JP7082080B2 - Mobile - Google Patents

Description

The present invention mainly relates to a moving body including a monitoring device.

Some vehicles are equipped with a monitoring device capable of monitoring the surrounding environment (see Patent Document 1). Such a monitoring device is installed on the inner wall side of the windshield, and can monitor the outside of the vehicle via the windshield. Patent Document 1 describes that a heater composed of a heating wire is provided as a heating device together with a monitoring device to remove fogging of the windshield such as condensation, frost, and ice.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-118617

Further improvements in control aspects in the above configuration are required so that fogging can be effectively removed (fog removal) or fogging is less likely to occur (anti-fog). This is not limited to vehicles, but the same applies to, for example, ships.

It is an exemplary object of the present invention to make anti-fog / anti-fog effective and relatively easy to realize.

One aspect of the present invention relates to a moving body, which is a moving body.
A monitoring device that can monitor the surrounding environment of the moving object through a translucent window member that defines the inside and outside of the moving object.
A heating device for heating a portion of the window member in the monitoring area of the monitoring device, and
The air conditioner that air-conditions the inside of the moving body and
A control device for driving and controlling the heating device and the air conditioning device is provided.
The heating device includes a first heating unit and a second heating unit that can be individually driven by the control device, and the first heating unit is upstream of the air conditioning air from the air conditioning device with respect to the second heating unit. Provided at the side position,
The control device is
The degree of fogging in the window member is evaluated based on the monitoring result of the monitoring device, and the degree of fogging is evaluated.
When the degree of cloudiness reaches a reference value and the air conditioner is in an operating state, the first heating unit among the first heating unit and the second heating unit is preferentially driven. ..

According to the present invention, anti-fog / anti-fog can be effectively and relatively easily realized.

It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the configuration example of the vehicle which concerns on embodiment. It is a schematic diagram for demonstrating the configuration example of an in-vehicle electronic component. It is a block diagram for demonstrating an example of some configurations in a vehicle. It is a flowchart for demonstrating an example of the control content by a control device. It is a timing chart for demonstrating an example of the control contents by a control device.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the invention. Two or more of the plurality of features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. In addition, the same or similar configuration will be given the same reference number, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle 1 according to an embodiment. To facilitate understanding of the structure, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis that are orthogonal to each other are shown in the figure (the same applies to other figures described later). The X direction corresponds to the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, the Y direction corresponds to the left-right direction or the vehicle width direction of the vehicle body, and the Z direction corresponds to the vertical direction of the vehicle body. In the present specification, expressions such as front / rear, left / right (side), up / down, inside / outside of the vehicle body (inside / outside the vehicle), etc. indicate relative positional relationships with respect to the vehicle body 10.

The vehicle 1 is a four-wheeled vehicle including a pair of left and right front wheels 11F and a pair of left and right rear wheels 11F, but the number of wheels is not limited to this. Further, although the vehicle 1 is an electric vehicle equipped with a battery BT, it may be additionally equipped with an internal combustion engine. A secondary battery such as a lithium ion battery is used for the battery BT, and the battery BT stores electric power for supplying the corresponding element in the vehicle 1.

The vehicle 1 further includes window members 12F and 12R that define the inside and outside of the vehicle. The window members 12F and 12R may be made of a translucent material (for example, glass, resin, etc.). In the figure, the window member 12F is shown as a windshield, a front window or a windshield, and the window member 12R is shown as a rear window or a rear glass, but other window members such as a side window or a side glass may be further provided. In the passenger compartment (cabin), the seat SH is shown as the driver's seat here in order to make the figure easier to see, but the cabin may be further provided with another seat.

