WO2017144383A1

WO2017144383A1 - Method and control unit for controlling a wiper system on a vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2017144383A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/053712
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans-Ulrich Stahl
Original assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2016-02-25
Filing date: 2017-02-17
Publication date: 2017-08-31
Also published as: DE102016202994A1

Abstract

Described is a method (300) for controlling a wiper system for a window (103) on a vehicle (100). Said method involves determining (301) lighting information on a lighting situation in the surroundings of the vehicle. The method further involves controlling (302) the wiper system in accordance with the lighting information.

Description

Method and control unit for controlling a wiper system of a

vehicle

The invention relates to a method and a corresponding control unit for controlling the wiper system of a windshield of a vehicle. A vehicle today typically has a rainfall or rain sensor. to detect precipitation on a front or windshield of the vehicle. so that, if necessary, the wiper of a wiper system of the vehicle can be automatically activated to remove the precipitate from the windscreen. In addition, manually by a driver or possibly automatically cleaning fluid can be brought via a nozzle on the windshield of the vehicle to clean the windscreen when needed.

The activation of the wiper system, in particular the activation of a wiper for removing liquid and / or the activation of a nozzle for

Applying cleaning fluid, may in some situations to a Impair the view of the driver of a vehicle. As a result, the comfort and possibly the view of the driver of the vehicle can be affected.

This document deals with the technical problem, a

To provide a method and a corresponding control unit for a vehicle, by which the control of a wiper system of a windshield of a vehicle can be improved, in particular the comfort and the view of a

Driver of the vehicle to improve. The object is solved by the independent claims. Advantageous outsourc e forms are i.a. in the dependent claims.

According to one aspect, a method for controlling a wiper system of a windscreen (in particular a windshield) of a vehicle (in particular a road motor vehicle) is described. The method may be performed by a control unit of the vehicle. The method includes determining illumination information relative to a lighting situation in an environment of the vehicle. In this case, information regarding a current and / or regarding a future lighting situation can be determined. In particular, information relating to a lighting situation in an environment of the vehicle can be determined, which lies in front of the vehicle in the direction of travel.

The determination of illumination information may e.g. comprise, the determination of image data relating to the environment of the vehicle by means of an environmental sensor, in particular by means of a camera, of the vehicle. The image data can be evaluated to determine the lighting situation in the environment of the vehicle. Alternatively or additionally, the provision of illumination information may include determining sensor data of a sun sensor of the vehicle. The sun sensor may e.g. be configured to determine whether sun rays penetrate into a passenger line of the vehicle. The

Lighting situation in the environment of the vehicle can then be based on the Sensor data of .Sonnensensors be determined. Alternatively or additionally, the determination of illumination information may include determining

Navigation data relating to a position and / or an orientation of the vehicle by means of a position sensor (for example by means of a GPS receiver and / or by means of a gyroscope) of the vehicle. The lighting situation in the environment of the vehicle can then be determined on the basis of the navigation data (in particular taking into account the current date and the current time). The description of the invention can be made e.g. indicate whether there is (or will be) a lighting situation in which a light beam is from an external source

Light source, in particular from the sun, tri fft on the disc or meet at a future time on the disc. The light beam from an external light source may cause particles on the surface of the disc (e.g., precipitation, cleaning fluid, and / or contaminants) to affect the driver's vision of the vehicle.

In particular, the device may indicate whether a

A lighting situation is (or will be) at which the light beam from the external light source is in a field of vision of a driver of the vehicle or will be at the future time.

Alternatively or additionally, the illumination information may indicate whether an illumination situation exists (or will be) in which the light beam from the external light source is at an angle that is in a pre-defined relationship. Angle range is incident on a surface of the disc or at the future time will hit the surface of the disc. The angle range may indicate angles relative to a perpendicular to the surface of the disk (eg, -30 ° to 0 °; a negative angle indicating that the light beam is below the normal to the surface of the disk, as exemplified in FIG shown). Alternatively or additionally, the lighting information may indicate whether there is (or will be) a lighting situation where the windshield is between the external light source and the driver's field of vision (s) or will be at the future time. Alternatively or additionally, the illumination information can indicate whether a

Lighting situation (or will be present) in which the external

Light source leads to glare of the driver of the vehicle or will lead to the future time. It can thus illumination information. determining whether a lighting situation is present at a current time or will be present at a future time (eg, 1, 2, 5, 10 or more seconds) by the driver's view of the vehicle through the window of the vehicle could be affected.

