JP2020030908A - Heater system and heater system control method - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a heater system and a heater system control method of a heater associated with a lighting fixture and a camera for a vehicle that appropriately suppress snow accretion to a lighting fixture for a vehicle on a vehicle rear surface, and monitoring devices such as a camera and various sensors according to an ambient temperature and characteristics of the snow, and suppress a load on a heater power source.SOLUTION: In a heater system (A) including a heater (10) provided on a rear surface of a vehicle (C), a temperature sensor (21) for measuring an ambient temperature, and a control unit (20) for executing energization control to the heater (10) according to the measurement value of the temperature sensor (21), the control unit (20) energizes the heater (10) when the measurement value is a first temperature or higher, and lower than a second temperature with the first temperature being 0°C or lower, and the second temperature being higher than the first temperature, and stops energization to the heater (10) when the measurement value is lower than the first temperature, or the second temperature or higher.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

  The present invention relates to a heater system including a heater provided on a rear surface of a vehicle, and more particularly to a heater system and a heater system control method for a heater attached to a monitoring device such as a vehicular lamp camera and various sensors.

  When a vehicle such as an automobile travels during snowfall, snowfall, or the like, the rear wheels roll up the snow that has accumulated on the road, and the rolled-up snow adheres to the rear surface of the vehicle. In particular, when traveling on a road surface on which fresh snow or dense snow is piled up, snow rolled up by the rear wheels tends to adhere to the rear surface of the vehicle. Also, when the outside air temperature is around −10 ° C. to −5 ° C., part of the snow attached to the vehicle surface is melted by the heat generated by the vehicle, and the portion that has become water is frozen by the outside air and adheres to the vehicle surface, and adheres. The melted snow does not melt. Subsequently, the rolled-up snow accumulates in a form that adheres to the snow that has already adhered to the vehicle surface. Therefore, the snow rolled up by the rear wheels adheres to the vehicle one after another, and the tail lights (tail lights) and the control lights (brake lights) are covered with snow, and the visibility of the lights is reduced.

  In some cases, a back camera is provided on the rear of the vehicle to check the rear of the vehicle. Can not be fulfilled.

  In order to prevent the snow from covering the lamp or the like in this way, as described in Patent Document 1, a snow melting heater is provided in the lamp, and the snow adhering to the lamp is operated by activating the heater during snowfall or snowfall. And make the lights of the lamp visible.

  However, the state of snow accretion differs depending on the outside air temperature and the characteristics of the snow. If the heater control is not always constant, appropriate measures against snow accretion (such as melting the snow and preventing the adhesion of snow, etc.) may not be obtained. There is. In addition, when the outside air temperature is low, the current value flowing through the heater increases because the heater exerts a predetermined amount of heat, and the load on the power supply increases.

JP 2008-052919 A

  In view of the above, the present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and appropriately applies snow to a monitoring device such as a vehicular lamp, a camera, and various sensors on the rear surface of a vehicle in accordance with the outside temperature and the characteristics of snow. An object of the present invention is to provide a heater system and a heater system control method of a heater attached to a vehicle lamp or a camera, which suppresses the load of a heater power supply.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a heater system according to the present invention includes a heater provided on a rear surface of a vehicle, a temperature sensor for measuring an outside air temperature, and a control unit for controlling energization of the heater according to a measured value of the temperature sensor. Wherein the first temperature is set to 0 ° C. or lower and the second temperature is set to be higher than the first temperature, and the control unit controls the heater when the measured value is equal to or higher than the first temperature and lower than the second temperature. It is characterized in that the power is supplied to the heater and the power supply to the heater is stopped when the measured value is lower than the first temperature or higher than the second temperature.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the second temperature is equal to or lower than 5 ° C.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the first temperature is a temperature at which snow in the air does not adhere to the rear surface of the vehicle, and is from -20 ° C to -10 ° C.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the heater heats a vehicular lamp provided on a rear surface of the vehicle.

  In one embodiment of the present invention, the heater heats a camera provided on a rear surface of the vehicle.

  Further, a heater system control method of the present invention is a heater system control method for controlling energization of a heater provided on a rear surface of a vehicle, comprising: a measuring step of measuring a temperature near the heater with a temperature sensor; A determining step of determining whether or not the heater can be energized in accordance with the value; and an energizing step of energizing the heater in accordance with the result of the determining step. Is higher than the first temperature, and if the measured value is equal to or higher than the first temperature and lower than the second temperature, the current can be supplied. If the measured value is lower than the first temperature or higher than the second temperature, the current cannot be supplied. Features.

