Device for cleaning a detection system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for cleaning a detection system (6) arranged in a motor vehicle, the detection system (6) comprising a glass area (16), at least one detection device (20), and a device (22) for acquiring information from the detection device (20), the acquisition device acquiring the information at a first frequency (F1), the vehicle (1) comprising a cleaning device (8) employing pulsed air directed onto the glass area (16), the cleaning device projecting the pulsed air onto the glass area (16) of the detection system (6) at a second frequency (F2), the first frequency (F1) and the second frequency (F2) being substantially identical.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of motor vehicle cleaning systems. More particularly, this invention relates to systems for cleaning detection systems installed in motor vehicles. Background Technology

[0002] When detection systems (e.g., optical or electromagnetic sensors) are positioned behind the windshield of a motor vehicle, especially during weather conditions, these systems are indirectly cleaned by the movement of the windshield wiper system. To ensure reliable data reading, the detection system is configured to synchronize with the movement of the wiper system as it passes in front of it.

[0003] When the detection systems are not positioned behind the windshield of a motor vehicle, these systems may have a different glass area than the windshield, and this glass area may be subject to external accretion. These detection systems are associated with cleaning devices that are independent of and different from the windshield wiper system.

[0004] One problem with the cleaning devices in these detection systems is that, on the one hand, these cleaning devices must remain synchronized with the data captured by the detection system; on the other hand, these cleaning devices may require the creation of new control units to allow for this synchronization between the detection system and the cleaning device. In other words, when detection systems are configured to operate behind the windshield of a motor vehicle, including a wiper system, the performance of these detection systems and the reliability of the data captured are reduced when they are not similarly synchronized with the cleaning device. Summary of the Invention

[0005] Therefore, one objective of the present invention is to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages by providing an apparatus for cleaning a detection system configured to remain synchronized with data captured by the detection system. Alternatively, such a detection system may also be synchronized with a system used for wiping the windshield of a motor vehicle.

[0006] Therefore, the present invention relates to a method for cleaning a detection system equipped on a vehicle, the detection system including a glass area, at least one detection device, and means for acquiring information from the detection device, the vehicle including a cleaning device employing pulsed air directed onto the glass area, the acquiring means capturing information from the detection device at a given first frequency, and the cleaning device blowing pulsed air onto the glass area at a second frequency, the second frequency being the same as the first frequency ±10%.

[0007] This cleaning method for inspection systems allows the use of computing devices previously developed by automakers, thus avoiding the need for new upstream development. In other words, by means of the cleaning method of the present invention, inspection systems that are placed behind the windshield of motor vehicles in the prior art and thus configured to operate synchronously with systems used to wipe the windshield can operate reliably when these inspection systems are not placed behind the windshield, without the need for prior new development.

[0008] The vehicle is, for example, a motor vehicle that includes at least a windshield and a wiping system capable of wiping the surface of the windshield. According to a first example of the invention, the glass area of ​​the detection system may differ from the windshield of the motor vehicle. According to a second example of the invention, the glass area may also be a section of the windshield of the motor vehicle whose surface is not wiped by the wiping blades.

[0009] The glass area is positioned to face the detection device, thereby protecting the device from capturing information about the external environment of the motor vehicle. Therefore, it should be understood that the glass area is transparent or translucent to allow rays emitted and / or received by the detection device to pass through. For example, without limitation, the glass area can be glass or plexiglass.

[0010] The detection system can include any type of sensor / transmitter (optical sensor / transmitter, electromagnetic sensor / transmitter, or even ultrasonic sensor / transmitter).

[0011] More specifically, the detection system can take the form of, for example, an optical image capture sensor (such as a camera). This could be a problem with CCD sensors (CCD stands for charge-coupled device) or CMOS sensors that include a matrix array of miniature photodiodes. According to another example, the detection system can take the form of an infrared radiation sensor (such as an infrared camera).

