System and method for operating vehicle functions

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (1) for operating vehicle functions of a motor vehicle (3). The system (1) is designed to detect, during a stationary state of the motor vehicle (3), a rainfall state and a brightness of a location where the motor vehicle (3) is located at a plurality of points in time by means of the sensor system (101, 102, 103, 104); storing information about the detected rainfall state and brightness; and operating a vehicle function of the motor vehicle (3) on the basis of the stored information.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a system and a method for operating a vehicle function of a motor vehicle. In particular, the invention relates to automatically executing a vehicle function of a motor vehicle based on environmental data detected by means of a sensor system while the motor vehicle is stationary. Background Art

[0002] Most motor vehicles today are equipped with a number of sensors that support the operation of various vehicle functions. During driving operation of the vehicle lights, the lighting function, ventilation function, air conditioning function or wiper function can be operated, for example, based on sensor information that is detected by a rain-light-solar-water sensor (RLSBS) arranged in the area of ​​the windshield. In addition, relevant weather information can be obtained, for example, from a backend or the Internet using the GPS position of the motor vehicle and can also be taken into account when operating such vehicle functions.

[0003] There is a need to better coordinate the control of vehicle functions with environmental parameters. In this regard, the energy consumption of the sensor systems and processing electronics involved should be as low as possible. Summary of the invention

[0004] Starting from this, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved system and a corresponding method for operating a vehicle function as a function of surrounding data acquired by means of sensors.

[0005] This object is achieved by the features of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0006] It is pointed out that the additional features of a claim that is dependent on an independent claim may form an invention of its own, independent of the combination of all features of the independent claim, without the features of the independent claim or only in combination with a subset of the features of the independent claim, which invention may become the subject of an independent claim, a divisional application or a subsequent application. This applies in the same way to technical teachings described in the specification that may form an invention independent of the features of the independent claim.

[0007] A first aspect of the present invention relates to a system for operating a vehicle function of a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle may be, in particular, a road-going motor vehicle, for example an electrically driven passenger car.

[0008] According to the invention, a system is designed to operate a vehicle function based on environmental data recorded while the motor vehicle is stationary. In particular, the system is designed to detect the rainfall conditions and brightness in the environment of the motor vehicle at a plurality of time points while the motor vehicle is stationary by means of a sensor system, store information about the detected rainfall conditions and brightness, and operate a vehicle function of the motor vehicle based on the stored information.

[0009] In this context, a stationary state of a motor vehicle is to be understood as a state that is relatively energy-efficient compared to a state in which the motor vehicle is immediately ready to drive or is even driving. Usually, a parked motor vehicle (whose drive is not running) is in such an energy-efficient stationary state. In the stationary state, basic monitoring functions etc. are usually still performed in any case, which only load the onboard electrical system to a small extent.

[0010] Information about the rainfall state should be understood in particular as a statement about whether it is raining at the relevant point in time. Optionally, this information can also indicate the rainfall intensity.

[0011] According to an embodiment, the sensor system described above is also in an energy-saving standby mode for most of the time when the motor vehicle is stationary. The system is designed to wake up the sensor system from its standby mode shortly before a plurality of times at which environmental data should be detected, in order to be able to detect the rainfall conditions and the brightness (and possibly other environmental data, such as temperature and / or humidity). It is preferably provided that, during the detection of environmental information by means of the sensor system, the entire motor vehicle is not woken up from its stationary state and supplied with power; instead, the motor vehicle preferably remains stationary during the sensor recording of a plurality of times.

[0012] The idea of ​​the present invention is that environmental information, such as weather information, is becoming increasingly important in order to correctly determine the vehicle state of the motor vehicle when starting and to carry out certain adjustments or to be able to operate vehicle functions based on this. In system solutions known from the prior art, weather information is determined by the vehicle sensor system when starting and while the motor vehicle is driving, but not in the time between parking and restarting the motor vehicle.

[0013] Furthermore, it is known to access a backend or the Internet in order to determine weather data, wherein the current location of the motor vehicle can be taken into account by means of the GPS position. However, it can happen that the weather data determined with the aid of such global weather data do not match the actual state of the motor vehicle, for example if the motor vehicle is located in a protected environment, such as in an underground garage, in a garage or under a carport. In these cases, it can be inferred from the global weather data, for example, that the vehicle was exposed to rain in the last two days, whereas the vehicle was actually located in a garage during this period and was protected from the rain.