The cabin front structure 13 including the dashboard panel and the like is provided with an operation unit 19 for a user (mainly a driver) to perform a predetermined operation input. In the figure, a steering wheel is shown as a typical example of the operation unit 19, but the operation unit 19 includes various other operators, and the concept of the operation input to the operation unit 19 is a driving operation. In addition, related operations that are directly / indirectly associated with it shall also be included. An example of this related operation is an operation for air conditioning management of a cabin.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 further includes an air conditioner 14, an electronic component 15, and a control device 16. A known configuration may be adopted for the air conditioner 14. For example, the air conditioner 14 includes an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, a pipe connecting them and forming a flow path of a refrigerant, various valves provided on the flow path, and the like. Further, the air conditioning device 14 includes a blower fan that generates a predetermined air flow as air conditioning air, a fan motor that drives the blower fan, a heater core for heating the air conditioning air, and the like.

Further, the air conditioner 14 further includes an air conditioner duct 141 and a defroster duct 142, and a door mechanism (for example, a plate door, a rotary door, etc.) for switching from which of them the air conditioning air is sent. The defroster duct 142 is an outlet that sends out air conditioning air toward the window member 12F / blows it onto the window member 12F, and its main purpose is to remove fogging / prevent fogging of the window member 12F. The air conditioner duct 141 is used here as an outlet other than the defroster duct 142, and the main purpose is to control the air conditioning of the cabin. Therefore, the air conditioner 14 includes a cabin blower for blowing air from the air conditioner duct 141 and an anti-fog / anti-fog blower (defroster device) for blowing air from the defroster duct 142. It may be expressed. Although the figure shows a single air conditioner duct 141 provided in the cabin front structure 13, the air conditioner duct 141 is generally directed toward the user and its surroundings (for example, rearward or rearwardly downward). ) Multiple air-conditioning winds can be sent.

The user can control the state of the air conditioner 14 by inputting an operation to the operation unit 19. In the air conditioner 14 in the operating state or the driven state, the user can select whether to send the air conditioning air from the ducts 141 or 142 by the operation input to the operation unit 19. For example, the user can input a predetermined operation to the operation unit 19 so that the conditioned air is sent from one of the ducts 141 and 142, or so that the conditioned air is sent from both ducts 141 and 142. Further, the driving force (air-conditioning air volume) of the air-conditioning device 14 can also be adjusted by the operation input to the operation unit 19 by the user.

FIG. 2A is a front view showing the configuration of the electronic component 15. 2 (B) is a cross-sectional view of the electronic component 15 in the cutting line d1-d1 of FIG. 2 (A). It is assumed that FIG. 2B shows a mode in which the air conditioning air 142W from the defroster duct 142 flows toward the electronic component 15 along the window member 12F. The electronic component 15 includes a monitoring device 151 capable of monitoring the surrounding environment of the own vehicle through the window member 12F and a heating device 152 capable of heating the window member 12F, and is close to the inner wall (vehicle inner surface) of the window member 12F. Will be installed.

A camera capable of capturing an image of the surrounding environment is used as the monitoring device 151, and in the present embodiment, the monitoring device 151 includes a device main body unit 1510, a detection unit 1511, and a base material 1512. A known imaging sensor such as a CCD / CMOS image sensor is used for the detection unit 1511, and the detection unit 1511 can detect or image the surrounding environment (in the present embodiment, the state in front of the vehicle 1). The main body unit 1510 has a built-in processor that processes the detection result by the detection unit 1511, and the processing result by the processor is output to the control device 16 described later as image data.

The base material 1512 is a bracket for fixing the main body portion 1510 and the detection portion 1511 to the vehicle body 10 and fixing the heating device 152 described later. The base material 1512 includes a contact portion 1512a and a recess 1512b. The contact portion 1512a abuts on the inner wall of the window member 12F and is fixed to the window member 12F via, for example, an adhesive.

The recessed portion 1512b is provided so as to be recessed with respect to the contact portion 1512a, and has a substantially triangular or trapezoidal shape in top view or front view. An opening is provided in the rear portion of the recess 1512b, whereby the detection surface of the detection unit 1511 is exposed. That is, the base material 1512 faces the inner wall of the window member 12F in the recess 1512b and forms a space SP1 with the window member 12F, and the detection surface of the detection unit 1511 is located in this space SP1. .. As can be seen from FIG. 2B, this space SP1 is formed so as to narrow from the rear side to the front side in the side view.