  In the present invention, by controlling a heater system for preventing snow from reaching a monitoring device such as a vehicular lamp, a camera, and various sensors according to the outside temperature and the characteristics of the snow, at various outside temperatures such as extremely low temperatures. In addition, it is possible to appropriately suppress snow accretion, perform the functions of the vehicular lamp and the camera, and suppress the load on the heater power supply.

It is the perspective view which looked at the vehicles (automobile) in which the heater system in a 1st embodiment was provided from the back. It is a schematic diagram which shows the heater provided in the taillight in 1st Embodiment, FIG. 2 (a) is a schematic perspective view of the heater, and FIG. 2 (b) shows the heater of FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view taken along line (b) -II (b). FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic views showing a heater according to the first embodiment, FIG. 1A is a schematic rear view, and FIG. 1B is a schematic top view showing a conductive film and a wiring portion. It is a block diagram showing a heater system of a first embodiment. It is a figure showing a situation of snowing on a vehicle for every outside temperature. It is a figure which shows a mode of the snow accretion to the tail light at the external temperature of -8 degreeC. It is a figure which shows a mode of snow accumulating on a tail light when an outside air temperature is -15 degreeC and a heater is used. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a flow of heater energization control in the heater system according to the first embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the relationship between the outside air temperature measured by the temperature sensor 21 of the first embodiment and the energization of the heater 10, and FIG. 4A shows a polygonal line indicating the change over time of the outside air temperature measured by the temperature sensor 21. FIG. 7B is a pulse diagram showing ON / OFF of the energization instruction signal to the heater 10 in accordance with the measurement result of FIG.

(1st Embodiment)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The same or equivalent components, members, and processes shown in the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the repeated description will be omitted as appropriate. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle (automobile) provided with a heater system according to the present embodiment as viewed from the rear.

  The vehicle C is, for example, a hatchback type automobile, and includes tail lights 1R and 1L, a back camera 2, a monitoring device 3, and a rear wheel 4, and the rear surface is entirely from the rear glass to above the bumper. In the present embodiment, the vehicle provided with the heater system of the present invention is not limited to a hatchback-type vehicle, but may be a minivan-type vehicle or any other vehicle that covers the entire surface from the rear glass to above the bumper.

  The taillights 1 are provided as taillights 1R and 1L respectively on the left and right ends of the rear surface, and a taillight, a brake lamp, a direction indicator, and the like are arranged. The back camera 2 is provided to check the rear of the vehicle C. In this embodiment, the position of the back camera 2 is set at the center of the rear surface. However, the present invention is not limited to this position.

  The monitoring device 3 is provided on the rear surface of the vehicle C and detects an obstacle or the like behind the vehicle. The monitoring device 3 is, for example, an infrared sensor, and operates when the vehicle travels backward when parking or the like. The monitoring device 3 may include various sensors such as a camera, a millimeter-wave radar, and an ultrasonic sensor in addition to the infrared sensor.

  The rear wheel 4 rotates during traveling. The relationship between the snow that the rear wheel 4 rolls up and the rear surface of the vehicle will be described later.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the heater 10 provided in the taillight 1, FIG. 2A is a schematic perspective view of the heater 10, and FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of FIG. It is a typical sectional view by IIb line. FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the heater 10 as viewed from the back side, and FIG. 3A is a schematic back view of the heater 10. FIG. 2B is a schematic front view showing a portion of the conductive film 12 which is a part of the heater 10 and wiring.

  The heater 10 is provided so as to cover the taillight 1 as shown in FIG. 2A in order to prevent the taillight 1 from becoming invisible due to snow. The heater 10 is a surface facing the taillight 1 when mounted, and includes a cover portion 11 that covers the taillight 1, a conductive film 12 provided on the surface of the cover portion 11 facing the taillight 1, and a side end of the cover portion 11. And a flange portion 13 for connecting the cover portion 11 to the taillight 1 and fixing the cover portion to the taillight 1. The cover portion 11 is formed of a transparent resin or the like, and has sufficient transparency so that the light of the taillight 1 is transmitted to the outside.

  The conductive film 12 is transparent like the cover portion 11 and is provided on the entire back surface of the cover portion 11. The conductive film 12 is a sheet coated with a conductive ink or the like. When energized by the energizing means described later, current flows through the conductive ink and generates heat. The conductive film 12 may be formed by applying a conductive ink directly to the back surface of the cover unit 11 instead of attaching a sheet coated with the conductive ink to the back surface of the cover unit 11.

