A vehicle control system

Abstract

The present invention discloses a vehicle control system, which includes: an image acquisition device for acquiring an environmental image outside the vehicle, and sending a grille closing instruction to an active grille controller when it is determined that floccules in the environment exceed a preset amount according to the environmental image; the active grille controller is used to acquire the external environmental temperature of the vehicle and the current grille opening of the vehicle when receiving the grille closing instruction, and determine to close the grille or reduce the opening according to the current grille opening under the premise that the environmental temperature is greater than a set temperature value. The embodiment of the present invention can automatically reduce the entry of catkins into the cabin, reduce the vehicle cleaning work for floccules, and improve the driving safety of the vehicle.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of automobile technology, and in particular to an automobile control system. Background Art

[0002] Every spring, catkins fly all over the sky. As we all know, catkins are very harmful to cars. When the car is driving, catkins will enter the engine compartment through the air intake grille and gather on the radiator, which will block the radiator and cause poor heat dissipation. Catkins will also enter through the engine air intake and adhere to the air filter to form a blockage, which will cause poor air intake. Excessive fluff and dust can also easily cause malfunctions of electronic components in the cabin. In extreme cases, catkins can be ignited by high temperatures in the cabin, which may cause serious accidents such as cabin fires.

[0003] In the prior art, catkins are usually filtered by changing the shape of the grille to reduce the filter pores, but this method requires the driver to identify the catkins. Car owners can only avoid harm by paying attention and cleaning the radiator, engine compartment, air filter and other parts more often, or they need to install a filter in front of the grille in spring and clean or replace the filter regularly. Summary of the invention

[0004] The invention provides a vehicle control system to automatically reduce catkins entering into a cabin, reduce the workload of vehicle cleaning for catkins, and improve vehicle driving safety.

[0005] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle control system, comprising:

[0006] An image acquisition device, an active grille controller and an active grille;

[0007] The image acquisition device is used to acquire an environmental image outside the vehicle, and send a grille closing instruction to the active grille controller when it is determined according to the environmental image that floccules in the environment exceed a preset amount;

[0008] The active grille controller is used to obtain the external ambient temperature of the vehicle and the current grille opening of the active grille when receiving the grille closing instruction, and close the active grille when the ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature value and the current grille opening is less than the set opening value.

[0009] Optionally, the active grille controller is further configured to reduce the opening of the active grille when the grille closing instruction is received, the ambient temperature is greater than a set temperature value, and the current active grille opening is greater than a set opening value.

[0010] Optionally, the vehicle control system also includes:

[0011] Engine controller, transmission controller and air conditioning controller;

[0012] The active grille controller is further configured to receive a first cooling instruction sent by the engine controller, a second cooling instruction sent by the transmission controller, and a third cooling instruction sent by the air conditioning controller, and determine a first opening of the active grille according to the first cooling instruction, the second cooling instruction, and the third cooling instruction;

[0013] The active grille controller is further configured to alternately adjust the opening of the active grille to a first opening and a second opening when the grille closing instruction is received and the ambient temperature is greater than a set temperature value, wherein the second opening is smaller than the first opening.

[0014] Optionally, the duration of each adjustment to the first opening is a first set duration, and the duration of each adjustment to the second opening is a second set duration, and the second set duration is shorter than the first set duration.

[0015] Optionally, the active grille controller is further used to determine whether the heat dissipation demand of the entire vehicle is met after reducing the opening of the active grille. If the heat dissipation demand cannot be met, the opening of the active grille is adjusted according to the heat dissipation demand.

[0016] Optionally, the active grille controller is used to adjust the opening of the active grille according to the heat dissipation requirements of the vehicle when the ambient temperature is less than or equal to a set temperature value.

[0017] Optionally, the image acquisition device includes a camera and an auxiliary driving controller;

[0018] The camera is used to obtain an environmental image outside the car and send the environmental image to the auxiliary driving controller;

[0019] The auxiliary driving controller is used to send a grille closing instruction to the active grille controller when it is determined according to the environmental image that the flocs in the environment exceed a preset amount.

[0020] Optionally, the air conditioning controller is used to obtain the ambient temperature;

[0021] The active grille controller is used to obtain the ambient temperature from the air conditioning controller.

[0022] Optionally, the flocs include willow fluff or poplar fluff.