[0012] Alternatively, for example, when the detection system is expected to transmit and receive radio waves, it can take the form of an electromagnetic transceiver, such as radar (radar stands for radio detection and ranging); when the detection system is expected to use laser-based remote sensing, it can take the form of lidar (liquid radar stands for light detection and ranging); or when the detection system is expected to transmit and receive infrared waves, it can take the form of an infrared transmitter / sensor.

[0013] When the detection system is intended to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves, it can also take the form of an acoustic radiation transceiver, for example.

[0014] Therefore, the detection system includes a detection device that transmits information about the external environment of the motor vehicle to an acquisition device, which can process such information. It should be understood that the acquisition device captures information at a first frequency, while the cleaning device blows pulsed air onto the glass area at a second frequency, which is the same as the first frequency ±10%.

[0015] The advantage of this feature mentioned above is that it allows the acquisition device to acquire data more reliably. In other words, when the cleaning device has blown away any dirt at a given frequency, leaving the glass area clean or nearly clean on the outside, the information captured by the acquisition device is more reliable.

[0016] According to one feature of the invention, the first frequency and the second frequency are the same.

[0017] According to one feature of the invention, the acquisition device acquires information from the detection device simultaneously with the cleaning device blowing pulsed air onto the glass area.

[0018] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the acquisition device obtains information from the detection device after the cleaning device blows pulsed air onto the glass area. In other words, the blowing of pulsed air can be synchronized with the acquisition of information, but the blowing of pulsed air can be offset so that it is blown exactly before this acquisition step in chronological order.

[0019] It should be understood that the simultaneous or offset action of the cleaning device positioning the glass area facing the detection device and the acquisition device capturing information allows for the acquisition of reliable information in the sense that there is little or no visual interference on the surface of the glass area at the moment the information is read. Therefore, the feature "simultaneous" means that there is a time interval of approximately 0 seconds between the time the information is captured from the detection device and the time the cleaning device blows pulsed air. "Offset" means a time interval of 2% to 25% of the length of time between the two times the information is captured from the detection device.

[0020] According to one feature of the invention, obtaining information from the detection device and blowing pulsed air onto the glass area depends on the detection of meteorological events.

[0021] Weather events can be, for example, rain, and the cleaning device can then remove any water droplets that fall onto the glass area of ​​the detection system.

[0022] According to one feature of the invention, meteorological events are detected by weather sensors.

[0023] The weather sensor can be, for example, a rain sensor. In a first example according to an embodiment of the invention, the rain sensor can thus be independent of the detection system and can be installed near the windshield of a motor vehicle. In a second example according to an embodiment of the invention, the rain sensor can also be integrated into the detection system.

[0024] According to one feature of the invention, the method includes at least one step of detecting a weather event by means of a weather sensor before the cleaning device blows pulsed air into the glass area.

[0025] Weather sensors (e.g., rain sensors) transmit data about weather conditions outside the vehicle to a control unit that includes an acquisition device. The control unit then processes the information transmitted by the rain sensor and, on the one hand, commands the acquisition device to capture information from the detection device at a first frequency, and on the other hand, commands a cleaning device to blow pulsed air onto the glass area at a second frequency equal to the first frequency.

[0026] According to one feature of the invention, the meteorological event data collected by the weather sensor includes at least one piece of data regarding the intensity of the meteorological event, and a first frequency for acquiring information from the detection device and a second frequency for the cleaning device to blow pulsed air onto the glass area are set based on this data indicating the intensity of the meteorological event.

[0027] Based on this characteristic, it can be understood that the first and second frequencies are directly related to the intensity of the meteorological event determined by the weather sensor. In other words, the greater the intensity of the meteorological event, the higher the first frequency for acquiring information from the detection device and the second frequency for blowing pulsed air onto the glass area.

[0028] The present invention also covers a motor vehicle equipped with a windshield and a system for detecting the environment outside the vehicle, the detection system including a glass area different from the windshield, at least one detection device, and means for obtaining information from the detection device, the motor vehicle including a cleaning device employing pulsed air directed to the glass area of ​​the detection system, the motor vehicle being configured to implement the cleaning method as defined above.