The method further comprises controlling the wiper system as a function of the illumination information, in particular a speed of a wiper of the wiper can be adapted to it. Alternatively or additionally, an amount of cleaning fluid that is sprayed onto the disk by a nozzle of the wiper system can be adjusted. By controlling the

Wiper system depending on the lighting information, the driver's view of the vehicle and thus the safety of the vehicle can be increased.

The method may further include determining measurements of a rain sensor (in particular, a rain light fog sensor) of the vehicle, the measurements indicating an amount of precipitation on the disk. The wiper system can then also be controlled as a function of the measured values. In particular, the precipitation-dependent operation, ie the measured value-dependent operation, the wiper system (eg the precipitation-dependent speed of a wiper of the wiper system) to the current and / or future lighting situation in the environment of Vehicle adapted. Thus, the driver's view can be further improved.

For example, the speed of a wiper of the wiper system can be increased (even with an unchanged precipitation situation), if the

Illumination information indicates that a beam of light from an external light source is striking the disc or will hit the disc at a future time. As stated above, determining lighting information may include predicting a future lighting situation (at a future time). The wiper system can then be controlled at a current time as a function of the future lighting situation. Thus, a forward-looking operation of the wiper system can take place in order to counteract a possibly deteriorated visual situation at the future time. Thus, the driver's view of the vehicle can be further improved.

For example, the wiper system can be driven at a current time to clean the disc (eg by activating a nozzle of the wiper system and / or by activating a wiper of the wiper system) when the illumination information indicates that at the future time Light beam from an external light source (eg from the sun) hits the disc (and then could interfere with the driver's view due to scattering of particles on the surface of the disc). The automatic activation of the wiper system at the current time can be independent of the

Measured values of the precipitation sensor of the vehicle take place.

The method may further comprise determining a degree of

Impurities on the disc. The wiper system can then also in

Depending on the degree of impurities are controlled.

For example, the wiper system can only be activated (preventively) in an automatic manner on the basis of a predicted illumination situation if the level of impurities on the disk is greater than a predefined impurity level. Thus, unnecessary activations of the wiper system can be prevented and the driver's view can be further improved. According to a further aspect, a control unit for a wiper system of a windscreen of a vehicle is described. The control unit can be set up. Beieuchtungs information regarding a (current and / or future) lighting situation in an environment of the vehicle to determine. In particular, it can be determined whether one (current and / or future)

There is a lighting situation in the vicinity of the vehicle, which could affect the driver's view through the window of the vehicle. The control unit is further configured to control the wiper system in dependence on the illumination information. According to another aspect, a vehicle (in particular a

Road vehicle z. As a passenger car, a truck or a motorcycle), which includes the control unit described in this document. In another aspect, a software (SW) program is described. The SW program may be set up to run on a processor (eg, on a control device of a vehicle) and thereby perform the method described in this document. In another aspect, a storage medium is described. The

Storage medium may comprise a SW program which is adapted to be executed on a processor, and thereby by the same in this

Document described method. It should be noted that the procedures described in this document.

Devices and systems both alone and in combination with other methods described in this document. Devices and systems can be used. Furthermore, any aspects of the methods, devices, and systems described herein may be combined in a variety of ways. In particular, the features of the claims can be combined in a variety of ways.

Furthermore, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments. Show

Figure 1 is a block diagram of a wiper system of a vehicle;

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary blend situation in a vehicle; and

FIG. 3 shows a flow chart of an exemplary method for controlling a wiper system of a vehicle.

As set forth above, the present document is concerned with improved control of the wiper system of a vehicle, in particular to improve the driver's view of the vehicle through a window of the vehicle. In this context, Fig. 1 shows exemplary components of a

In particular, FIG. 1 shows a windshield 103 of a vehicle 100 that can be wiped off with one or more wipers (in particular wiper arms) 1 08. The one or more wipers 108 may be moved over the surface of the disk 103 by one or more actuators 104 (e.g., by one or more electric motors) to remove precipitate (particularly water or snow) from the surface of the disk 103. The one or more actuators 104 may be controlled by a control unit 101 of the

Vehicle 100 are controlled.