With such a configuration, the monitoring device 151 can monitor the surrounding environment (in the present embodiment, the state in front of the vehicle 1) through the window member 12F. The upper surface of the recess 1512b is surface-treated to suppress reflected light, and may be provided with, for example, an uneven shape, but may be incidentally / alternativeally colored to a predetermined color.

Of the window member 12F, a portion (and a peripheral portion thereof) in the monitoring area of the monitoring device 151 is referred to as a portion 12F1. In the present embodiment, the portion 12F1 corresponds to the portion in front of and above the space SP1. Here, as described above, an opening for exposing the detection surface of the detection unit 1511 is provided in the rear portion of the recess 1512b. Further, as can be seen from FIG. 2B, a gap is formed between the front end portion of the recess 1512b and the window member 12F. Therefore, the space SP1 is not substantially sealed and communicates with the inside of the vehicle.

However, in such a space SP1, the flow of gas (air) tends to be stagnant because it is surrounded by the window member 12F and the base material 1512, and depending on the environment (mainly temperature and humidity) of the vehicle 1, the above Cloudiness may easily occur in the portion 12F1. As a typical example, this fogging can occur due to the adhesion of water droplets or the like when the humidity of the cabin is relatively high and the temperature of the window member 12F is relatively low.

The heating device 152 includes an upstream heating unit 1521, a downstream heating unit 1522, and a driver 1520 for driving them. The heating units 1521 and 1522 are arranged side by side on the upstream side and the downstream side of the conditioned air 142W, respectively. That is, the heating unit 1521 is provided at a position on the upstream side of the conditioned air 142W with respect to the heating unit 1522, in other words, the heating unit 1522 is provided at a position on the downstream side of the conditioned air 142W with respect to the heating unit 1521. .. The driver 1520 is a heater driver that can drive one or both of the heating units 1521 and 1522.

The heating units 1521 and 1522 are installed in the recess 1512b of the base material 1512, and heat the portion 12F1 via the gas (air) in the space SP1. Concomitantly, when the air conditioner 14 is in operation, the gas flowing into the space SP1 from the gap between the front end portion of the recess 1512b and the window member 12F is heated by the heating unit 1521 and / or 1522, whereby the gas flows into the space SP1. The above-mentioned part 12F1 is heated. When the air conditioner 14 is in the operating state, the gas in the space SP1 flows out from the opening at the rear of the recess 1512b (the opening that exposes the detection surface of the detection unit 1511) as the gas flows into the space SP1. Will be done.

In this way, the heating device 152 removes the fogging of the portion 12F1 and / or performs the antifogging of the portion 12F1 (sometimes simply referred to as "anti-fog / anti-fog" in the present specification. be.). The heating device 152 may be configured to be capable of generating a desired amount of heat in each of the heating units 1521 and 1522. In the present embodiment, the heating wire is built in the recess 1512b as the heating portions 1521 and 1522, and heat is generated by energizing the heating wire with the driver 1520. A current based on the electric power of the battery BT is supplied to the heating wire by the driver 1520. In this way, the heating portions 1521 and 1522 may be provided in the recess 1512b, or may be installed on the back surface (lower surface) of the recess 1512b.

Here, if the driving force (air-conditioning air volume) of the air-conditioning device 14 is increased, the inflow amount of gas into the space SP1 becomes large. Further, when the driving force (calorific value) of the heating device 152 is increased, the portion 12F1 of the window member 12F is rapidly heated via the space SP1. Therefore, in summary from the viewpoint of anti-fog / anti-fog, it can be said that increasing the driving force of the air conditioner 14 and / or the heating device 152 makes it possible to realize anti-fog / anti-fog more effectively.