  The flange portion 13 is made of the same material as the cover portion 11 and is formed continuously from the cover portion 11 and has a tapered tip. This tapered portion is inserted and fixed between the outer periphery of the taillight 1 and the vehicle body. Note that the present invention is not limited to this, and the tip of the flange portion 13 may be formed with the same thickness without being tapered, and an adhesive may be applied to the tip of the flange portion 13 and attached to the surface of the taillight 1 to be fixed. Good.

  As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the wiring 14 is provided to electrically connect to a portion of the conductive film 12 to which the conductive ink is applied, and to transmit electricity from a power source to the conductive film 12. Have been. The wiring 14 extends from the inside of the cover portion 11 to the outside of the cover portion 11 from an insertion portion (not shown) provided on the flange portion 13 along the flange portion 13 and has a connector 15 at the tip. The wiring 14 is disposed inside the vehicle C from one end of the taillight, and the connector 15 is connected to a controller (not shown). The heater 10 is energized via the wiring 14 under the control of the controller, and when energized, the conductive film 12 generates heat and exhibits a heater function.

  The insertion portion through which the wiring 14 is inserted is waterproofed so that snow-melted water does not enter the cover portion 11. Further, the flange portion 13 is covered with a decorative member, and has a structure in which the flange portion 13 and the wiring 14 cannot be seen from outside the vehicle body.

  In the present embodiment, the heater 10 is externally attached to the outer surface of the taillight 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the heater 10 may be integrated with the taillight 1.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the heater system A of the present embodiment. The heater system A includes a controller 20, a heater 10, and a temperature sensor 21, and the heater 10 and the temperature sensor 21 are electrically connected to the controller 20, respectively. The controller 20 controls ON / OFF of the heater 10, that is, energization based on the outside air temperature information obtained by the temperature sensor 21. The details of the energization control will be described later. The temperature sensor 21 is provided on the vehicle C for measuring the outside air temperature. The measurement result of the temperature sensor 21 is shared not only with the heater system A but also with other control according to the outside air temperature, such as fan control for heating and cooling.

  The controller 20 is not limited to the heater system A alone, and a controller that controls driving of other members of the vehicle may also function as the controller 20 of the heater system A.

  As described above, the snow or the like wound by the rear wheel 4 adheres to the rear surface of the vehicle C during snowfall or snowfall. Due to the snow, the light of the taillight 1 becomes difficult to see.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating how snow accumulates on the vehicle at each outside temperature. As shown in the figure, as shown in the case of the temperature of -8 ° C, at the outside temperature of -8 ° C, almost the entire rear surface of the vehicle snows. That is, when the snow rolled up by the rear wheel 4 adheres to the rear surface of the vehicle C, a part of the snow melts due to the heat of the vehicle C, and the melted water acts as an adhesive, and the snow arrives on the vehicle body surface. Subsequently, the rolled-up snow accumulates and accumulates in the same manner.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a state of snowfall on the taillight when the outside air temperature is −8 ° C. As shown in the figure, the tail light is covered with snow. When the tail lamp and the control lamp are covered with snow in this way, the lamp becomes difficult to see, and the risk of a rear-end collision of a following vehicle increases. In order to prevent the visibility of the taillight 1 from lowering, the heater 10 heats the vicinity of the taillight 1 to melt the attached snow and prevent the snow from attaching.

  On the other hand, under extremely low temperatures (for example, in an environment of −15 ° C.), since the outside air is extremely low, snow attached to the vehicle C does not partially melt, and water does not intervene between the vehicle and snow. Light does not stick to the camera or the camera. For example, as shown in the case of the temperature of -23 ° C. in FIG. 5, when the outside temperature is −15 ° C. or less, the snow is fine and dry, and even if it adheres to the vehicle body, the outside temperature is low and does not melt. Hateful.

  When the heater 10 is energized even at such extremely low temperatures, the snow on the cover 11 is partially melted by the heat of the heater 10, but the remaining portion of the snow is not melted by the outside air. As a result, a phenomenon of sticking to only the taillight 1 is caused.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state of a taillight when a heater is used at an outside air temperature of −15 ° C. As shown in the figure, at extremely low temperatures, the use of the heater 10 promotes the snowing of only the taillight 1 portion even though the rear surface of the vehicle C does not snow, and the visibility of the taillight 1 is increased. Decrease.

