DE102021106274A1 - PROCEDURE FOR OPERATING A VEHICLE VENTILATION - Google Patents

Abstract

Examples relate to a method (10) for operating a vehicle ventilation system of a vehicle (20). The method (10) includes predicting (11) restricted air quality in an area outside the vehicle and taking (12) at least one measure that prevents outside air from entering the vehicle interior. For example, the method can enable recirculated air to be activated automatically in order to prevent unpleasant odors from entering the vehicle.

Description

technical field

Embodiments relate to a method for operating a vehicle ventilation system of a vehicle. Further exemplary embodiments relate to a control device for a vehicle which is designed to carry out ventilation in the vehicle in accordance with a proposed method.

background

Ventilation systems are used in modern motor vehicles in order to be able to supply the vehicle interior with fresh air, e.g. when the vehicle windows are closed. However, it is possible that the ventilation system also introduces unpleasant odors from the outside environment into the vehicle interior, e.g. if the vehicle is driving through smoke, another vehicle with heavy soot is driving in front of the vehicle itself or if the ambient air is characterized by strong odours, e.g a gas station or a freshly fertilized agricultural field. It can also be undesirable in a tunnel for outside air to penetrate the driver's interior. The outside environment can therefore have a restricted air quality, which can be unpleasant for the user of the vehicle due to admission into the vehicle interior.

In order to stop the inflow of air that smells unpleasant or is also harmful to health, the user of the vehicle can switch the ventilation mode from fresh air supply to recirculated air. However, this requires a manual setting by the user. Also, in the event that air of degraded air quality has already entered the interior of the vehicle, it is no longer possible to replace it with fresh air as long as the air outside is of degraded air quality.

Methods are also known to enable automatic adjustment of the ventilation system. Revealed like this DE 10 2020 004 785 A1 a method for reducing the risk of infection with respiratory active bacteria or viruses in an interior of a motor vehicle. It is provided that a mixing ratio between the circulating air and the fresh air can be automatically shifted to more fresh air. The mixing ratio in a protection mode is set depending on the desired degree of reduction in the risk of infection. Although the method can improve the air quality inside the vehicle in terms of reducing contamination with viruses, the automatic adjustment to a higher proportion of fresh air can still cause unpleasant odors to get into the vehicle interior from the outside.

In some vehicles, automatic air recirculation modes are also implemented, in which, for example, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and ethanol in the outside air can be detected. If the concentration of pollutants increases, the automatic air conditioning automatically switches to air recirculation mode for a limited time. The air that is already in the car is circulated and cleaned by the automatic air conditioning. Outside air does not come back inside until the system recognizes it as clean. An air quality sensor, which can be attached to the air intake grille, is used to determine polluted air. A disadvantage of this solution is that at least a small amount of polluted air can get into the vehicle interior until the system has recognized the polluted air and switches to recirculated air, which must first be cleaned by the automatic air conditioning until the air quality inside the vehicle is fully restored .

summary

It is an object of the present disclosure to provide improved concepts for the operation of a vehicle ventilation system, which can be used to prevent air with restricted air quality from penetrating the vehicle interior, in particular the passenger compartment, from the outside environment of the vehicle.

This object is solved according to the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Further advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent patent claims, the following description and in connection with the figures.

Accordingly, a method for operating a vehicle ventilation system of a vehicle is proposed. The method includes predicting restricted air quality in an exterior environment of the vehicle and taking at least one measure that prevents outside air from entering the vehicle interior. For example, the measure can be used to completely prevent outside air from penetrating into the vehicle interior, in particular the passenger compartment, or the penetration of outside air can at least be reduced. The action can be taken automatically, for example, as soon as it is predicted or predicted that reduced air quality in the outdoor environment is to be expected (e.g. that reduced air quality is to be expected within a certain period of time; e.g. within a period of time necessary for taking the required action is at least necessary, for example within this minimum necessary period of time, taking into account a safety time interval of eg 50% of the minimum necessary time period and/or at least 5 seconds or 10 seconds).

