DE102017001207A1 - Method for automatically controlling a windshield wiper of a vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the automatic control of a windshield wiper (3) of a vehicle (1). According to the invention, a wiper speed is increased and / or an interval time of the windshield wiper (3) is reduced when the windshield wiper (3) and a detected danger spot (G) are activated.

Description

The invention relates to a method for automatic control of a windshield wiper of a vehicle.

From the DE 10 2014 212 777 A1 For example, an apparatus and method for automatically controlling a windshield wiper of a vehicle are known. In one step of the method, information is received from a rain sensor about a rainfall on a disk by a windshield wiper control unit. In a second step, information of at least one camera-based driver assistance system of the vehicle is received by the windshield wiper control unit. In a further step, the windshield wiper is driven by the windshield wiper control unit based on the information from the rain sensor and based on the information of the camera-based driver assistance system.

The invention has for its object to provide a comparison with the prior art improved method for automatically controlling a windshield wiper of a vehicle.

The object is achieved by the features specified in claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

A method for the automatic control of a windshield wiper of a vehicle provides, according to the invention, that when the windshield wiper and a detected danger spot are activated, a wiper speed is increased and / or an interval time of the windshield wiper is or will be reduced.

Due to the fact that the windshield wiper is automatically controlled in such a way at a detected danger spot, a driver of the vehicle has as far as possible a clear view of the danger spot, possibly crossing pedestrians and / or obstacles. The wiper speed and / or the interval time are automatically controlled so that both hands of the driver can remain on the steering wheel and it is not necessary to search for a pitman arm to control the windshield wiper.

When using the method, a clear view for the driver of the vehicle is substantially ensured, so that the safety for the driver and other occupants of the vehicle and for pedestrians and other road users in the immediate vicinity of the vehicle is increased.

Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing.

It shows:

1 schematically a driving on a pedestrian crossing vehicle.

In the only figure is a vehicle 1 shown, which on a marked by wide lines pedestrian crossing 2 zufährt.

Drives the vehicle 1 in the rain and a windshield wiper 3 of the vehicle 1 is activated, so there is a risk that a windshield 4 of the vehicle 1 in a period between two wiping movements of the windscreen wiper 3 covered by raindrops and thereby a view of a driver of the vehicle 1 on a lane section in front of the vehicle 1 is difficult.

Especially when driving in the direction of a pedestrian crossing 2 or, for example, a crossing area, it is essentially essential to have a clear view to both pedestrians 5 as well as other road users as well as not to endanger themselves.

The vehicle 1 has an image capture unit 6 , z. As a mono or a stereo camera, which while driving the vehicle 1 continuously recorded image signals that are fed to an evaluation and processing unit.

Based on the capture image signals is determined in the evaluation and processing unit that the vehicle 1 according to the present embodiment on the pedestrian crossing 2 zufährt. For example, when the access to the pedestrian crossing is detected 2 an indication to the driver of the vehicle 1 issued, so that this will pay attention to the lane section in front of the vehicle 1 directed, and so the risk of overlooking one on the pedestrian crossing 2 tapered pedestrian 5 at least can be reduced.

The pedestrian crossing 2 , an intersection area and / or a traffic signal to which or the vehicle 1 is thus detected and classified as a danger point G.

In the present embodiment, it is raining, so that the windshield wiper 3 is turned on. A wiper interval, ie a time interval, in other words an interval time of the windscreen wiper 3 , is automatically based on detected and evaluated signals of a rain sensor 7 and / or manually by operating a usually on a steering column switch arranged switching unit of the windscreen wiper 3 specified.

Below the wiper interval, ie the interval time, is the time interval between two wiper movements of the windscreen wiper 3 , starting from a starting position of the windscreen wiper 3 , to understand.

As described above, the vehicle drives 1 on the pedestrian crossing 2 to and the windshield wiper 3 is on.

To essentially a clear view of the driver of the vehicle 1 on the pedestrian crossing 2 to permit, without the driver has to operate the switching unit, it is provided that at a danger point detected on the vehicle side G, especially when detected pedestrian crossing 2 or at a detected crossing area, a wiper speed of the windshield wiper 3 increases and / or an interval time of the windscreen wiper 3 be reduced or will.

Alternatively or in addition to the determination of such a danger point G based on the detected image signals of the image acquisition unit 6 of the vehicle 1 can the danger point G, in particular the pedestrian crossing 2 and / or the crossing area, also in the vehicle 1 existing road maps, for example, based on navigation material of a navigation system, are detected. In addition, it is determined by a global positioning system that the vehicle 1 moved to the respective danger point G.

After the vehicle 1 the danger point G, in the present embodiment, the pedestrian crossing 2 , has happened, depending on a precipitation intensity, the wiper speed is automatically reduced again and / or the interval time of the windshield wiper 3 will be raised again.

Due to the fact that when the windscreen wiper is switched on 3 , in particular due to rain, and a detected danger point G, for example a pedestrian crossing 2 , an intersection area and / or the like, increases the wiper speed and / or the interval time of the windshield wiper 3 can be decreased or pedestrian 5 and / or other road users are better seen by the driver, thereby increasing pedestrian safety 5 , other road users, the driver and / or other occupants of the vehicle 1 elevated.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

vehicle

2

pedestrian crossing

3

windshield wipers

4

Windshield

5

pedestrian

6

Image capture unit

7

rain sensor

G

black spot

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 102014212777 A1 [0002]

Claims (4)

Method for automatically controlling a windshield wiper ( 3 ) of a vehicle ( 1 ), characterized in that when the windscreen wiper ( 3 ) and a detected danger point (G) increases a wiper speed and / or an interval time of the windscreen wiper ( 3 ) is reduced. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the danger point (G) by means of at least one image capture unit ( 6 ) of the vehicle ( 1 ) detected image signals and / or using navigation material of a navigation system of the vehicle ( 1 ) is detected. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that as danger spot (G) a pedestrian crossing ( 2 ) and / or a crossing area are detected. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that after passing through the danger point (G), the wiper speed is reduced and / or the interval time of the windscreen wiper ( 3 ) is or will be increased.

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