In the present embodiment, the control device 16 is an ECU (electronic control unit) including a CPU (central processing unit), a memory, and an external communication interface, and controls driving of each element of the vehicle 1 based on a predetermined program. And. As another embodiment, a semiconductor device such as a PLD (programmable logic device) or an ASIC (integrated circuit for a specific application) may be used for the control device 16. That is, the function of the control device 16 described in the present specification can be realized by either hardware or software.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a part of the system configuration of the vehicle 1. The control device 16 sends and receives signals to and from some elements included in the vehicle 1, and controls their drive based on, for example, an operation input to the operation unit 19 by a user.

For example, the control device 16 controls the drive of the air conditioner 14. This drive control includes, for example, adjustment of the driving force (air-conditioning air volume) of the air-conditioning device 14, and is performed based on an operation input to the operation unit 19 by the user. The driving force of the air conditioner 14 can be adjusted, for example, by changing the rotation speed of the blower fan.

Further, the control device 16 receives the above-mentioned information indicating the surrounding environment (image data in the present embodiment) from the monitoring device 151, and provides predetermined driving support based on the information. Driving assistance here means providing the driver with necessary / useful information for driving, and at least part of the driving operation (typically acceleration, braking and steering) on the driver side. The concept includes what is done on the control device 16 side, so-called automatic operation.

Further, the control device 16 controls the drive of the heating device 152. The heating device 152 is driven by the control device 16 based on the satisfaction of a predetermined condition described later, but may be optionally driven based on an operation input to the operation unit 19 by the user.

Although the control device 16 is shown as a single unit in FIG. 3 for ease of explanation, in many cases, the control device 16 is configured by installing a plurality of ECUs so as to be able to communicate with each other. A plurality of ECUs can be installed at corresponding positions of the vehicle body 10. Further, each ECU may be configured by mounting one or more electronic components on a mounting board.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of control contents by the control device 16. The outline of this flowchart is that the heating device 152 is driven based on the evaluation result of the degree of fogging of the window member 12F, and at that time, when the air conditioner 14 is in the operating state, the upstream heating unit 1521 of the heating units 1521 and 1522 is driven. Is to be driven with priority. These are mainly performed by the CPU executing a predetermined program in the control device 16. It should be noted that the fact that the air conditioner 14 is in the operating state means that the air is blown by the defroster duct 142 as one aspect here.

In step S1010 (hereinafter, simply referred to as “S1010”; the same applies to the other steps), the degree of fogging at the portion 12F1 of the window member 12F is evaluated. In this evaluation, in addition to evaluating the actual degree of cloudiness at the time of the evaluation (whether or not it is actually cloudy), the degree of cloudiness in the relatively near future (whether or not it may become cloudy in the relatively near future). Also includes evaluating or predicting). These evaluations can be realized by a known method, and for example, the actual degree of cloudiness can be evaluated by performing a predetermined image analysis on the image data which is the monitoring result by the monitoring device 151. In addition, the degree of cloudiness in the relatively near future can be evaluated based on the temperature outside the vehicle and / or the humidity inside the vehicle.

In S1020, it is determined whether or not the evaluation result in S1010 satisfies a predetermined condition. If it is determined based on the evaluation result of S1010 that it is actually cloudy / may be cloudy in a relatively near future, the process proceeds to S1030. On the other hand, if it is not determined that it is actually cloudy / may be cloudy in a relatively near future, this flowchart is terminated.

In S1030, it is determined whether or not the air conditioner 14 is in an operating state. If the air conditioner 14 is in a dormant state (when the operation is suppressed), the process proceeds to S1040. On the other hand, when the air conditioner 14 is in the operating state, the process proceeds to S1050.

In S1040, in response to the determination in S1030 that the air conditioner 14 is in a dormant state, both the heating units 1521 and 1522 are driven to proceed to S1080. As described above, if the driving force of the air conditioner 14 and / or the heating device 152 is increased, anti-fog / anti-fog can be realized more effectively. Therefore, here, while the air conditioner 14 is in a dormant state, the anti-fog / anti-fog effect is enhanced by setting both the heating units 1521 and 1522 in the driving state.