The vehicle 100 further comprises a precipitation sensor 102 (in particular a rain-light fog sensor), which is set up to detect measured values which indicates the amount of precipitation that is present on the surface of the disc 1 03 at certain measuring times , In addition, the vehicle 100 includes a nozzle 1 1 1. which can be activated by an actuator 110 to spray cleaning liquid onto the surface of the disk 103. The cleaning fluid can be used to clean the surface of the disc 103 to clean. The nozzle 1 1 1, for example, manually by a driver of the

Vehicle 100 can be activated.

The activation of a wiper 108 and / or a nozzle 1 1 1 may cause the driver's view of the vehicle 100 is at least temporarily impaired. For example, the wiper 1 08 can smear impurities on the surface of the disk 103. Such temporary

Impairment of vision is typically particularly pronounced when sunlight shines on the pane 103. This is exemplary in FIG. 2

Illustrates. In particular, at a relatively low level of the sun 201, it may happen that sun rays 202 through the disk 103 in

Field of view of the driver 204 of the vehicle 100 are. As a result, particles on the surface of disk 103 (e.g., precipitates.

Impurities. Cleaning fluid, etc.) to relatively strong

Be e rt r ugh n g n the viewpoint of the driver 204 of the vehicle 100 lead. It may therefore be advantageous to the operation of the wiper would be. i.e. in particular the operation of a wiper 108 and / or the operation of a nozzle I I I. as a function of the current or future lighting situation in the environment of the vehicle 100.

For this purpose, the vehicle 100 may comprise means or sensors 105, 1106, 107, which are set up to control the lighting situation in the vicinity of the vehicle

Vehicle 100 to determine. The vehicle 100 may be e.g. One or more environment sensors 105 (e.g., one or more cameras) may be used to capture environmental data (e.g., image data) that includes the

Display lighting situation around the vehicle 100. On the basis of image data, for example, the position of the sun 201 or the position of an artificial light source 201 (such as the headlight of an oncoming vehicle) relative to the vehicle 100 can be determined. In particular, it can be determined whether the light beam 202 of a light source 20 1 (for example the sun) passes through a point of the pane 103, which is in the field of vision of the driver 204 lies. Furthermore, it can be determined with which angle 203 a

Light beam 202 hits the surface of the disc 103.

Alternatively or additionally, the vehicle 100 may include one or more

Sun sensors 106 include, with which it can be detected whether a part of the passenger compartment of the vehicle 100 is exposed to sunlight.

Alternatively or additionally, the position and / or the orientation of the vehicle 100 can be determined by means of a position sensor 107. This information may be used in combination with digital map information and / or in combination with current date and time information to determine the position of the sun 201 relative to the vehicle 100.

It is thus possible on the basis of the sensor data of one or more sensors 105, 106, 107 of the vehicle 100 to determine the lighting situation in the environment of the vehicle 100. Specifically, it can be determined on the basis of the sensor data whether the surface of the disk 103 is visible in the field of view of the driver 204 by a light source 201 (for example by the sun or by an artificial light source 201)

Light source) is illuminated. The operation of the wiper on the vehicle 100 can then be adjusted depending on the lighting situation. For example, the amount of cleaning liquid, which is applied by a nozzle 1 1 1 of the wiper system on the surface of the disk 103, be adjusted depending on the lighting situation. Alternatively or additionally, the speed of a wiper 108 of the wiper can be adjusted as a function of the lighting situation. Thus, the driver's view 204 of the vehicle 100 can be improved (possibly preventively) even in adverse lighting situations.

By using navigation or position data (longitude.

Latitude. Direction of travel, etc.) of the vehicle 100 and based on

Time information (date, time, time zone, etc.) can thus be the

Calculate the position of the sun relative to the vehicle 100. Alternative or supplementary The position of the sun can be detected by cameras 105 installed in the vehicle 100 (eg for tracking purposes, for detecting speed limits, etc.). Reflections and / or artificial lighting can be detected. Alternatively or additionally, a solar sensor 106, which is installed for climate control purposes, can be used for

Recognition of sound is used to obtain information about the current solar irradiation of the disk 103. In sum, information about the lighting situation in the environment of the vehicle 100 can thus be determined on the basis of sensors 105, 106, 107 of the vehicle 100. The information about the lighting situation in the vicinity of the vehicle 100 can be used to calculate the wiping of the vehicle 100 in addition to the current precipitation situation (which is determined by the measured values of the precipitation sensor 102 is displayed) in an improved manner, in particular to improve the Sichtbedi tions for the driver 204 of the vehicle 100 (especially in adverse lighting situations).

