Vehicle windshield glass defrosting control system and method

Abstract

The invention discloses a vehicle windshield glass defrosting control system, the system is provided with a frosting detection sensor fixed on a vehicle window and a frosting detection module fixed indoors, the frosting detection sensor is connected with the frosting detection module, the frosting detection sensor receives a working instruction of the frosting detection module, and the frosting detection module is connected with the frosting detection sensor. The defrosting execution device is connected with the vehicle-mounted communication module and feeds back induction parameters to the frosting detection module, the frosting detection module is connected with the vehicle-mounted communication module through a whole vehicle CAN network and sends a frosting judgment signal to the vehicle-mounted communication module, the vehicle-mounted communication module is connected with the vehicle body controller and outputs a control signal to the vehicle body controller, and the vehicle body controller drives the defrosting execution device to work. The method has the advantages of being high in real-time performance, more reliable in physical detection, higher in defrosting efficiency and the like, the parameters of the surface of the window glass are obtained through the defrosting sensor, whether the frosting condition exists or not can be accurately obtained through data judgment, and therefore the misjudgment probability is reduced, and better experience is provided for a user.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of intelligent automobile defrosting. Background Art

[0002] In the cold winter, especially in northern China, when a vehicle is parked outdoors overnight, frost on the windshield has become a common and frequent phenomenon. Whether it is manual defrosting with tools or on-site defrosting using the vehicle's air conditioner, it is time-consuming and labor-intensive, and brings a poor user experience.

[0003] Currently, there are also defrosting systems that can be remotely controlled, such as the public document with publication number CN107176140A, publication date September 19, 2017, and patent name "A vehicle remote defrosting system and its control method", which discloses a vehicle remote defrosting system and its control method, and relates to the technical field of automobile auxiliary components. The system includes an image acquisition unit, a remote monitoring unit, and an information transmission unit. The image acquisition unit is used to acquire an image of the windshield of the corresponding vehicle. The remote monitoring unit is used to send a request message to the corresponding vehicle based on the acquired windshield image, when it is determined that the windshield of the vehicle is frosted, and remotely start the defrosting system for defrosting. The information transmission unit is used to build a data communication network between the image acquisition unit and the remote monitoring unit.

[0004] However, similar systems are prone to misjudgment when judging whether there is frost, and frost is a physical phenomenon caused by a variety of environmental conditions, such as ambient temperature and temperature difference, ambient humidity, ambient wind speed, etc. The current judgment of defrosting, such as judging by weather forecasts, may result in low accuracy and false alarms. Visual judgment through cameras may result in misjudgment due to other debris or insufficient light. Therefore, it is necessary to design a remote defrosting system that can accurately judge and reduce the probability of misjudgment. Summary of the invention

[0005] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to realize a method of collecting the frosting status of the glass by utilizing the frost detection sensor on the glass, processing and judging it through the controller, and reminding the user to turn on defrosting (or windshield heating) when the user starts it remotely through the vehicle networking technology, so as to achieve fast and effective defrosting. The purpose is to bring users a more accurate and timely defrosting experience.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned purpose, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is: a vehicle windshield defrost control system, the system is composed of a frost detection sensor fixed on the vehicle window and a frost detection module fixed indoors, the frost detection sensor is connected to the frost detection module, the frost detection sensor receives the working instructions of the frost detection module, and feeds back the sensing parameters of the frost detection module, the frost detection module is connected to the on-board communication module through the vehicle CAN network, and sends a judgment signal of whether there is frost to the on-board communication module, the on-board communication module is connected to and outputs a control signal to the body controller, and the defrost execution device is driven by the body controller to work.

[0007] The frost detection sensor includes an upper cover unit and a main body unit, the main body unit includes a front sensor unit and a rear sensor unit, the front sensor unit includes a heater and a humidity sensor, the rear sensor unit includes a temperature sensor, the main body unit contacts the windshield, and the upper cover unit is a protective device covering the main body unit.

[0008] The upper cover unit is a concave cavity structure with an opening on the bottom surface. Holes are evenly arranged on both sides of the upper cover unit, and a wiring harness hole is arranged at one end. The heater is a glass patch with a heating resistor wire tightly attached to the glass. A humidity sensor is installed in the upper space of the heater. A gap is arranged between the front-end sensor unit and the concave cavity of the upper cover unit. The glass patch is provided with air holes, and the air holes connect the glass and the concave cavity.

[0009] The frost detection sensor is fixed at the corner of the outer side of the front windshield, the holes are on the left and right sides of the upper cover unit, the wiring harness hole is on the lower side of the upper cover unit, sealant is provided between the bottom surface of the upper cover unit and the glass, and the holes are a structure that is downwardly inclined from the inside to the outside.

[0010] The frost detection module is fixed in the vehicle by using a mounting bracket.

[0011] The defrost execution device includes an automobile air conditioner and / or a windshield heating device.

[0012] The system is provided with a central control display screen, and the frost detection module, the vehicle communication module, the body domain controller, the entertainment domain controller, and the air conditioning control module communicate with each other through the vehicle CAN network.