[0014] The solution proposed here overcomes this problem in that environmental data, in particular environmental data relating to the rainfall conditions, temperature and brightness, are repeatedly detected and stored during the stationary state of the vehicle (if necessary also for a longer period of time). When the motor vehicle is started, the recorded data can be sent to one or more control units for one or more vehicle functions, so that the corresponding vehicle functions can be executed based on the recorded environmental data. As a result, the vehicle functions can be specifically adapted to the environmental conditions in which the vehicle is located during its stationary state. It can also be provided that, at specific individual or combined environmental data detected at one or more points in time, the motor vehicle or a functional component of the motor vehicle is woken up from the stationary state in order to activate appropriate actions (e.g. light display, air conditioning, etc.) in a timely manner in response to the environmental conditions.

[0015] Furthermore, the proposed solution is advantageous in that it can be used without a backend or the Internet and also without a corresponding communication connection, if necessary. Thus, a motor vehicle parked in an underground garage (which currently has no access to a mobile phone connection) can also locally operate the system described here or locally carry out the method proposed here.

[0016] According to an embodiment, it is provided that between a plurality of time points at which environmental data are detected, there is a time interval in the range of 10 minutes to 200 minutes, preferably in the range of 15 minutes to 60 minutes, for example about 20 minutes or 30 minutes. For example, a constant time interval with such a duration can be provided between a plurality of time points at which the sensor system detects the corresponding environmental data.

[0017] According to an extended solution, the system is also designed to detect temperature (in particular the ambient temperature of the motor vehicle) and / or humidity at each point in time in addition to rainfall conditions and brightness with the aid of a sensor system, to store information about the detected temperature and / or humidity, and also to operate vehicle functions based on the stored information about the detected temperature and / or humidity.

[0018] According to an embodiment, the sensor system is arranged in the region of the windshield of the motor vehicle, for example in the form of a rain-light sensor module or a rain-light-solar-water vapor sensor module. Generally, the sensor system can be arranged in a sensor module, which, in addition to the actual sensors, can also include a data processing device for operating the corresponding sensors and a data memory connected to the data processing device for storing the detected information.

[0019] According to an embodiment, the system is designed to transmit the stored information (for example in the form of a compact measurement data report) to a control device for controlling vehicle functions of the motor vehicle when the motor vehicle is started or woken up from a standstill in another way. In this case, the vehicle functions can be operated based on the stored information after the motor vehicle has come to a standstill, for example during driving.

[0020] However, within the scope of the invention, the system can also be designed to wake up the motor vehicle from a stationary state of the motor vehicle based on the information about the rainfall state and brightness (and possibly further environmental data such as temperature and / or humidity) detected at one or more points in time and then promptly execute the vehicle function. In other words, according to some embodiments, the operation of the vehicle function based on the stored information can also include waking up the motor vehicle from a stationary state based on the detected environmental conditions. Furthermore, within the scope of the invention, one or more vehicle functions can still be executed based on the stored information when the motor vehicle is stationary.

[0021] The vehicle functions that run according to the stored functions can include, for example, interior and / or exterior lighting functions of the motor vehicle. Thus, the stored environmental information can be used, for example, to activate or deactivate one or more activated light functions at night based on this.

[0022] Based on the stored information (and possibly additional detected information, such as the driver's approach to the motor vehicle detected by sensors), a light display can be performed, for example, including headlights and / or taillights, turn indicators, interior lighting and / or light projection onto the ground near the motor vehicle, in the form of a welcome display ("welcome light"), for example. This display function requires a lot of energy to continuously monitor whether the driver is in the vicinity of the vehicle, for example within a radius of 5 m around the vehicle. In order to save power, this function should therefore only be performed at night or in a dark vehicle environment. In this regard, the present invention makes it possible to immediately wake up the control device that controls the light display in the event of a state change between day and night that is detected with the aid of brightness information, and thus to provide a light display function.