[0029] Therefore, it should be understood that the rays emitted or received by the detection system do not pass through the windshield of the motor vehicle, but rather through the glass area of ​​the detection system.

[0030] This method for cleaning detection systems is particularly advantageous when motor vehicles are in motion during weather events (such as rain).

[0031] According to one feature of the motor vehicle, the motor vehicle includes a system for wiping the windshield, the wiping system operating at a third frequency, the second frequency being the same as the third frequency ±10%.

[0032] The windshield wiper system includes at least one wiper blade, an arm supporting the wiper blade, and a motor for moving the arm and the wiper blade. Therefore, it should be understood that the wiper system is synchronized with the glass area of ​​the cleaning device's cleaning detection system.

[0033] It should also be understood that the first frequency at which the acquiring device obtains information from the detection device is the same as the third frequency at which the scraper blade moves.

[0034] The brush system can also be controlled by a control unit, which includes an acquisition device.

[0035] Then, the control unit connects to the weather sensor. Upon receiving data about a weather event (specifically, the intensity of that weather event), the control unit sends a signal to the motor of the wiper system to cause the motor to move the wiper blades at a third frequency. Simultaneously, the control unit sends a signal to the acquisition device to cause the acquisition device to capture information from the detection device at a first frequency. Finally, the control unit sends a signal to the cleaning device to cause the cleaning device to blow a pulsed airflow onto the glass area of ​​the detection system at a second frequency, the same as the first frequency.

[0036] Advantageously, the first, second, and third frequencies are equal to each other, and all actions associated with these frequencies are performed simultaneously or offset but at the same frequency. Attached Figure Description

[0037] Other features, details, and advantages of the invention will become clearer, on the one hand, by reading the following description, and on the other hand, by referring to the numerous examples of embodiments given in a non-limiting manner in the accompanying drawings:

[0038] [ Figure 1 [Illustration] is an overall view of a motor vehicle, which includes a windshield equipped with a wiper system and a detection system housed in the grille of the motor vehicle, to which a cleaning method according to the invention is applied;

[0039] [ Figure 2 [This is a schematic representation of the cleaning apparatus for the detection system implementing the present invention;]

[0040] [ Figure 3 [This is a set of graphs showing the usage frequency of the detection system, the cleaning system, and the scraping system.] Detailed Implementation

[0041] The features, variations, and various embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other in various combinations, provided that they are compatible or non-exclusive. In particular, it is conceivable that variations of the invention may include only the features selected below and described in isolation from the other features described, provided that such selection of features is sufficient to provide a technical advantage or to distinguish the invention from the prior art.

[0042] Figure 1 A motor vehicle 1 is shown, which includes at least a system 2 for wiping a windshield 4 and a system 6 for detecting the external environment of the motor vehicle 1. The detection system includes at least a detection device 20 and a device 22 for acquiring information from the detection device 20, and the wiping system and the detection system can form part of a driver assistance system of the vehicle 1. By way of non-limiting example, this driver assistance system of the vehicle 1 can consist of: an adaptive braking system, a system for keeping the vehicle in its lane, a parking assist system, or even an automatic or semi-automatic driving system.

[0043] According to one example of an embodiment, the detection system 6 is equipped with a cleaning device 8 ( Figure 2 As shown), the cleaning device allows the detection system 6 to remain clean, ensuring that the acquired data, which will be used subsequently, is reliable.

[0044] exist Figure 1 In the example shown, the detection system 6 is placed in the grille 10 of the motor vehicle 1, but it will be understood from the following text that such a detection system 6 may also be positioned or alternatively positioned relative to the motor vehicle 1 at the rear or side, or even in the rearview mirror of the vehicle.