  In the present embodiment, the following heater control is performed in order to prevent snow on the taillight 1 during traveling during snowfall and snowfall and to improve visibility of the taillight 1 under any external temperature.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a flow of the energization control of the heater 10.

  First, the temperature sensor 21 starts measuring the outside air temperature (step 701: measurement step).

  When the measured temperature (second temperature) of the temperature sensor 21 in step 701 is lower than 5 ° C. (step 702: determination step), the controller 20 starts energization of the heater 10 (step 703: energization step). Specifically, since the temperature sensor 21 is attached to the vehicle C, the measured temperature is a value affected by the heat of the vehicle C itself, and is higher than the outside air temperature at a position away from the vehicle C. Could be. Therefore, when the measured temperature is 5 ° C., the outside air temperature at a position distant from the vehicle is expected to be 0 ° C. or less, and the snow attached to the vehicle C is partially melted by the heat of the vehicle body, and the outside air temperature is further low. For this reason, snow is expected. Therefore, when the temperature detected by the temperature sensor 21 falls below 5 ° C., the controller 20 starts energizing the heater 10. In addition, after the snow accretion, the outside air temperature may rise. At this time, the outside air temperature is 0 ° C. or more, but the outside air temperature may not be so high that the snow accumulates naturally. Therefore, the controller 20 energizes the heater 10 based on 5 ° C. so that the heater 10 operates even in such a case.

  When the temperature sensor 21 detects the first temperature that is lower than the second temperature and equal to or lower than 0 ° C. (step 704: determination step), the controller 20 stops energizing the heater 10 (step 706: energizing). Stop step). Specifically, in the present embodiment, when the temperature is detected to be −15 ° C. or less at extremely low temperature at which snow on the vehicle body hardly occurs, the power supply to the heater 10 is stopped.

  On the other hand, when the temperature sensor 21 detects the second temperature or more (step 705: determination step), since the outside temperature is high, there is no fear that the partially melted snow is frozen by the outside air and adheres to the taillight 1 or the like. There is no need to add 10. Therefore, the power supply to the heater 10 is stopped (step 706). The energization control of the heater 10 is performed as described above, and energization of the heater 10 is not performed at an extremely low temperature.

  FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a change in the temperature measured by the temperature sensor 21 and the energization instruction signal to the heater 10. FIG. 9A is a graph showing a change in the outside air temperature measured by the temperature sensor 21 over time. FIG. 2B is a pulse diagram showing ON / OFF of an energization instruction signal to the heater 10 according to the measurement result of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 9A, when the measured temperature 101 detected by the temperature sensor 21 becomes 5 ° C. (time t1), as shown in FIG. 8B, the controller 20 issues an energization instruction signal to the heater 10 as shown in FIG. Turn 102 ON. Then, when the temperature 101 detected by the temperature sensor 21 becomes −15 ° C. (time t2), the energization instruction signal 102 to the heater 10 is turned off. Further, when the outside air temperature rises and the temperature 101 detected by the temperature sensor 21 exceeds −15 ° C. (time t3), the energization instruction signal 102 to the heater 10 is turned on.

  That is, the temperature sensor 21 is constantly measuring the temperature, and while the measured temperature 101 is lower than the second temperature and higher than the first temperature, the heater 10 is energized, and the heater 10 turns on the vicinity of the taillight 1. Is heated. On the other hand, while the temperature sensor 21 is detecting the first temperature or lower, the power supply to the heater 10 is turned off, and the heater 10 stops. In the present embodiment, the energization instruction signal 102 to the heater 10 is a continuous signal. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be a signal that is intermittent at regular intervals. Further, the energization (drive) of the heater 10 is not limited to continuous energization, and may be a form in which ON and OFF are repeated at regular intervals. This is set flexibly according to the heating method of the heater 10.

  The first temperature is set in a range from -20 ° C to -10 ° C, and is preferably set in a range from -15 ° C to -11 ° C. The second temperature is set in a range from -5 ° C to 5 ° C, and is preferably set in a range from 0 ° C to 5 ° C.