The adaptation of the operation of the wiper to the lighting situation can take place in a preventive or preventive manner. Specifically, based on the sensor data of the sensors 105, 106, 107 of the vehicle 100, a future lighting situation may be predicted at a future time (e.g., 1, 2, 5, or more seconds after a current time). The operation of the wiper system can then already at the current time in dependence on the (predicated) future lighting situation at the future

Time to be adjusted. Thus, e.g. in a preventive way

Cleaning the disc 1 03 carried out and thus improve the visibility when a future lighting situation is predicted in which hit light rays 202 of a light source 20 1 on the surface of the disc 103 that there may be a visual impairment caused by scattering.

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of an exemplary method 300 for

Control of a wiper on a disk 103 (in particular a front or Windshield) of a vehicle 100. The method 300 includes the

Determine 301 of lighting information relating to a (current and / or future) lighting situation in an environment (in particular in an in front of the vehicle 100 surrounding environment) of the vehicle 100. In addition, the method 300 includes the control 302 of the wiper system in

Dependence on the illumination information (in particular in addition to the control of the wiper system as a function of the measured values of a

Precipitation sensor 102 of the vehicle 100). By taking into account the illumination information, the driver's view 204 through the window 103 and thus the safety of the vehicle 100 can be increased.

The present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. In particular, it should be noted that the description and the figures are only the principle of the proposed method. Devices and systems should be illustrated.

Claims

claims

1) A method (300) of controlling a wiper on a disc (103) of a vehicle (100), the method comprising (300).

- determining (301) a lighting information relating to a

Lighting situation in an environment of the vehicle (100); and

- Controlling (302) the wiping in dependence on the lighting information.

wherein the illumination information indicates whether

- a beam of light (202) from the sun (201) on the disc (103) tri fft or at a future time on the disc (103) will hit and

the light beam (202) from the sun (201) hits the surface of the disk (103) at an angle (203) which lies in a predefined angular range or, at the future time, hits the surface of the disk ( 103) will meet.

2) Method (300) according to the preceding claim, wherein the determining (301) of the B e 1 e u c h t u n g s - 1 n f o rm a t i o n n comprises.

- determining sensor data of a sun sensor (106) of the vehicle (100); and or

- Determining navigation data relating to a position and / or an orientation of the vehicle (100) by means of a position sensor (107) of the vehicle (100).

3) Method (300) according to one of the preceding claims, w obei the control (302) of the wiper system comprises.

Adjusting a speed of a wiper (108) of the

Wiper system; and or

- Adjusting an amount of cleaning liquid which is sprayed through a nozzle (111) of the wiper system on the disc (103). 4). Method (300) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a speed of a wiper (108) of the wiper system is increased when the illumination information indicates that a light beam (202) from an external light source (201) is applied to the window ( 103) or will hit the disc (103) at a future time.

5) Method (300) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein

- determining (301) the illumination information comprises predicting a future illumination situation and

- The wiper is controlled at a current time depending on the future lighting situation.

6) Method (300) according to claim 6, wherein the wiper system to a

Actual time is driven to clean the disc (103) when the illumination information indicates that at a future time, a light beam (202) from an external light source (201) on the disc (103).

7) Method (300) according to one of claims 6 to 7, wherein

the method (300). Determining a degree of

Impurities on the disc (103); and

- The wiper system also depending on the degree of

Impurities is controlled. 8) Method (300) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein

- The method (300) further comprises. Determining measurements of a precipitation sensor (102) of the vehicle (100) indicative of an amount of precipitate on the disk (103); and

- The wiper system is also controlled depending on the measured values. 9) control unit (101) for a wiper on a disc (103) of a vehicle (100) for carrying out the method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (101) is set up,

to determine a traffic situation with respect to a lighting situation in an environment of the vehicle (100); and

- To control the wiping depending on the lighting information.