ), the ambient brightness and whether in the area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle ( 1 ) is an oncoming vehicle. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method further comprises an automatic driving a high beam ( 10 ) of the vehicle ( 1 ) depending on whether in the area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle ( 1 ) an oncoming vehicle has been determined comprises. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the windshield wiper ( 7 . 8th ) a windscreen wiper ( 8th ) for wiping a windshield ( 3 ) of the vehicle ( 1 ). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the automatic activation of the windshield wiper ( 7 . 8th ) carrying out an instant wiping cycle of the windscreen wiper ( 7 . 8th ). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the automatic activation of the windshield wiper ( 7 . 8th ) adjusting a wiping interval between two wiping operations of the windscreen wiper ( 7 . 8th ). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the automatic activation of the windshield wiper ( 7 . 8th ) adjusting a wiping speed of a wiping operation of the windscreen wiper ( 7 . 8th ). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that optionally a day mode or a night mode is selected depending on the detected ambient brightness, wherein the windshield wiper ( 7 . 8th ) is automatically controlled depending on the selected mode. A method according to claim 7, characterized in that when the night mode has been selected and in the area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle ( 1 ) an oncoming vehicle has been determined, an immediate wipe cycle is performed, a wiping interval between two wiping operations is reduced, and / or a wiping speed is increased. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, when in the area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle ( 1 ) no oncoming vehicle has been determined, the windscreen wiper ( 7 . 8th ) is automatically controlled only in response to the detected amount of moisture on the windshield. A windscreen wiper control for a vehicle, comprising: - a first detection port ( 12 ) for coupling the windscreen wiper control ( 9 ) with a rain sensor ( 2 ) for detecting a quantity of moisture on a windshield ( 3 ) of the vehicle ( 1 ), - a second detection terminal ( 13 ) for coupling the windscreen wiper control ( 9 ) with a brightness sensor ( 4 ) for detecting an ambient brightness in the vicinity of the vehicle ( 1 ), - a third detection terminal ( 14 ) for coupling the windscreen wiper control ( 9 ) with an image acquisition and processing device ( 5 . 6 ) for acquiring image information from an area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle ( 1 ) and for determining whether in the area in front of the vehicle in the direction of travel ( 1 ) an oncoming vehicle is located, - a windscreen wiper control connection ( 15 ) for coupling the windscreen wiper control ( 9 ) with a windshield wiper ( 7 . 8th ) of the vehicle ( 1 ) for driving the windscreen wiper ( 7 . 8th ), and - a processing unit ( 16 ), which is designed, depending on the detected amount of moisture on the windshield ( 3 ), the detected ambient brightness and whether in the area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle ( 1 ) is an oncoming vehicle, the windshield wiper ( 7 . 8th ) head for. Windscreen wiper control according to claim 10, characterized in that the windscreen wiper control ( 9 ) is configured for carrying out the method according to any one of claims 1-9. A vehicle comprising: - a rain sensor ( 2 ) for detecting a quantity of moisture on a windshield ( 3 ) of the vehicle ( 1 ) A brightness sensor ( 4 ) for detecting an ambient brightness in the vicinity of the vehicle ( 1 ), - an image capture and processing device ( 5 . 6 ) for acquiring image information from an area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle ( 1 ) and for determining whether in the area in front of the vehicle in the direction of travel ( 1 ) is an oncoming vehicle, - a windshield wiper ( 7 . 8th ), and - a windscreen wiper control ( 9 ) according to claim 10 or 11, which with the rain sensor ( 2 ), the brightness sensor ( 4 ), the image acquisition and processing device ( 5 . 6 ) and the windscreen wiper ( 7 ) is coupled. Vehicle according to claim 12, further comprising: - a high beam ( 10 ) for illuminating an area in front of the vehicle ( 1 ), and - a high beam control ( 11 ), which with the high beam ( 10 ) and the image acquisition and processing device ( 5 . 6 ) and is configured, the high beam ( 10 ) of the vehicle ( 1 ) depending on whether in the area in the direction of travel in front of the vehicle ( 1 ) an oncoming vehicle is to drive.

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