In S1050, the upstream heating unit 1521 is driven according to the determination in S1030 that the air conditioner 14 is in the operating state. As a result, the air flowing into the space SP1 is heated by the operation of the air conditioner 14, and the portion 12F1 of the window member 12F is heated accordingly, and anti-fog / anti-fog is performed. Although the details will be described later, by driving the upstream heating unit 1521, fogging removal / anti-fog is performed by the air-conditioning air 142W on the upstream side, and the air-conditioning air 142W whose temperature can be lowered on the upstream side is applied to the upstream side. It is heated by the heating unit 1521 and flowed to the downstream side. As a result, anti-fog / anti-fog can be appropriately realized, and at the same time, unnecessary driving of the heating device 152 is prevented.

In S1060, it is determined whether or not the degree of cloudiness is sufficiently improved. This determination may be made, for example, by evaluating the degree of cloudiness when a predetermined time has elapsed after S1050 by the same method as in S1010. If the degree of cloudiness has not sufficiently improved even after the predetermined time has elapsed, the process proceeds to S1070, while if the degree of cloudiness has sufficiently improved after the predetermined time has elapsed, or the predetermined time has elapsed. If not, proceed to S1080.

In S1070, the downstream heating unit 1522 is further driven in response to the determination that the degree of cloudiness has not been sufficiently improved in S1060. That is, although the upstream heating unit 1521 is preferentially driven in S1050, if the effect is not sufficient, the downstream heating unit 1522 is further driven. This enhances the anti-fog / anti-fog effect that was not sufficient in driving the upstream heating unit 1521 in S1050.

In S1080, it is determined whether or not the anti-fog / anti-fog is completed. This determination may be performed, for example, by the same method as in S1010 described above, but may be performed based on the elapsed time from the start of driving the heating device 152. The elapsed time may be a fixed value or a variable value based on the temperature outside the vehicle and / or the humidity inside the vehicle. If anti-fog / anti-fog is completed, the process proceeds to S1090, and if not, the process returns to S1030.

In S1090, the heating device 152 is suspended (operation is suppressed), and this flowchart is terminated. In general, since the window member 12F may include a heat insulating layer as an intermediate layer, the fogging is unlikely to occur once the inner wall of the window member 12F is warmed. Therefore, S1090 (pause of the heating device 152) may be executed promptly after the completion of anti-fog / anti-fog. On the other hand, as another embodiment, S1090 may be omitted after the completion of anti-fog / anti-fog (the heating device 152 may be maintained in an operating state), in which case the anti-fog action by the heating device 152 Will be continued.

5 (A) and 5 (B) are timing charts for explaining an example of the control content of the control device 16 based on the above flowchart. The horizontal axis in the figure is the time axis, and the vertical axis is the evaluation result of the degree of cloudiness obtained in S1010 (referred to as the evaluation value D), and the state of the upstream heating unit 1521 and the downstream heating unit 1522. Is shown.

The evaluation value D is a numerical value indicating the easiness of fogging of the window member 12F. For example, if it is determined that it is actually cloudy, it is not actually cloudy, but it may be cloudy in the relatively near future, it is not actually cloudy and it may be cloudy in the relatively near future. If it is determined that there is no sex, a numerical value in descending order is given as the evaluation value D. That is, it can be said that the larger the evaluation value D, the higher the need for anti-fog / anti-fog. Although the evaluation value D is a numerical value here, it may be given by a predetermined code using, for example, an alphabet, a symbol, or the like, as long as it can express the relative relationship of the above-mentioned easiness of fogging.

It is assumed that the reference value D _TH1 is used for the determination of S1020, and when D> D _TH1 (D ≧ D _TH1 ), the process proceeds to S1030. It is assumed that another reference value D _TH2 is used for the determination of S1080, and when D <D _TH2 (D ≦ D _TH2 ), the process proceeds to S1090.

In the example of FIG. 5A, for example, at time T10, the evaluation value D reaches the reference value _DTH1 and the upstream heating unit 1521 is driven (S1050). Anti-fog removal / anti-fog is executed by driving the upstream heating unit 1521, and the evaluation value D decreases with the passage of time. After that, at time T11, the evaluation value D reaches the reference value D _TH2 , and the driving of the upstream heating unit 1521 is suppressed (S1090).