[0045] The system 2 for wiping the windshield 4 includes at least a wiper blade 12, an arm 13 supporting the wiper blade, and at least one motor 14 capable of driving the wiper blade 12 to move on the windshield 4. In the example shown, the wiping system 2 includes two wiper blades 12 supported by two arms 13, all of which are driven to move by the motor 14. Such movement of the wiper blades 12 on the surface of the windshield 4 allows the removal of rain splashes or any other visual disturbances from the windshield. More specifically, the wiping system 2 allows wiping of a wiping area 17 on the windshield 4 corresponding to the area of ​​the windshield 4 wiped by the wiper blades 12. This allows the driver of the motor vehicle 1 to have a clear view of the road. Furthermore, in a variant where the motor vehicle 1 includes at least one data acquisition sensor 15 positioned behind the windshield 4 and in the area 17 wiped by the wiping system 2, the data acquisition sensor 15 is capable of reading reliable data without visual interference.

[0046] According to the present invention, and in order to make the data acquisition of the detection system 6 more reliable, the cleaning device 8 ( Figure 2 The arrangement shown ensures that the glass area 16 of the detection system 6 is kept clean.

[0047] Now regarding Figure 2 and Figure 3 The cleaning device 8, the detection system 6, and the method for cleaning the detection system 6 are described in more detail.

[0048] Figure 2 This is a schematic representation of the communication and control links between the detection system 6, the cleaning device 8, the scraping system 2, and the control unit 18.

[0049] The detection system 6 includes at least a device 22 for acquiring information from the detection device 20 and a glass area 16.

[0050] The function of the acquisition device 22 is to acquire information captured by the detection device 20 and process that information to provide, for example, information to the vehicle's assistance device 23. According to a non-limiting example, the acquisition device 22 may process the information in a manner that transmits an estimate of the distance of the vehicle relative to obstacles outside the vehicle. In the context of parking assistance, this distance estimate may then be used by the assistance device 23 to transmit information to the driver, or in the context of an adaptive braking system, this distance estimate may even be used by the vehicle itself.

[0051] The glass area 16 is positioned facing the detection device 20 so that the detection device can capture information about the external environment of the motor vehicle. The glass area 16 is thus a transparent or translucent area to allow rays emitted and received by the detection device 20 to pass through. For example, the glass area 16 can be glass or resin glass. Furthermore, advantageously, the glass area 16 can be hydrophobic due to direct treatment of the material or due to a hydrophobic coating.

[0052] The glass region 16 may be an integral part of the detection device 20 or an element added to the detection device. Advantageously, if the glass region 16 is not an integral part of the detection device 20, then the glass region 16 is configured such that its size is the same as or substantially the same as the size of the detection device 20 and, for example, the same as or substantially the same as the size of the area of ​​the transmitting and / or receiving region of the detection device 20.

[0053] The glass area 16 of the detection system 6 is rotated to face the exterior of the vehicle 1 and is therefore exposed to water splashes or other environmental contaminants. Liquids may thus be present on the glass area 16, and these liquids may correspond to raindrops during inclement weather. Therefore, the number of raindrops may vary depending on the weather, but these raindrops are randomly distributed on the glass area 16. Thus, the function performed by the cleaning device 8 is to remove these water droplets from the glass area 16 to prevent them from adversely affecting the acquisition device 22's acquisition of data from the detection device 20 through the glass area 16.

[0054] According to the present invention, the cleaning device 8 is a pulsed air cleaning device 8. More specifically, the cleaning device 8 is capable of directing an airflow with sufficient pressure and velocity to remove water droplets from the glass area 16 onto the glass area 16 of the detection device 20. The pulsed airflow should not be considered limited to removing water droplets, as such pulsed airflow can also be used for other contaminants, such as dust.

[0055] Windshield 4 of motor vehicle 1 Figure 2 (As shown) includes a wiper system 2 and a weather sensor 24. The function of the weather sensor 24 is to detect weather events in the external environment of the vehicle 1. Thus, the weather sensor 24 can be, for example, a rain sensor 26 capable of detecting raindrops hitting the windshield 4. Therefore, it should be understood that the rain sensor 26 is placed on / in the vehicle 1 in a manner that enables it to sense weather phenomena.