Restricted air quality can be present, for example, if there is an unpleasant odor (e.g. exhaust fumes, smell of manure, stale / exhaust-polluted air in a tunnel) in the air. Restricted air quality can, for example, be caused by increased exhaust emissions from a vehicle driving ahead (e.g. heavy soot from the exhaust). Restricted air quality can also result from increased particle pollution in the air (e.g. heavy dust pollution; e.g. dust from blown up earth or sand due to drought and wind; e.g. dust from blown up earth or sand due to another vehicle). Air with reduced air quality can be described as bad smelling air or bad air.

An advantage of the proposed method lies in the possibility of predicting air with restricted air quality in the vehicle environment. For example, it may be determined in advance that the vehicle is heading into an area or environment with restricted air quality. Even before this area or environment is actually reached, a measure can be taken and implemented to prevent outside air from entering the vehicle interior (particularly the passenger compartment). Intrusion into the interior of the vehicle outside the passenger compartment may be irrelevant, since, for example, the limited air quality inside the engine compartment is irrelevant for the user of the vehicle. For example, the fresh air supply of a ventilation system in the passenger compartment can be deactivated before the vehicle enters an area with restricted air quality. Thus, the passenger compartment can be kept free from unpleasant odors. With the help of the automatically executable method, the user of the vehicle no longer has to anticipate possible sources of odors manually and switch off the fresh air supply in good time, so that the method can increase user comfort. A cleaning of air with limited quality in the passenger compartment can thus be omitted.

According to the method, the prediction can include observing the vehicle environment, e.g. in the direction of travel and/or around the vehicle, using a vehicle sensor in order to be able to detect an area with restricted air quality (e.g. an area towards which the vehicle is moving). A vehicle sensor can be used to monitor the vehicle environment. For example, an optical or electromagnetic sensor (e.g. camera, lidar or radar) can be used to detect ambient air pollution (e.g. increased amount of particulate matter in the air; e.g. increased smoke development in the ambient air). For example, sensors such as cameras on the side of the vehicle can capture the environment to the side of the vehicle, e.g., perpendicular to the direction of travel. The detection of potential odor sources in the direction of travel can make it possible to predict that the vehicle will enter an area within a certain period of time in which restricted air quality is to be expected.

For example, the vehicle surroundings can be observed using a front camera of the vehicle (e.g. while driving in the direction of travel). This enables an optical evaluation of the environment. In this way, for example, emission sources or areas with a tendency towards poor air quality can be identified. These are e.g. vehicles or machines with heavy (e.g. visible) exhaust emissions (e.g. large commercial vehicles and/or older vehicles without adequate exhaust gas cleaning). These can also be tunnels (e.g. with a predetermined minimum length; e.g. tunnels without an effective ventilation function). For example, predicting may include detecting a preceding vehicle emitting a cloud of soot from the exhaust. A front camera of the vehicle can advantageously be used for this purpose, which can also be used for other functions and/or is already present in the vehicle.

For example, the vehicle surroundings can be observed using a radar sensor and/or using an acoustic sensor. A radar sensor can, for example, analyze a concentration of suspended matter in the ambient air. An acoustic sensor can, for example, detect a characteristic engine noise from engines that usually have high exhaust emissions (e.g. from vintage cars; e.g. from two-stroke engines).

According to one aspect of the method, it is possible for the prediction to be carried out on the basis of a map, in order to determine sections or areas in the predicted route in which restricted air quality is to be expected. For example, tunnels shown on the map can be areas in which the air quality is restricted by default (e.g. insufficient fresh air supply in the tunnel). For example, petrol stations or refineries shown on the map can be areas (e.g. area within a predefined distance from the petrol station or refinery) in which the air quality is restricted by default because increased odor development is to be expected in a predefined environment around them.