[0023] According to another embodiment, the vehicle function includes at least one ventilation function and / or air conditioning function. For example, when the motor vehicle is started, the vehicle interior can be ventilated or air-conditioned according to the stored information about the environmental conditions.

[0024] Within the scope of the invention, vehicle functions may also include drive functions and / or braking functions of the motor vehicle. For example, it can be provided that the stored information is used to control active braking during driving after a standstill and to specifically avoid corrosion of the brakes after the vehicle has been exposed to rain. In the case of an electrically driven motor vehicle, if the stored information can infer that the motor vehicle has been exposed to rain and / or humidity to a certain extent or for a certain duration during its standstill, which could lead to corrosion of components of the brake system, then, for example, it can be specifically braked less by recuperation (i.e. by energy recovery by the electric drive) and, alternatively, actively braked more by conventional brake systems. In this case, additionally stored temperature information can also be incorporated into this decision, for example.

[0025] In this case, it is advantageous for the solution according to the invention that the information about rainfall and humidity cannot therefore be obtained, for example, solely by means of the GPS position of the vehicle in combination with weather data from the Internet or a backend. On the contrary, the brightness and rainfall status information stored according to the invention can provide added value in particular, based on which, for example, it can be determined that the vehicle was in a protected environment, for example, in an underground garage, a few days before the start of the journey. For example, it can be derived from the stored brightness data that the vehicle is in such a protected environment, and the stored rain sensor data can directly confirm that the motor vehicle has not been exposed to rain during the last few days. In this case, it is therefore possible that, although it has been raining for a long time according to the global weather data, this may not mean that the emphasis should be shifted from recuperation to active braking by means of the brake system during the driving operation, because after the vehicle has been stationed in the garage, there is no risk of corrosion of the brakes.

[0026] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a method for operating a vehicle function of a motor vehicle is provided. The method comprises the following steps: during a stationary state of the motor vehicle, detecting corresponding rainfall conditions and corresponding brightness in the environment of the motor vehicle at a plurality of time points by means of a sensor system; storing information about the detected rainfall conditions and brightness; and operating the vehicle function of the motor vehicle according to the stored information.

[0027] The method according to the second aspect of the invention can be performed in particular by a system according to the first aspect of the invention. For example, the system can have a data processing device, which is programmed to automatically perform all or some of the method steps in the above-mentioned method steps. Such a data processing device can, for example, include one or more processors on which the computing operations required for executing such a computer program are run. In addition, the data processing device or system can have a data memory for recording information about the detected environmental conditions.

[0028] The above and subsequent embodiments of the system according to the first aspect of the invention can also be related to the method according to the second aspect of the invention in an analogous manner. In this case, advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention which are not explicitly described in the claims correspond to advantageous embodiments of the system according to the invention which are described in the description or in the claims, and vice versa. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The present invention will now be explained in detail with the aid of exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. The features and feature combinations mentioned in the description and / or shown individually in the drawings may be used not only in the respectively described combination but also in other combinations or alone without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 1A A motor vehicle is shown schematically and exemplarily, the motor vehicle having a system for operating a vehicle function of the motor vehicle as a function of environmental information detected while the motor vehicle is stationary.

[0031] Figure 1B Schematically and exemplarily shown Figure 1A Details of the system,

[0032] Figure 2 A schematic flow chart of a method for operating a vehicle function of a motor vehicle as a function of environmental information detected while the motor vehicle is stationary is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Figure 1A A motor vehicle 3 is shown in a top view, which is equipped with a system 1 for operating vehicle functions as a function of environmental information detected while the motor vehicle 3 is stationary.

[0034] The system 1 comprises a sensor module 10 in the form of a rain-light-solar-water vapor sensor (RLSBS), which is arranged in the upper center region of the windshield (in the region of the interior rearview mirror) of the motor vehicle 3. The sensor module 10 is connected to a control device 11 for vehicle functions by means of data technology and is designed to transmit stored environmental data to the control device 11.

[0035] Figure 1B Shown in greater detail Figure 1A Schematic diagram of a system 1 and in particular a sensor module 10 .