[0056] Therefore, the rain sensor 26 can be placed near the windshield 4 of the motor vehicle 1 (e.g., Figure 2 (as shown), but according to an example not shown, the rain sensor can also be integrated into detection system 6.

[0057] Weather sensor 24 can also be configured to collect at least one piece of information about a meteorological event (e.g., the intensity of the meteorological event). In this case, rain sensor 26 is able to collect information about rainwater by means of its contact area, which allows for estimation of rainwater intensity. Rain sensor 26 should be considered capable of collecting any type of information related to meteorological events, but this document will only describe the use of intensity.

[0058] After weather sensor 24 detects a weather event, it transmits at least one piece of information related to the weather event (in particular, the intensity of the weather event) to control unit 18.

[0059] The function of the control unit 18 is to control the squeegee system 2 and the detection system 6 and to implement the cleaning method. More specifically, on the one hand, the control unit 18 communicates with the motor 14 of the squeegee system 2; on the other hand, the control unit communicates with the acquisition device 22 of the detection system 6 and the device 8 for cleaning the glass area 16 of the detection device 20; and finally, optionally, the control unit communicates with the data acquisition sensor 15 located behind the windshield 4, and the observation area of ​​the data acquisition sensor is used for squeegeeing (i.e., cleaning) the windshield 4 of the motor vehicle by the system 2.

[0060] When a meteorological phenomenon (here, rain) occurs in the environment outside the vehicle and the rain sensor 26 detects raindrops hitting the windshield 4 of the vehicle, the cleaning method according to the invention begins. The rain sensor 26 then collects information about this meteorological event, particularly about its intensity, which represents the weight of the rain falling outside the vehicle. It should be understood that this intensity of the rain is not preset, but rather increases or decreases with weather changes. The rain sensor 26 then continuously captures the intensity of the rain to transmit information characterizing the meteorological state to the control unit 18 in real time.

[0061] Then, the control unit 18 processes the intensity data to deduce the operating frequency of the cleaning device 8, the operating frequency of the wiping system 2, and the operating frequency of the device 22 for acquiring information from the detection device 20. More specifically, the control unit 18 sets a third frequency F3 for the swing of the arm 13 of the wiper blade 12 based on the rain intensity captured by the rain sensor 26. It should be understood that the third frequency F3 for the movement of the arm 13 of the wiper blade 12 is determined by the control unit 18 to ensure that the driver of the motor vehicle has a reliable view of the road he is driving on. Subsequently, the control unit 18 requests the acquisition device 22 to acquire information from the detection device 20 at a first frequency F1, which is the same as the third frequency F3 for the swing of the arm 13 of the wiper blade 12. Finally, the control unit 18 commands the cleaning device 8 to blow pulsed air toward the glass area 16 of the detection device 20 at a second frequency F2, which is the same as the first frequency F1 ± 10% of the information acquired by the acquisition device 22 from the detection device 20.

[0062] Optionally, the data acquisition sensor 15 captures data from outside the vehicle in synchronization with the third frequency F3 of the swing of the arm 13 of the wiper blade 12. It should be understood that this feature allows the data acquisition sensor 15 to capture reliable data that is read after the wiper area 17 has been wiped by the wiper blade 12.

[0063] The first frequency F1, the second frequency F2, and the third frequency F3 are in Figure 3The diagram shows three graphs representing each of these frequencies. In these three graphs, the x-axis corresponds to time, while the y-axis corresponds to the action of the acquisition device, the action of the cleaning device, or the action of the scraping system.

[0064] According to one feature of the invention, the first frequency F1 at which the acquisition device 22 acquires data from the detection device 20 and the second frequency F2 at which the cleaning device 8 blows pulsed air toward the glass region 16 of the detection device 20 are the same.