As already mentioned in part, a visible exhaust gas emission, amounts of waste in the external environment (eg a garbage truck), a gas station, a refinery and/or a road tunnel to be driven through can be used according to the method as an indication of restricted air quality. In other words, objects or areas that usually cause or have restricted air quality can be used as indicators for predicting the restricted air quality. Such objects can advantageously be detected even before the vehicle is in the immediate vicinity of the objects, so that further air supply from the outside into the vehicle interior can be stopped in good time (e.g. the air supply can be stopped so that no polluted outside air is supplied into the vehicle interior).

According to one aspect of the method, it is provided that the prediction is based on a swarm. For example, a first (e.g., preceding) vehicle that has determined restricted air quality can communicate this result to the vehicle operated according to the method (e.g., via vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication). For example, vehicles can send information about areas with currently restricted air quality to a backend and the vehicle operated according to the method can receive information about areas, areas or locations with restricted air quality from the backend accordingly. For example, an air quality map may be created and/or used to enable prediction of compromised air quality outside of the vehicle.

According to one aspect, it is provided that taking the measure includes switching a ventilation device of the vehicle from fresh air supply to recirculated air. As soon as an odor source or environment with restricted air quality is detected, the ventilation can be automatically switched from fresh air to recirculated air. As a result, the air quality inside the vehicle is maintained and the air with restricted air quality is prevented from entering the vehicle interior.

For example, taking action includes closing an air intake at the front of the vehicle when an odor source is in front of the front of the vehicle, but opening or leaving open an air intake at the rear of the vehicle. In this way, fresh air can continue to be supplied to the interior of the vehicle, for example, if the air quality is restricted on only one side of the vehicle.

For example, taking the action includes closing a window and/or a closable roof of the vehicle (e.g., convertible). For example, no unpleasant odors can penetrate the vehicle interior through the window or roof opening.

For example, the prediction of the restricted air quality can also include a cloud of smoke, cloud of exhaust gases or the like moving towards the vehicle (e.g. stationary vehicle). This has the advantage that even with moving air masses with limited air quality, this air can be prevented from penetrating into the passenger cell. For example, when the vehicle is stationary, the roof and/or the windows can be closed if another vehicle with heavy exhaust emissions is approaching the stationary vehicle and driving past is to be expected.

The method may further include analyzing the air quality of the outside environment, particularly after taking the action that prevents outside air from entering the vehicle interior. It can thus be determined whether the air quality in the vehicle's external environment is still limited, or whether air with unrestricted air quality is again present around the vehicle (e.g. if no emission source or odor source is detected). According to the method, a deactivation of the measure can then be provided accordingly in order to enable a supply of fresh air into the vehicle interior if unrestricted air quality is determined (e.g. setting the supply of fresh air in the ventilation system; e.g. opening the windows to the original state).

One aspect relates to a control unit for a vehicle, the control unit being designed to carry out a method described above or below. Such a control unit has the advantage that it can, for example, enable vehicles to be retrofitted so that they can carry out the proposed method (e.g. if a vehicle is already equipped with a front camera). The control unit can, for example, have stored map material with areas of restricted air quality and/or images that can be used in an image comparison as a reference for identifying potential sources of emissions.

A further aspect relates to a computer program product with a program code which is designed to carry out a proposed method when the program runs on a processor or a programmable hardware component (eg the named control unit). Such a computer program product or program can be used, for example, on an on-board computer of a vehicle or on a user's mobile device be, so that a comfort for the user of the vehicle can be increased, in particular with a carrier assembly.

Accordingly, depending on particular implementation needs, embodiments of the disclosure may be implemented in hardware or in software. The implementation may be performed using a digital storage medium such as a floppy disk, a DVD, a Blu-ray disk, a CD, a ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM or a FLASH memory, a hard disk or other magnetic or optical memory, on which electronically readable control signals are stored, which can interact or interact with a programmable hardware component in such a way that the respective method is carried out.