[0023] Optionally, the vehicle control system also includes:

[0024] A gateway, the active grille controller communicates with the engine controller, the transmission controller and the air conditioning controller through the gateway.

[0025] The embodiment of the present invention obtains an environmental image of the outside of the car through an image acquisition device, and sends a grille closing instruction to the active grille controller when it is determined that the flocs in the environment exceed a preset amount according to the environmental image. When the active grille controller receives the grille closing instruction, it obtains the external environmental temperature of the car and determines the current active grille opening, and closes the active grille when the environmental temperature is greater than the set temperature value and the current active grille opening is less than the set opening value. The solution of this embodiment does not require the driver to identify the flocs, and the vehicle can automatically identify the flocs, which can largely avoid the flocs from entering the vehicle and damaging the vehicle, and can also avoid identifying snow as catkins, etc., and can also meet the heat dissipation needs of the vehicle, reduce the vehicle cleaning work for catkins, and ensure vehicle safety.

[0026] It should be understood that the contents described in this section are not intended to identify the key or important features of the embodiments of the present invention, nor are they intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Other features of the present invention will become easily understood through the following description. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention, the following briefly introduces the drawings required for use in the description of the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For ordinary technicians in this field, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative work.

[0028] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an automobile control system provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of another automobile control system provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0030] Figure 3 is a schematic diagram of another automobile control system provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0031] Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of another automobile control system provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 5 The present invention provides a working flow chart of a vehicle control system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] In order to enable those skilled in the art to better understand the scheme of the present invention, the technical scheme in the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below in conjunction with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work should fall within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0034] It should be noted that the terms "first", "second", etc. in the specification and claims of the present invention and the above-mentioned drawings are used to distinguish similar objects, and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence. It should be understood that the data used in this way can be interchanged where appropriate, so that the embodiments of the present invention described herein can be implemented in an order other than those illustrated or described herein. In addition, the terms "including" and "having" and any variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions, for example, a process, method, system, product or device that includes a series of steps or units is not necessarily limited to those steps or units that are clearly listed, but may include other steps or units that are not clearly listed or inherent to these processes, methods, products or devices.

[0035] An embodiment of the present invention provides a vehicle control system. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a vehicle control system provided by an embodiment of the present invention, with reference to Figure 1 , the vehicle control system includes:

[0036] An image acquisition device 110, an active grid controller 120 and an active grid 130;

[0037] The image acquisition device 110 is used to acquire an environmental image outside the vehicle, and send a grille closing instruction to the active grille controller 120 when it is determined based on the environmental image that floccules in the environment exceed a preset amount;

[0038] The active grille controller 120 is used to obtain the external ambient temperature of the vehicle and the current grille opening of the active grille 130 when receiving a grille closing instruction, and close the active grille 130 when the ambient temperature is greater than a set temperature value and the current grille opening is less than a set opening value.

[0039] Among them, the floccules may include willow catkins or poplar catkins, etc. The set temperature value may be 5 degrees Celsius or 10 degrees Celsius, etc., and the set opening value of the active grille 130 may be 50%, etc. The image acquisition device 110 may include a device for acquiring images, such as a camera, etc. The image acquisition device 110 may capture an environmental image of the outside of the car at set intervals, and analyze the environmental image to determine whether there is floccules in the environment, and determine the amount of floccules. Exemplarily, the image acquisition device 110 may identify the proportion of the area occupied by floccules in the image to the entire image area. When the proportion is greater than the set proportion, it means that the floccules in the environment exceed the preset amount. At this time, the active grille needs to be closed. The set proportion can be set as needed. Exemplary set proportions may be 5%, etc. The active grille controller 120 is used to control the opening and closing of the active grille 130, and to adjust the opening of the active grille 130.

[0040] Specifically, when the ambient temperature is low, there will be basically no flocs such as catkins or poplar catkins in the external environment, and the image acquisition device 110 may capture snow. In addition, in order to meet the safety requirements of the vehicle, when the car has a higher heat dissipation requirement, the active grille 130 must give priority to meeting the heat dissipation requirement. Therefore, when the active grille controller 120 receives the grille closing instruction, it first obtains the external ambient temperature of the car. When the ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature value and the car's heat dissipation requirement is small, the grille opening is small, and the active grille 130 is controlled to be completely closed. When the car's heat dissipation requirement is large and the grille opening is large, the active grille 130 can be controlled to reduce the opening. In this way, flocs can be prevented from entering the vehicle to a large extent to damage the vehicle, and snow can be prevented from being identified as catkins, etc., and the heat dissipation requirements of the vehicle can be met to ensure vehicle safety.