In the example of FIG. 5B, the evaluation value D was not sufficiently lowered at the time T20 after the predetermined time had elapsed after the upstream heating unit 1521 was driven at the time T10 (after S1050). In response to (S1060), the downstream heating unit 1522 is driven (S1070). After that, at time T21, the evaluation value D reaches the reference value D _TH2 , and the driving of the heating units 1521 and 1522 is suppressed (S1090).

The flowchart may be partially changed without departing from the gist thereof, and for example, other steps may be added or the order of the steps may be changed.

For example, regarding S1030, in order to facilitate understanding here, it is decided to proceed to either S1040 or S1050 depending on whether the air conditioner 14 is in the hibernation state or the operating state, but the determination of S1030 is that the drive amount of the air conditioner 14 is determined. It may be performed based on whether or not it is below the standard. For example, if the driving force of the air conditioner 14 is equal to or less than the reference value, the process may proceed to S1040, and if not, the process may proceed to S1050.

Further, for example, when both the heating units 1521 and 1522 are driven by S1040, in the subsequent S1090, the driving of both of them is not suppressed, but one of the upper side in the vertical direction (that is, the heating unit 1522) is driven. The drive may be suppressed. Since the heated gas generally goes from the bottom to the top, such a control mode makes it possible to prevent unnecessary driving of the heating device 152 and continuously perform anti-fog / anti-fog.

Further, for example, in S1050, the upstream heating unit 1521 of the heating units 1521 and 1522 is driven, but the downstream heating unit 1522 may be optionally driven with a relatively small driving force. In other words, in S1050, the upstream heating unit 1521 may be driven preferentially among the heating units 1521 and 1522, and the upstream heating unit 1521 may be driven with at least a larger driving force than the downstream heating unit 1522. good. In this case, the magnitude relationship between the driving forces of the heating units 1521 and 1522 can be typically determined based on their total calorific value or power consumption. Therefore, the priority here means that it is relatively superior in terms of time and / or effect.

Further, for example, S1060 and S1080 may be performed in an order thereof as another embodiment, or may be performed substantially in parallel as another embodiment. Therefore, for example, when the evaluation value D quickly reaches the reference value D _TH2 after S1050, S1080 may be performed without performing S1060.

According to the control mode as described above, when the air conditioner 14 is in the operating state, the upstream heating unit 1521 of the heating units 1521 and 1522 is driven. As a result, defrosting / anti-fog on the portion 12F1 of the window member 12F is performed by the air-conditioning air 142W on the upstream side, and the air-conditioning air 142W whose temperature can be lowered on the upstream side is heated by the upstream heating unit 1521 and downstream. It flows to the side, and on the downstream side, it is performed by the heated air conditioning air 142W. This makes it possible to appropriately realize anti-fog / anti-fog. Concomitantly, by suppressing the driving of the downstream heating unit 1522, it is possible to prevent unnecessary driving of the heating device 152 and reduce the power consumption of the battery BT. In this way, anti-fog / anti-fog of the window member 12F can be effectively and relatively easily realized.

This can be advantageous in a configuration in which the window member 12F is installed at a relatively small tilt angle in side view. The inclination angle referred to here refers to the angle between the extension direction of the window member 12F (at least the portion 12F1) and the X direction in the side view. When the inclination angle of the window member 12F is relatively small, the central portion of the monitoring area of the monitoring device 151 may be biased toward the upstream side of the air conditioning air 142W of the portion 12F1. Therefore, for defog removal / anti-fog about the central portion, it may be effective to maintain the temperature of the gas on the upstream side flowing into the space SP1 by the operation of the air conditioner 14 in the upstream heating unit 1521.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the fact that the air conditioner 14 is in the operating state means that the air is blown by the defroster duct 142. However, even when the air is blown by the air conditioner duct 141, the same contents as described above can be said except that the amount of air blown (the amount of gas flowing into the space SP1 accompanying it) is relatively small. Therefore, in the determination of S1030, it may proceed to S1050 when the ventilation by at least one of the ducts 141 and 142 is being executed.