A programmable hardware component can be formed by a processor, a computer processor (CPU = central processing unit), a graphics processor (GPU = graphics processing unit), a computer, a computer system, an ASIC, an IC, a SoC, a programmable logic element or an FPGA be.

The digital storage medium can therefore be machine or computer readable. Some embodiments thus include a data carrier that has electronically readable control signals that are able to interact with a programmable computer system or a programmable hardware component in such a way that one of the methods described herein is carried out. An embodiment is thus a data carrier (or a digital storage medium or a computer-readable medium) on which the program for performing one of the methods described herein is recorded.

In general, it is correspondingly provided that embodiments of the present disclosure are implemented as a program, firmware, computer program or computer program product with a program code or as data, the program code or the data being operative to carry out one of the methods when the program is based on a Processor or a programmable hardware component expires. The program code or the data can also be stored, for example, on a machine-readable carrier or data carrier. The program code or data may be in the form of source code, machine code or byte code, as well as other intermediate code, among others.

character list

• 1 ein Flussdiagramm eines Verfahrens zum Betreiben einer Fahrzeuglüftung; und
• 2 ein schematisches Beispiel des Erkennens einer Geruchsquelle in Fahrtrichtung vor einem Fahrzeug.

Exemplary embodiments are explained in more detail below with reference to the enclosed figures. Show it:

• 1 a flowchart of a method for operating a vehicle ventilation; and
• 2 a schematic example of the detection of an odor source in the direction of travel in front of a vehicle.

description

Various embodiments will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some embodiments are illustrated. In the figures, the thickness dimensions of lines, layers, and/or regions may be exaggerated for clarity. In the following description of the accompanying figures, which only show a few exemplary embodiments, the same reference symbols can designate the same or comparable components.

An element that is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, may be directly connected or coupled to the other element, or that there may be intervening elements. Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein (including technical and scientific terms) have the same meanings as those of ordinary skill in the art to which the exemplary embodiments pertain.

• - Prädizieren 11 einer eingeschränkten Luftqualität in einer Außenumgebung des Fahrzeugs und
• - Ergreifen 12 zumindest einer Maßnahme, die das Eindringen von Außenluft in das Fahrzeuginnere verhindert.

1 shows a flow chart of a method 10 for operating a vehicle ventilation system. Method 10 includes the steps:

• - predicting 11 restricted air quality in an exterior environment of the vehicle and
• - Take 12 at least one measure that prevents the ingress of outside air into the vehicle interior.

When predicting 11, a camera can be used, for example, which scans the outside environment for emission sources. As soon as such an emission source has been discovered (e.g. strong exhaust gas development), at least one measure can be taken 12 (e.g. switching the vehicle ventilation from fresh air supply to recirculated air) so that no outside air can get into the vehicle interior (e.g. the passenger compartment) as soon as the vehicle is in the Area of influence of the emission source (e.g. has reached the area of strong exhaust emissions).

The method can make it possible to automatically take measures that can prevent bad or unpleasant-smelling air from penetrating the user of the vehicle. This is made possible by the procedural step of predicting 11 restricted air quality, so that the corresponding necessary measure can be taken 12 in good time, even before the air can enter the vehicle.

2 shows a schematic example of the detection of an odor source in the direction of travel in front of a vehicle 20. The vehicle 20 has a front camera 21 (not shown in detail), which makes it possible to identify objects in the direction of travel 22 (e.g. to detect the outside area of the vehicle 20). An emission source 23 which emits emissions 23a is shown schematically in front of the vehicle 22 in the direction of travel 22 . The emissions 23a can be, for example, an unpleasant odor, for example exhaust gases from a vehicle.