  As described above, when the outside air temperature measured by the temperature sensor 21 reaches the extremely low first temperature, the heater 10 is stopped, and the heating by the heater 10 is stopped. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent snow from adhering only to the taillight 1 under extremely low temperature at which snow does not easily occur. On the other hand, when the outside air temperature is usually the second temperature at which snow is likely to accumulate on the rear surface of the vehicle, the heater 10 provided on the taillight 1 is operated to melt snow adhering to the vicinity of the taillight 1 so as to be covered. Maintain visibility. That is, if the heater system A and the control method thereof according to the present invention are used, the outside air temperature (about 0 ° C. to −10 ° C.) where snow accumulates on the rear surface of the vehicle, and extremely low temperature (about −10 ° C. or less, particularly (-15 ° C. or less), it is possible to prevent snow on the taillight 1 and to always maintain the visibility of the taillight 1. At extremely low temperatures, since the heater 10 is not used, the load on the power source of the heater 10 (not shown) can be reduced.

(Other)
In the first embodiment, the heater 10 is provided in the tail light 1, but the heater 10 may be provided in the back camera 2. The structure of the heater 10 may be any shape as long as it covers the lens portion of the back camera 2 as described in the first embodiment.

  Further, the heater 10 may be in a form attached to the monitoring device 3. When the monitoring device 3 is covered with snow, it may not be possible to irradiate infrared light or laser light emitted from the monitoring device 3 to the outside, or it may be bent in an unexpected direction to obtain a correct measurement result. By using the heater 10 to prevent snow accretion near the monitoring device 3, correct measurement results can be obtained.

  In addition, the heating target of the heater 10 in the heater system and the control method of the heater system according to the present invention is not limited to the taillight 1, the back camera 2, and the monitoring device 3, but is disposed on the rear surface of the vehicle C and displays some information to the following vehicle. It may be an indicator light or the like that performs the following.

  As described above, in order to prevent the back camera 2 and the like provided on the rear surface of the vehicle C from using the present heater system to prevent snow from accumulating, the outside air temperature (about 0 ° C. to −10 ° C.) where snow accumulates on the rear surface of the vehicle. It is possible to prevent snow on the back camera 2 or the like under extremely low temperatures (about −10 ° C. or lower, especially −15 ° C. or lower) where snow is hard to accumulate. In addition, the functions exhibited by each member such as the sensing function of the monitoring device 3 and the display function of the indicator lamp can be maintained.

  The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims, and embodiments obtained by appropriately combining technical means disclosed in different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

1 tail light 1L tail light (tail light on the left side of the vehicle)
1R ... taillight (taillight on the right side of the vehicle)
2 Back camera 3 Monitoring device 4 Rear wheel 10 Heater 11 Cover 12 Conductive film 13 Flange 14 Wiring 15 Connector 20 Controller (control unit)
21 ... temperature sensor 101 ... measured temperature of the temperature sensor 102 ... energization instruction signal S701 to the heater ... temperature sensor temperature measurement step S702 ... determination step (second temperature determination step)
S703: energizing step S704: determining step (first temperature determining step)
S705: determination step (second temperature determination step)
S706: power supply stop step A: heater system C: vehicle t: time

Claims (7)

A heater provided on the rear surface of the vehicle,
A temperature sensor for measuring the outside air temperature,
A heater system including a control unit that controls energization of the heater according to a measurement value of the temperature sensor,
The first temperature is 0 ° C. or lower, and the second temperature is higher than the first temperature.
The control unit is configured to energize the heater when the measured value is equal to or higher than the first temperature and lower than the second temperature, and when the measured value is lower than the first temperature or higher than the second temperature, A heater system, wherein energization of the heater is stopped. The heater system according to claim 1, wherein
The said 2nd temperature is 5 degrees C or less, The heater system characterized by the above-mentioned. The heater system according to claim 1 or 2,
The first temperature is a temperature at which snow in the air does not adhere to the rear surface of the vehicle. The heater system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein
The said 1st temperature is -20 degreeC or more and -10 degreeC or less, The heater system characterized by the above-mentioned. The heater system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein
The heater system according to claim 1, wherein the heater heats a vehicle lamp provided on a rear surface of the vehicle. The heater system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein
The heater system heats a camera provided on a rear surface of the vehicle. A heater system control method for controlling energization of a heater provided on a rear surface of a vehicle,
A measuring step of measuring the outside air temperature with a temperature sensor;
A determining step of determining whether to energize the heater according to the measurement value of the temperature sensor;
An energizing step of energizing the heater according to the result of the determining step,
In the determining step, the first temperature is set to 0 ° C. or lower, the second temperature is set to be higher than the first temperature, and when the measured value is equal to or higher than the first temperature and lower than the second temperature, the current is allowed to flow, A method of controlling a heater system, characterized in that when a measured value is lower than the first temperature or higher than the second temperature, the power supply is disabled.