In many cases, the air conditioner 14 may include an inside air circulation mode (a mode in which the air inside the vehicle is circulated to perform air conditioning) and an outside air introduction mode (a mode in which the air outside the vehicle is taken into the vehicle to perform air conditioning) as its operation mode. .. The control by the control device 16 in the present embodiment can be adopted in either the inside air circulation mode or the outside air introduction mode, but the outside air introduction mode is more effective for more effectively realizing the anti-fog removal / anti-fog mode. Suitable.

In the embodiment, the camera is shown as the monitoring device 151 as a preferred example, but the content of the embodiment can also be applied to the case of other devices having a monitoring function. For example, fogging of the window member 12F (water droplets adhering to the inner wall, etc.) causes fluctuations in the refractive index, which can cause fluctuations in the monitoring region of the monitoring device 151. Therefore, the monitoring device 151 may be a radar (millimeter wave radar) or LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranking). Further, the monitoring device 151 may monitor the state of the rear or side of the vehicle 1, and for example, it can be said that the content of the embodiment can be applied to anti-fog / anti-fog of the window member 12R.

In the above description, for the sake of facilitation of understanding, each element is shown by a name related to its functional aspect, but each element is not limited to the one having the contents described in the embodiment as the main function. However, it may be provided as an auxiliary. For example, in the present specification, the vehicle 1 is exemplified as a typical example, but the content of the embodiment can be applied to a vehicle without wheels (ship, etc.), that is, it can be said to be applicable to various moving objects.

Some features of the above embodiments can be summarized as follows:
The first aspect relates to a moving body (for example, 1), wherein the moving body can monitor the surrounding environment of the moving body through a translucent window member (for example, 12F) that defines the inside and outside of the moving body (for example, 12F). For example, 151), a heating device (for example, 152) for heating a portion (for example, 12F1) of the window member in the monitoring area of the monitoring device, and an air conditioner (for example, 14) for air-conditioning the moving body. A first heating unit (for example, 1521) and a second heating unit, which are provided with a control device (for example, 16) that controls the drive of the heating device and the air conditioning device, and the heating device can be individually driven by the control device. The first heating unit is provided at a position on the upstream side of the air conditioning air from the air conditioner with respect to the second heating unit, and the control device is in an operating state of the air conditioner. In the case of, the first heating unit of the first heating unit and the second heating unit is preferentially driven (for example, S1050).
It is characterized by that. By heating the air-conditioned air from the air-conditioning device whose temperature can drop on the upstream side by the first heating unit and flowing it to the downstream side, it is possible to appropriately realize anti-fog / anti-fog of the window member, and the heating device is useless. Prevent driving. This makes it possible to effectively and relatively easily realize anti-fog / anti-fog of the window member. This can be advantageous in configurations where the window member is installed with a relatively small tilt angle in side view.

In the second aspect, in the monitoring device, the detection surface of the detection unit is located in the space between the detection unit (for example, 1511) for detecting the surrounding environment and the window member while facing the inner surface of the window member. It comprises a substrate (eg, 1512) arranged to be located and is characterized in that the space communicates with the moving body. As a result, the conditioned air can flow into the space, and the anti-fog / anti-fog can be appropriately realized.

In a third aspect, the substrate comprises a surface-treated portion (eg, 1512b) capable of suppressing reflected light to the monitoring area of the monitoring device. This is also advantageous for improving the monitoring performance of the monitoring device.

In the fourth aspect, the heating device is provided on the surface-treated portion of the base material. This is also advantageous for improving the effect of suppressing reflected light.

In a fifth aspect, the heating device is provided on the back surface of the surface-treated portion of the base material. This is also advantageous for improving the effect of suppressing reflected light.

In the sixth aspect, the control device drives both the first heating unit and the second heating unit when the operation of the air conditioner is suppressed (for example, S1040).
It is characterized by that. As a result, it is possible to appropriately realize anti-fog / anti-fog of the window member even when the operation of the air conditioner is suppressed.