According to the aspects described here, it is proposed that the switchover between fresh and recirculated air in the vehicle 20 be carried out automatically if a potential source of odor (e.g. the emission source 23) is detected outside of the vehicle 20 via the evaluation of camera images (e.g. the camera 21). As an alternative to an odor source, the method can also be used to detect an area with potentially bad air (e.g. a tunnel in the direction of travel 22 with stale air 23a, e.g. exhaust gases 23a that were previously emitted by vehicles 23 in the tunnel).

• - Der Qualm / die Abgase eines Fahrzeugs (z.B. als Emissionsquelle 23) sind außergewöhnlich stark (z.B. wegen fehlerhaft eingestelltem Motor). Zum Beispiel können die Emissionen 23a in Form sichtbaren Rauchs / Ruß auf den Kamerabildern erkannt werden. Zum Beispiel kann Rauchentwicklung von Bränden erkannt werden.
• - Ein Nutzfahrzeug (z.B. landwirtschaftliches Nutzfahrzeug), das üblicherweise mit einem großen Dieselmotor mit viel Abgasen betrieben wird. Hier kann z.B. aufgrund des Fahrzeugtyps darauf geschlossen werden, dass mit eingeschränkter Luftqualität zu rechnen ist
• - Ein Oldtimer, der aufgrund seines alten Motors üblicherweise schlechtriechende Abgase ausstößt (auch hier können z.B. die Emissionen 23a in Form von sichtbaren Abgasen detektiert werden).
• - Ein Lastwagen der Müllabfuhr, der aufgrund seiner Fracht üblicherweise unangenehm riecht. Alternativ kann z.B. eine Müllverbrennungsanlage als Emissionsquelle 23 erkannt werden, wobei angenommen wird, dass dort gelagerter Müll einen unangenehmen Geruch der Umgebungsluft verursacht.

The images captured by the camera 21 are evaluated, for example, in a computing unit in the vehicle 20 in order to identify emission sources 23 (for example odor sources 23) therein. For example, the following scenarios can be detected in the vicinity of vehicle 20:

• - The smoke / exhaust gases from a vehicle (e.g. as emission source 23) are exceptionally strong (e.g. due to incorrectly adjusted engine). For example, the emissions 23a can be detected in the form of visible smoke/soot on the camera images. For example, smoke from fires can be detected.
• - A commercial vehicle (e.g. agricultural vehicle) that is usually powered by a large diesel engine with a lot of exhaust fumes. Based on the type of vehicle, for example, it can be concluded that restricted air quality is to be expected
• - A vintage vehicle which, due to its old engine, usually emits bad-smelling exhaust fumes (e.g. emissions 23a can also be detected here in the form of visible exhaust fumes).
• - A garbage truck, which usually smells bad because of its cargo. Alternatively, for example, a waste incineration plant can be recognized as an emission source 23, it being assumed that waste stored there causes an unpleasant odor in the ambient air.

For the scenarios mentioned by way of example, a catalog of sample images can be stored in the computing unit, with which the objects located in the area surrounding vehicle 20 can be classified with regard to the respective probability of acting as an odor source 23 . An extensive database with, for example, individual vehicle types can be available, with which the image material from the camera 21 is compared. Alternatively, neural networks can also have been trained in advance for this classification task.

In addition to the body shape, the presence of an H license plate can also be decisive for the classification, e.g.

If a potential source of an odor has been detected in the area surrounding vehicle 20, the air conditioning system, for example, is automatically switched from fresh air to recirculated air.

The object that was classified as a potential source of odor 23 can now, for example, be continuously tracked in the images captured by camera 21 in order to determine when this object is no longer in the vicinity of vehicle 20 .

As soon as this object can no longer be detected in the images captured by camera 21 for a predetermined time (e.g. 30 seconds), the air conditioning system is switched back, e.g. from circulating air to fresh air, provided that there are no other potential sources of odor 23 in around vehicle 20 is located.