[0036] The sensor module 10 includes a sensor system having a rain sensor 101, a light sensor 102, a solar sensor 103 and a water vapor sensor 104. Such sensors 101, 102, 103, 104 are known to those skilled in the art as part of an RLSBS. For example, the rain sensor 101 can be a photoelectric sensor that identifies that it is raining by means of the reflection characteristics changed by raindrops. This information can be used, for example, to control a wiper system. The light sensor 102 can include one or more photodiodes for detecting ambient brightness. This information can be used, for example, to automatically turn on and off the driving lights. The solar sensor 103 can be designed to detect the intensity of solar radiation on the driver's side and the co-pilot's side through each photodiode. The information can be used, for example, for the adjustment of an air conditioning device adapted to the situation. The water vapor sensor 104 detects the air humidity in the area of ​​the windshield and the temperature on the inside of the windshield by means of a capacitive sensor. The dew point can be calculated based on these measured values. When using information about the dew point, the glass water vapor can be prevented or reduced in advance by appropriately adjusting or activating the ventilation device and / or the air conditioning device.

[0037] exist Figures 1A to 1B In the example, the control unit 11 represents one or more control units for controlling various vehicle functions. For example, interior and / or exterior lighting functions, light displays, ventilation functions and / or air conditioning functions or (especially in the case of electrically driven motor vehicles 3) drive functions and / or braking functions can be operated based on the stored information by the corresponding control unit 11.

[0038] The system 1 is designed to detect at least one rainfall state and brightness in the environment of the motor vehicle 3 at a plurality of time points, respectively, during the stationary state of the motor vehicle 3. To this end, the data processing device 105 of the sensor module 10 can wake up the rain sensor 101 and the light sensor 102 (and the optional additional solar sensor 103) from the energy-saving standby mode at regular time intervals (for example, every 20 or 30 minutes), and store the corresponding rainfall state and the corresponding brightness in the data memory 106. In addition to the brightness and rainfall state, other environmental data, such as the temperature and / or humidity detected by the water vapor sensor 104, can also be detected and stored at each of the plurality of time points.

[0039] For example, time intervals in the range of 10 minutes to 200 minutes, preferably in the range of 15 minutes to 60 minutes, can be set between the multiple time points. For example, constant time intervals of detection, for example every 20 minutes or every 30 minutes, are conceivable. The time intervals can be configured as required to achieve different granularities of recording environmental data according to the needs of the functional application.

[0040] As already mentioned, the data processing device 105 can be designed to send the stored information to the control device 11 when the motor vehicle is awakened from a standstill, i.e. when it is started. For example, the stored information can be sent in the form of a report, which includes a compact summary of the recorded measured values ​​and the relevant time points. For example, after a parking time of several days for the motor vehicle 3, such a report can provide information at 250 time points in each case, from which it can be seen when and how long the vehicle was exposed to rain at its location, when and how long the environment of the motor vehicle 3 was bright or dark, what temperature was present at different times, and whether the vehicle interior was wet at different times.

[0041] Such environmental information detected over a longer period of time (e.g., over several days) can be advantageously used, for example, to determine whether corrosion of components of the motor vehicle 3 is to be expected due to the environmental conditions to which the motor vehicle 3 is subjected while it is stationary. This may particularly concern the brakes of the motor vehicle 3. Based on the stored information, a braking function that eliminates corrosion can be activated in a targeted manner, if necessary. In particular, in electrically driven vehicles, more or less active braking (as opposed to recuperation by the electrically driven machine) can be carried out in a targeted manner, for example, in order to counteract a possible collision.

[0042] In the example scenario, it can be determined relatively reliably with the help of information about temperature, brightness, humidity and / or water vapor recorded over a period of several days that the vehicle is most likely located in a garage. Therefore, it is not considered that the motor vehicle 3 is exposed to conditions that promote moisture-induced corrosion of the brakes. In this case, countermeasures in the form of a targeted increase in the proportion of active braking (as opposed to recuperation) are not necessary, and the drive or braking functions of the motor vehicle 3 can accordingly be operated normally, i.e., with a focus on electrical recuperation, for example. It should be noted here that, in particular in the case of the described corrosion problems, long-term data monitoring can be advantageous, since such effects can also occur, for example, within a few days after the motor vehicle 3 was last exposed to a humid environment.