[0041] The technical solution of this embodiment obtains the environmental image of the outside of the car through the image acquisition device 110, and sends a grille closing instruction to the active grille controller 120 when it is determined that the floccules in the environment exceed the preset amount according to the environmental image. When the active grille controller 120 receives the grille closing instruction, it obtains the external environmental temperature of the car and determines the current opening of the active grille 130, and closes the active grille 130 when the environmental temperature is greater than the set temperature value and the current active grille opening is less than the set opening value. The solution of this embodiment does not require the driver to identify the floccules. The vehicle can automatically identify the floccules, which can largely avoid the floccules from entering the vehicle and damaging the vehicle, and can also avoid identifying snow as catkins, etc., and can also meet the heat dissipation needs of the vehicle, reduce the vehicle cleaning work for catkins in spring, and ensure vehicle safety.

[0042] Optionally, the active grille controller 120 is further configured to reduce the opening of the active grille 130 when a grille closing instruction is received, the ambient temperature is greater than a set temperature value, and the current grille opening is greater than a set opening value.

[0043] When the automobile has a greater need for heat dissipation, the active grille 130 needs to be at a larger opening to meet the heat dissipation need. The opening of the active grille 130 can be appropriately reduced within a certain period of time to prevent flocs from entering the vehicle to a certain extent.

[0044] Figure 2 is another schematic diagram of a vehicle control system provided by an embodiment of the present invention, optionally, refer to Figure 2 , further comprising an engine controller 150 , a transmission controller 160 and an air conditioning controller 170 ;

[0045] The active grille controller 120 is further configured to receive a first heat dissipation instruction sent by the engine controller 150, receive a second heat dissipation instruction sent by the transmission controller 160, and receive a third heat dissipation instruction sent by the air conditioning controller 170, and determine a first opening of the active grille 130 according to the first heat dissipation instruction, the second heat dissipation instruction, and the third heat dissipation instruction;

[0046] The active grille controller 120 is further configured to adjust the opening of the active grille alternately to a first opening and a second opening when the grille closing instruction is received and the ambient temperature is greater than a set temperature value, wherein the second opening is smaller than the first opening.

[0047] Among them, the engine controller 150 has the function of continuously monitoring and controlling the normal operation of the engine, can monitor the engine heat dissipation demand in real time, and send the engine heat dissipation demand as the first heat dissipation instruction to the active grille controller 120; the transmission controller 160 compares the parameters obtained from each sensor, monitors the transmission heat dissipation demand in real time, and sends the transmission heat dissipation demand as the second heat dissipation instruction to the active grille controller 120; the air conditioning controller 170 can monitor the air conditioning system heat dissipation demand in real time, and send the air conditioning heat dissipation demand as the third heat dissipation instruction to the active grille controller 120. The active grille controller 120 receives three heat dissipation instructions and determines the first opening according to the maximum heat dissipation instruction. The first opening is the opening that meets the heat dissipation requirements of the engine, transmission and air conditioning system. By alternately adjusting the opening of the active grille to the first opening and the second opening, it can meet the heat dissipation requirements of the whole vehicle and effectively reduce the floccules from entering the cabin.

[0048] Optionally, the duration of each adjustment to the first opening is a first set duration, and the duration of each adjustment to the second opening is a second set duration, and the second set duration is shorter than the first set duration.

[0049] Among them, by setting the first opening to last for a longer time and the second opening to last for a shorter time, the heat dissipation of the car can be met to a greater extent and the safety of the car can be ensured.

[0050] Optionally, the active grille controller 120 is further used to determine whether the heat dissipation demand of the entire vehicle is met after reducing the opening of the active grille 130 . If the heat dissipation demand cannot be met, the opening of the active grille 130 is adjusted according to the heat dissipation demand.