[0013] A control method based on the vehicle windshield defrosting control system comprises the following steps:

[0014] Step 1: After receiving the remote vehicle start command, the system starts the frost detection function;

[0015] Step 2: The system determines whether there is frost;

[0016] Step 3: If no, end; if yes, prompt the user whether to defrost;

[0017] Step 4: If the user chooses defrost, the defrost execution device is started; if the user chooses not to defrost, the process ends.

[0018] In step 1, if the frost detection function is in the on state, the subsequent steps are executed; if it is in the off state, the frost detection function is not executed.

[0019] In step 2, the current temperature of the outer surface of the glass is first determined. If the temperature is lower than a set value, the heater is turned on and humidity information is obtained. Frost is determined when the humidity value is greater than the set value.

[0020] The present invention has the advantages of strong real-time performance, more reliable physical detection, higher defrosting efficiency, etc. It obtains the parameters of the window glass surface through the defrost sensor, and can accurately determine whether there is frosting through data judgment, thereby reducing the probability of misjudgment and providing users with a better experience. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The following is a brief description of the contents expressed in each figure in the specification of the present invention and the marks in the figure:

[0022] Figure 1 , 2 This is the block diagram of the defrost control system;

[0023] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a frost detection sensor;

[0024] Figure 4 This is the flow chart of the defrost control system.

[0025] The markings in the above figures are: 1. upper cover unit; 2. front sensor unit; 3. rear sensor unit; 4. frost detection module. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] The following is a further detailed description of the specific implementation methods of the present invention, such as the shape, structure, relative position and connection relationship between the various components involved, the function and working principle of each part, the manufacturing process and operation method, etc., through the description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, so as to help those skilled in the art to have a more complete, accurate and in-depth understanding of the inventive concept and technical solution of the present invention.

[0027] The invention relates to a vehicle windshield defrosting control system and method, belonging to the field of intelligent automobile defrosting. Figure 1As shown, the method includes: the user sets the defrost detection switch to the on state on the large screen, and when the engine is remotely started, the defrost detection sensor detects the current glass frosting data and transmits it to the defrost detection module; the defrost detection module receives the defrost detection sensor data and makes a judgment, and when defrosting is required, sends a defrost instruction through the network; the on-board communication module receives the defrost instruction, and prompts the user to defrost through the mobile terminal APP via the information service platform; the user chooses to turn on the defrost, and turns on the windshield heating device through the body domain control module or turns on the air conditioning defrost device through the air conditioning control module to start defrosting, so as to further improve the accuracy and efficiency of defrosting.

[0028] Specifically, the system is equipped with a frost detection sensor fixed on the car window. The frost detection sensor is the core actuator and is mainly responsible for detection. The frost detection module fixed indoors by a bracket is the core processor and is mainly responsible for control and judgment. Figure 3 As shown, the frost detection sensor includes an upper cover unit 1 and a main body unit. The upper cover unit 1 is a structure for protecting the device. The upper cover unit 1 is a concave cavity structure with an opening on the bottom surface, similar to a lid buckled on the main body unit to protect the main body unit. The main body unit includes a front sensor unit 2 and a rear sensor unit 3. The front sensor unit 2 integrates a heater and a humidity sensor. The rear sensor unit is a temperature sensor. The frost detection module 4 is a processor for signal processing, control and judgment. The temperature sensor is used to judge the current glass environment temperature. The integrated heater and humidity sensor are used to heat the unit glass patch. The humidity sensor is used to collect humidity information, and it can more accurately obtain whether frost appears on the car window.

[0029] The main unit contacts the windshield, and the frost sensor is arranged at the corner of the windshield, which is not in the wiper movement area and does not block the driver's field of vision. The holes are on the left and right sides of the upper cover unit 1, and the holes are inclined downward from the inside to the outside to prevent debris and snow from entering the sensor. The harness hole is on the lower side of the upper cover unit 1, and a sealant is provided between the bottom surface of the upper cover unit 1 and the glass to ensure ventilation and reliable fixation.

[0030] The upper cover unit 1 is a concave structure with an opening on the bottom surface. Holes are evenly arranged on both sides of the upper cover unit 1. The holes are used for ventilation to ensure the consistency of the internal and external environmental conditions and improve the accuracy of sensing. A harness hole is arranged on one side of the upper cover unit 1 for easy wiring connection. The heater is a glass patch with a heating resistor wire, which is located in the sensor unit 2 at the front end of the main body and is close to the glass. A gap is provided between the main body and the concave cavity of the upper cover unit 1, and the gap can allow moisture after the heating of the glass patch to be discharged. The front sensor unit 2 is only provided with holes on the upper plane to ensure ventilation and prevent debris and snow from entering again. After heating, the hot air can be discharged through the holes while the humidity sensor above the heater is measuring. The humidity sensor is located in the sensor unit 2 at the front end of the main body and above the heater, and is used to sense the air humidity parameter information after heating.