[0065] Advantageously, the acquisition device 22 acquires information from the detection device 20 simultaneously with the blowing of pulsed air onto the glass area 16, or alternatively, the acquisition is offset (i.e., occurs chronologically exactly after the blowing of pulsed air). These features have the advantage that, since the cleaning device 8 simultaneously blows a pulsed airflow onto the glass area 16, there is no visual disturbance in the glass area 16 of the detection device 20, thereby improving the reliability of the information acquired by the acquisition device 22. Another advantage is that the computing devices used in this invention have already been developed and validated by manufacturers of motor vehicles equipped with this invention, thus avoiding new development and limiting the costs associated with this invention.

[0066] In addition, such as Figure 3 As shown, the second frequency F2 mentioned above is the same as the third frequency F3 ± 10% of the movement of the scraper system 2 (more specifically, the scraper blade 12 driven by the motor 14 of the scraper system 2).

[0067] Therefore, it should be understood that the advantage of the detection system cleaning method described above is that it does not require a new control unit to operate, or a new system for calculating the frequency based on the intensity. Therefore, this method can be implemented in motor vehicles that already include devices for calculating how the acquisition system should be operated.

[0068] The present invention has achieved the following objectives: ensuring optimal cleaning of the glass area of ​​the detection system via easily implementable devices and ensuring the reliability of the information acquired by the detection device and subsequently processed by the acquisition device.

[0069] However, the invention is not limited to the devices and configurations described and shown; the invention is also applicable to any equivalent devices or configurations and any combination of such devices or configurations.

Claims

1. A method for cleaning a detection system (6) equipped on a vehicle (1), the detection system (6) including a glass area (16), at least one detection device (20), and means (22) for acquiring information from the detection device (20), the vehicle (1) including a cleaning device (8) employing pulsed air directed onto the glass area (16), the acquiring means (22) capturing information from the detection device (20) at a given first frequency (F1), and the cleaning device (8) blowing the pulsed air onto the glass area (16) at a second frequency (F2), the second frequency being the same as the first frequency (F1) ±10%.

2. The cleaning method as described in claim 1, wherein, The first frequency (F1) and the second frequency (F2) are the same.

3. The cleaning method as described in any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The acquisition device (22) acquires information from the detection device (20) simultaneously with the cleaning device (8) blowing pulsed air onto the glass area (16).

4. The cleaning method according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein, The acquisition device (22) acquires information from the detection device (20) after the cleaning device (8) blows pulsed air onto the glass area (16).

5. The cleaning method according to any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein, Obtaining information from the detection device (20) and blowing pulsed air onto the glass area (16) depends on the detection of meteorological events.

6. The cleaning method as described in claim 5, wherein, The meteorological events are detected by weather sensors (24).

7. The cleaning method of claim 6, wherein, during the process of the method, before the cleaning device (8) blows pulsed air onto the glass area (16), the method includes at least one step of detecting the weather event by means of the weather sensor (24).

8. The cleaning method as described in claim 7, wherein, The weather event data collected by the weather sensor (24) includes at least one data point about the intensity of the weather event, which controls the first frequency (F1) at which information is obtained from the detection device (20) and the second frequency (F2) at which the cleaning device (8) blows the pulsed air onto the glass area (16).

9. A motor vehicle (1) equipped with a windshield (4) and a system (6) for detecting the environment outside the vehicle, the detection system (6) including a glass area (16) different from the windshield (4), at least one detection device (20), and means (22) for obtaining information from the detection device (20), the motor vehicle (1) including a cleaning device (8) employing pulsed air directed to the glass area (16) of the detection system (6), the motor vehicle (1) being configured to perform the cleaning method as described in any of the preceding claims.

10. The motor vehicle (1) as claimed in claim 9, the motor vehicle including a system (2) for wiping the windshield (4), the wiping system (2) operating at a third frequency (F3), the second frequency (F2) being the same as the third frequency (F3) ±10%.

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