[0051] Among them, after the opening of the active grille 130 is reduced to reduce the amount of catkins entering the car, in order to ensure the safety of the car, it is possible to monitor in real time whether the heat dissipation demand is met. For example, the active grille controller 120 sends an inquiry command to the engine controller 150, the transmission controller 160 and the air conditioning controller 170 at regular intervals to obtain the temperature of the engine, transmission and air conditioning system, and determine whether the temperature drops, thereby determining whether the heat dissipation demand is met. When the heat dissipation demand of the car is not met, the active grille controller 120 needs to increase the opening of the active grille 130 to give priority to meeting the heat dissipation demand of the entire vehicle and ensure the safety of the car.

[0052] Optionally, the active grille controller 120 is used to adjust the opening of the active grille 130 according to the heat dissipation demand of the vehicle when the ambient temperature is less than or equal to a set temperature value.

[0053] When the ambient temperature is less than or equal to 5 degrees Celsius or 10 degrees Celsius, there is basically no flocculent material such as catkins or poplar catkins in the external environment, and the image acquisition device 110 may capture snow. In addition, to meet the vehicle safety requirements, when the car has a heat dissipation requirement, the active grille 130 must first meet the heat dissipation requirement, and the active grille controller 120 can adjust the opening of the active grille 130 according to the heat dissipation requirement.

[0054] Figure 3 is another schematic diagram of a vehicle control system provided by an embodiment of the present invention, optionally, refer to Figure 3 , the image acquisition device 110 includes a camera 111 and an auxiliary driving controller 112;

[0055] The camera 111 is used to obtain an environmental image outside the vehicle and send the environmental image to the auxiliary driving controller 112;

[0056] The auxiliary driving controller 112 is used to send a grille closing instruction to the active grille controller 120 when it is determined based on the environmental image that the flocs in the environment exceed a preset amount.

[0057] Among them, the camera 111 can be a forward-looking ADAS camera, the auxiliary driving controller 112 can be an ADAS controller, the camera 111 can take pictures of the external environment of the car at set intervals, and the auxiliary driving controller 112 can analyze the environmental image obtained by the camera 111 to determine the content of flocs in the environment. When the auxiliary driving controller 112 recognizes that the amount of flocs in the environment reaches a preset amount, the exemplary set ratio is 5%, etc., and an instruction to close the grille can be sent to the active grille controller 120. This embodiment uses a forward-looking ADAS camera and an ADAS controller to identify catkins, which is only based on the original configuration of the vehicle, does not require additional hardware installation, and reduces costs.

[0058] Optionally, the air conditioning controller 170 is used to obtain the ambient temperature;

[0059] The active grille controller 120 is used to obtain the ambient temperature from the air conditioning controller 170 .

[0060] When the ambient temperature is low, there is basically no floccules such as catkins or poplar flocs in the external environment, and the flocs at this time may be snow. By monitoring the ambient temperature outside the car in real time by the air conditioning controller 170, it is possible to prevent heavy snow from being identified as floccules such as catkins.

[0061] Figure 4 is another schematic diagram of a vehicle control system provided by an embodiment of the present invention, optionally, refer to Figure 4 The automobile control system further includes a gateway 140 , through which the active grille controller 120 communicates with the engine controller 150 , the transmission controller 160 , and the air conditioning controller 170 .

[0062] Among them, the gateway can be used to receive and send information, and information interaction is carried out through the gateway 140, which is only based on the original configuration of the vehicle and does not require additional hardware installation, thereby reducing costs.

[0063] Figure 5 is a work flow chart of a vehicle control system provided by an embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment provides an example of a specific working process of a vehicle control system. Figure 5 , the working process of the automobile control system includes:

[0064] Step 210: The image acquisition device identifies the amount of flocs in the environment. When the amount of flocs reaches a preset amount, a grille closing instruction is sent to the active grille controller.

[0065] The flocs may be willow catkins or poplar catkins, etc. The auxiliary driving controller sends a signal to the active grille controller, which adjusts the opening of the active grille through the active grille controller.

[0066] Step 220: The active grille controller detects whether the ambient temperature is greater than 5°C.

[0067] Among them, the active grille controller can obtain the ambient temperature from the air-conditioning controller. When the ambient temperature is less than or equal to 5°C, there is no need to control the active grille according to the grille closing instruction. There will be basically no flocs such as catkins or poplar catkins in the external environment. What is photographed may be snow, which can prevent heavy snow from being misidentified as catkins. If the ambient temperature is higher than 5°C, proceed to the next step.

[0068] Step 230: The active grille controller detects whether the current active grille opening is greater than 50%.