[0043] The data processing device 105 of the sensor module 10 can also be designed to wake up the motor vehicle 3 from a stationary state of the motor vehicle based on the information about the rainfall state and brightness (and possibly other environmental data such as temperature and humidity) detected at one or more points in time, so that vehicle functions can be executed in a timely manner in response to these environmental conditions. This may, for example, involve the timely activation of the light display function when the vehicle environment changes from day to night or from light to darkness. Activating the light display here means switching the light display system to a state in which it monitors the vehicle environment to detect a possible approach of the driver to the motor vehicle 3 in order to execute a welcome display.

[0044] Since according to the invention the sensor systems 101, 102, 103, 104 are not continuously active while the motor vehicle 3 is stationary, but are instead awakened only briefly from an energy-saving standby mode at multiple points in time in order to detect corresponding measured values, it is possible to monitor and record environmental conditions in an energy-saving manner over longer periods of time (e.g. several days).

[0045] Figure 2 A flow chart of a method 2 for operating a driving function of a motor vehicle 3 based on environmental information detected during a stationary state of the motor vehicle 3 is schematically shown. Figure 1A to Figure 1B In other words, method 2 can be performed by system 1, or system 1 can be designed to perform method 2.

[0046] Accordingly, the method comprises in particular the following steps 21, 22, 23: while the motor vehicle 3 is stationary, at multiple time points, detecting 21 corresponding rainfall conditions and corresponding brightness in the environment of the motor vehicle 3 with the aid of sensor systems 101, 102, 103, 104; storing 22 information about the detected rainfall conditions and brightness; and operating 23 vehicle functions of the motor vehicle 3 according to the stored information.

[0047] Further details and possible embodiments of the method 2 correspond to the above explanations of the system 1 .

Claims

1. A system (1) for operating a vehicle function of a motor vehicle (3), wherein the system (1) is designed to: - while the motor vehicle (3) is stationary, detecting the rainfall conditions and brightness at the location of the motor vehicle (3) at multiple time points with the aid of sensor systems (101, 102, 103, 104); - storing information about the detected rainfall status and the brightness; and - operating a vehicle function of the motor vehicle (3) as a function of the stored information.

2. The system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the system (1) is designed to: - in addition to the rainfall state and the brightness, the temperature is also detected at each time point by means of the sensor system (101, 102, 103, 104); - storing information about said detected temperature; and - operating said vehicle function as a function of the stored information about said detected temperature.

3. The system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system (1) is designed to: - in addition to the rainfall state and the brightness, the humidity is also detected at each time point by means of the sensor system (101, 102, 103, 104); - storing information about said detected humidity; and - operating said vehicle function as a function of the stored information about said detected humidity.

4. The system (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein there is a time interval between the plurality of time points in the range of 10 minutes to 200 minutes.

5. The system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the vehicle functions include one or more of the following functions: - interior and / or exterior lighting functions of the motor vehicle (3); - Light display; - ventilation function and / or air conditioning function; - Driving function and / or braking function.

6. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system (1) is designed to wake up the sensor system (101, 102, 103, 104) from an energy-saving standby mode before the multiple time points in order to be able to detect the rainfall status and the brightness.

7. A system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system (1) is designed to send the stored information to a control device (11) for controlling the vehicle functions when the motor vehicle (3) is awakened from a stationary state of the motor vehicle.

8. The system (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the system (1) is designed to wake up the motor vehicle (3) from a stationary state of the motor vehicle based on information about rainfall conditions and brightness detected at one or more points in time.

9. The system (1) according to claim 1, wherein the sensor system (101, 102, 103, 104) is arranged in the region of a windshield of the motor vehicle (3).

10. A method (2) for operating a vehicle function of the motor vehicle (3), comprising the following steps: - while the motor vehicle (3) is stationary, detecting (21) at a plurality of time points the corresponding rainfall conditions and the corresponding brightness of the location of the motor vehicle (3) by means of a sensor system (101, 102, 103, 104); - storing (22) information about the detected rainfall status and the brightness; as well as - operating (23) a vehicle function of the motor vehicle (3) as a function of the stored information.

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