In the seventh aspect, when a predetermined condition is satisfied after driving both the first heating unit and the second heating unit, the control device suppresses the drive of one of them on the upper side in the vertical direction. It is characterized by doing. Since the heated gas generally goes from the bottom to the top, according to the seventh aspect, it is possible to prevent unnecessary driving of the heating device and continuously perform anti-fog / anti-fog.

In the eighth aspect, when the air conditioner is in an operating state, the control device further drives the second heating unit when a predetermined condition is satisfied after driving the first heating unit (for example, S1070).
It is characterized by that. When the anti-fog / anti-fog by driving the second heating unit is not sufficient, the anti-fog / anti-fog can be realized by driving the first heating unit as well.

In the ninth aspect, when the air conditioner is in an operating state, the control device is characterized in that the first heating unit is driven by a driving force larger than that of the second heating unit. This makes it possible to suitably realize the first aspect.

In a tenth aspect, the monitoring device is a camera (for example, 1511) for monitoring the front of the moving body, and the window member is a windshield (for example, 12F). That is, each of the above aspects is suitably applicable to a moving body (typically a vehicle) having a driving support function.

In the eleventh aspect, the moving body is an electric vehicle (for example, 1). This makes it possible to prevent unnecessary driving of the heating device and reduce the power consumption of the battery.

The invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist of the invention.

1: Vehicle (moving body), 12F: Window member, 14: Air conditioner, 151: Monitoring device, 152: Heating device, 1521: Upstream heating unit, 1522: Downstream heating unit, 16: Control device.

Claims (12)

A monitoring device that can monitor the surrounding environment of the moving object through a translucent window member that defines the inside and outside of the moving object.
A heating device for heating a portion of the window member in the monitoring area of the monitoring device, and
The air conditioner that air-conditions the inside of the moving body and
A control device for driving and controlling the heating device and the air conditioning device is provided.
The heating device includes a first heating unit and a second heating unit that can be individually driven by the control device, and the first heating unit is upstream of the air conditioning air from the air conditioning device with respect to the second heating unit. Provided at the side position,
The control device is
The degree of fogging in the window member is evaluated based on the monitoring result of the monitoring device, and the degree of fogging is evaluated.
When the degree of cloudiness reaches a reference value and the air conditioner is in an operating state, the first heating unit among the first heating unit and the second heating unit is preferentially driven. Moving body. The monitoring device is
The detector that detects the surrounding environment and
A base material facing the inner surface of the window member and arranged so that the detection surface of the detection unit is located in the space between the window member and the base material.
Including
The moving body according to claim 1, wherein the space communicates with the moving body. The moving body according to claim 2, wherein the base material includes a portion whose surface is processed so as to suppress the reflected light to the monitoring region of the monitoring device. The moving body according to claim 3, wherein the heating device is provided on the surface-treated portion of the base material. The moving body according to claim 3, wherein the heating device is provided on the back surface of the surface-treated portion of the base material. Any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the control device drives both the first heating unit and the second heating unit when the operation of the air conditioner is suppressed. The moving body according to item 1. The control device is characterized in that, when a predetermined condition is satisfied after driving both the first heating unit and the second heating unit, the driving of one of them on the upper side in the vertical direction is suppressed. The moving body according to claim 6. The first aspect of the present invention is characterized in that, when the air conditioner is in an operating state, the control device further drives the second heating unit when a predetermined condition is satisfied after driving the first heating unit. Item 2. The moving body according to any one of Item 7. Any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein when the air conditioner is in an operating state, the control device drives the first heating unit with a driving force larger than that of the second heating unit. The moving body described in the section. The monitoring device is a camera for monitoring the front of the moving body.
The moving body according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the window member is a windshield. The moving body according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the moving body is an electric vehicle. The control device further evaluates the degree of cloudiness based on the temperature outside the moving body and / or the humidity inside the moving body.
The moving body according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the moving body is characterized in that.

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