[0069] Among them, if the current active grille opening is less than 50%, proceed to the next step. If the active grille opening required by the current vehicle heat dissipation is greater than 50%, there is no need to completely close the active grille according to the grille closing instruction, ensuring that the heat dissipation needs of the vehicle are prioritized and the safety of the vehicle is guaranteed.

[0070] Step 240: The active grille controller turns off the active grille.

[0071] Among them, closing the active grille can reduce the entry of flocs into the engine compartment. At this time, the opening of the active grille required by the whole vehicle for heat dissipation is continuously detected until the opening of the active grille required by the whole vehicle for heat dissipation is greater than 50%, and then the opening of the active grille is adjusted according to the opening of the active grille required for heat dissipation.

[0072] Step 250: There is no need to control the active grille to be fully closed according to the grille closing instruction.

[0073] The automobile control system provided in this embodiment can prevent flocs from entering the cabin, avoid misidentifying heavy snow as flocs such as catkins, and meet the heat dissipation needs of the entire vehicle to ensure the safety of the vehicle. At the same time, based on the original functional configuration of the vehicle, no additional hardware facilities need to be installed, and it is implemented on the basis of existing hardware solutions with low cost.

[0074] It should be understood that the various forms of processes shown above can be used to reorder, add or delete steps. For example, the steps described in the present invention can be executed in parallel, sequentially or in different orders, as long as the desired results of the technical solution of the present invention can be achieved, and this document does not limit this.

[0075] The above specific implementations do not constitute a limitation on the protection scope of the present invention. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and substitutions can be made according to design requirements and other factors. Any modification, equivalent substitution and improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A vehicle control system, characterized in that: include: An image acquisition device, an active grille controller and an active grille; The image acquisition device is used to acquire an environmental image outside the vehicle, and send a grille closing instruction to the active grille controller when it is determined according to the environmental image that floccules in the environment exceed a preset amount; The active grille controller is used to obtain the external ambient temperature of the vehicle and the current grille opening of the active grille when receiving the grille closing instruction, and close the active grille when the ambient temperature is greater than the set temperature value and the current grille opening is less than the set opening value.

2. The vehicle control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The active grille controller is further configured to reduce the opening of the active grille when the grille closing instruction is received, the ambient temperature is greater than a set temperature value, and the current grille opening is greater than a set opening value.

3. The vehicle control system according to claim 2, characterized in that: Also includes: Engine controller, transmission controller and air conditioning controller; The active grille controller is further configured to receive a first cooling instruction sent by the engine controller, a second cooling instruction sent by the transmission controller, and a third cooling instruction sent by the air conditioning controller, and determine a first opening of the active grille according to the first cooling instruction, the second cooling instruction, and the third cooling instruction; The active grille controller is further configured to adjust the opening of the active grille alternately to a first opening and a second opening when the grille closing instruction is received and the ambient temperature is greater than a predetermined temperature value, wherein the second opening is smaller than the first opening.

4. The vehicle control system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The duration of each adjustment to the first opening is a first set duration, and the duration of each adjustment to the second opening is a second set duration, and the second set duration is shorter than the first set duration.

5. The vehicle control system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The active grille controller is also used to determine whether the heat dissipation demand of the entire vehicle is met after reducing the opening of the active grille. If the heat dissipation demand cannot be met, the opening of the active grille is adjusted according to the heat dissipation demand.

6. The vehicle control system according to claim 2, characterized in that: include: The active grille controller is used to adjust the opening of the active grille according to the heat dissipation demand of the whole vehicle when the ambient temperature is less than or equal to the set temperature value.

7. The vehicle control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The image acquisition device includes a camera and an auxiliary driving controller; The camera is used to obtain an environmental image outside the car and send the environmental image to the auxiliary driving controller; The auxiliary driving controller is used to send a grille closing instruction to the active grille controller when it is determined according to the environmental image that the flocs in the environment exceed a preset amount.

8. The vehicle control system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The air conditioning controller is used to obtain the ambient temperature; The active grille controller is used to obtain the ambient temperature from the air conditioning controller.

9. The vehicle control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The floccules include willow fluff or poplar fluff.

10. The vehicle control system according to claim 3, characterized in that: Also includes: A gateway, the active grille controller communicates with the engine controller, the transmission controller and the air conditioning controller through the gateway.

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