If a potential source of odor 23 has been detected, its (geo) position can optionally be sent to a server in the backend together with a time stamp. Other vehicles approaching this position can then be warned in advance by the backend about the presence of the potential source of odor 23, so that these vehicles can take the necessary measures at an early stage (eg can switch from fresh air to recirculated air). The position of the potential odor source 23 can be updated in the backend if a vehicle sends a corresponding message to the backend. Alternatively, if a vehicle can no longer find this odor source 23, it can be deleted in the backend. Alternatively, the odor source 23 can be deleted again after a predefined time (for example more than 10 minutes).

If a sensor is installed in vehicles that can detect odors, a validation can be carried out automatically based on the image recognition classification of objects as an odor source, for example. To optimize the system or the method 10, a vehicle that has such an odor sensor can optionally send both image material and the data from this odor sensor to a server in the backend. There, an improved classification model can be trained from the data collected from the vehicle fleet.

Further details and aspects are mentioned in connection with the embodiments described above or below. This in 2 The embodiment shown may have one or more optional additional features corresponding to one or more aspects mentioned in connection with the proposed concept or with one or more above (e.g 1 ) or in the exemplary embodiments described below.

Furthermore, alternative or additional measures are described which can prevent ambient air from penetrating into the vehicle interior. In addition to the automatic switchover from fresh air to recirculated air, other (e.g. automatic) interventions are possible, e.g.: - closing windows; - the closing of a sunroof; - closing a convertible top; - Issuing a warning to the user (e.g. optically and/or acoustically), whereby the user can be made aware of the emission source 23 even before he notices it due to an unpleasant odor inside the vehicle, so that he can, for example, close the windows in good time and/or the Ventilation can switch to recirculation.

Examples relate to a concept for automatically adjusting ventilation in a vehicle, which can make it possible to prevent unpleasantly smelling or bad air (e.g. air with restricted air quality) from entering the passenger compartment. The vehicle environment is analyzed and examined for potential sources of odors. If such an odor source is detected in the vicinity of the vehicle, a setting can be made automatically that prevents the ambient air from penetrating into the vehicle interior even before the air with restricted air quality can penetrate into the vehicle interior.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was 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.

Patent Literature Cited

• DE 102020004785 A1 [0004]

Claims (12)

Method (10) for operating a vehicle ventilation of a vehicle (20), the method (10) comprising: predicting (11) restricted air quality in an external environment of the vehicle; and Taking (12) at least one measure that prevents the ingress of outside air into the vehicle interior. Method (10) according to claim 1 , wherein the predicting (11) comprises observing the vehicle environment by means of a vehicle sensor (21) in order to be able to detect an area with restricted air quality to which the vehicle (20) is moving. Method (10) according to claim 2 , wherein the vehicle environment is observed by means of a front camera (21) of the vehicle (20). Method (10) according to any one of the preceding claims 2 or 3 , The vehicle surroundings being observed by means of a radar sensor and/or by means of an acoustic sensor. Method (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the prediction (11) is carried out on the basis of maps in order to determine sections in the predicted route in which restricted air quality is to be expected. Method (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the predicting (11) is swarm-based using vehicle-to-vehicle communication or using a backend connected to the vehicle. Method (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a visible exhaust gas emission (23a), amounts of waste present in the external environment, a gas station, a refinery and/or a road tunnel to be driven through are used according to the method as an indication of restricted air quality. Method (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the taking (12) of the measure comprises switching a ventilation device of the vehicle from fresh air supply to recirculated air. The method (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein taking (12) the action comprises closing an air intake at a front of the vehicle when an odor source (23) is in front of the vehicle, but closing an air intake at a rear of the vehicle open the vehicle or leave it open. A method (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein taking (12) the action comprises closing a window or a closable roof of the vehicle. Method (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising: analyzing the air quality of the outside environment after taking (12) the measure that prevents outside air from entering the vehicle interior, and Disabling the measure to allow fresh air to enter the vehicle interior when unrestricted air quality is detected again. Control unit for a vehicle (20), wherein the control unit is designed to carry out a method (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

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