[0031] The frost detection module connects and outputs a signal indicating whether there is frost to the vehicle communication module. The vehicle communication module communicates with the user's mobile phone. The user's mobile phone needs to be pre-selected for binding operation. The vehicle communication module connects and outputs a control signal to the body domain controller, and the body domain controller drives the defrost execution device to work. The air conditioning defrost device is a basic configuration. When the vehicle does not have a windshield heating device, the air conditioning defrost device can be turned on separately. If equipped with a windshield heating device, the windshield heating device can be turned on separately, or the air conditioning defrost device and the windshield heating device can be turned on at the same time.

[0032] like Figure 2 As shown, the system is provided with a central control display screen, and the frost detection module 4, the vehicle communication module, the body domain controller, the entertainment domain controller, and the air conditioning control module communicate with each other through the vehicle CAN network. When the frost detection module determines that defrosting is required, it sends a defrost command through the CAN network and transmits it to the vehicle communication module through the gateway. When the frost detection module determines that defrosting is not required, defrosting ends. When the user selects defrosting through the mobile terminal, the vehicle communication module sends the defrost command to the gateway through the CAN network.

[0033] like Figure 4 As shown, the frost detection module 4 is used to receive vehicle status information, such as remote start status information, vehicle gear information, etc. The detection module controls the detection sensor to work, receives signal processing and internal judgment, and finally sends a defrost work instruction to the vehicle.

[0034] Internal judgment logic of the module: set the default temperature value T0 (generally T0 = 0℃, which can be adjusted according to the calibration value). When the measured temperature value T1>T0, the module issues a no-defrost command. When T1≤T0, the heater turns on for 4 seconds (generally the heating time is controlled to be ≤5 seconds, which can be adjusted according to the calibration value). After heating, the humidity sensor turns on the humidity detection and sets the default humidity value σ0 (generally σ0 = 65%, which can be adjusted according to the calibration value). When the measured humidity value σ1>σ0, the defrost command is executed. When σ1≤σ0, the defrost command is not executed. Of course, in order to improve the adaptability and accuracy of the system in different regions, σ0 can obtain the current local humidity through the network.

[0035] The frost detection function is set to on or off. The function is integrated into the entertainment domain controller. Users can use the large screen to turn it on or off as needed. When the switch is on, the user remotely starts the vehicle through the mobile terminal, and the vehicle communication module wakes up the frost detection module, starts frost detection, and transmits the current detection data to the frost detection module.

[0036] After receiving the defrost command, the vehicle communication module warns the user through the mobile terminal and displays a pop-up window (or a sound reminder) to prompt the user whether to defrost. If defrost is selected, the next step is carried out; if not defrost is selected, defrosting ends.

[0037] The gateway sends the defrost command to the body controller and air conditioning control module, which respectively drive the windshield heating device and air conditioning defrost device to perform defrost operations.

[0038] The air conditioner defrost device is a basic configuration. When the vehicle does not have a windshield heating device, the air conditioner defrost device can be turned on alone. If the windshield heating device is equipped, the windshield heating device can be turned on alone, or the air conditioner defrost device and the windshield heating device can be turned on at the same time.

[0039] The present invention is described above by way of example in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is obvious that the specific implementation of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned method. As long as various non-substantial improvements are made using the method concept and technical solution of the present invention, or the concept and technical solution of the present invention are directly applied to other occasions without improvement, they are all within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A vehicle windshield defrosting control system, characterized in that: The system is composed of a frost detection sensor fixed on the vehicle window and a frost detection module fixed indoors. The frost detection sensor is connected to the frost detection module. The frost detection sensor receives the working instructions of the frost detection module and feeds back the sensing parameters of the frost detection module. The frost detection module is connected to the on-board communication module through the vehicle CAN network and sends a judgment signal of whether frost is formed to the on-board communication module. The on-board communication module is connected to and outputs a control signal to the body controller, and the body controller drives the defrost execution device to work.

2. The vehicle windshield defrosting control system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The frost detection sensor includes an upper cover unit and a main body unit, the main body unit includes a front sensor unit and a rear sensor unit, the front sensor unit includes a heater and a humidity sensor, the rear sensor unit includes a temperature sensor, the main body unit contacts the windshield, and the upper cover unit is a protective device covering the main body unit.

3. The vehicle windshield defrosting control system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The upper cover unit is a concave cavity structure with an opening on the bottom surface. Holes are evenly arranged on both sides of the upper cover unit, and a wiring harness hole is arranged at one end. The heater is a glass patch with a heating resistor wire tightly attached to the glass. A humidity sensor is installed in the upper space of the heater. A gap is arranged between the front-end sensor unit and the concave cavity of the upper cover unit. The glass patch is provided with air holes, and the air holes connect the glass and the concave cavity.

4. The vehicle windshield defrosting control system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The frost detection sensor is fixed at the corner of the outer side of the front windshield, the holes are on the left and right sides of the upper cover unit, the wiring harness hole is on the lower side of the upper cover unit, sealant is provided between the bottom surface of the upper cover unit and the glass, and the holes are a structure that is downwardly inclined from the inside to the outside.

5. The vehicle windshield defrosting control system according to claim 4, characterized in that: The frost detection module is fixed in the vehicle by using a mounting bracket.

6. The vehicle windshield defrosting control system according to claim 1 or 5, characterized in that: The defrost execution device includes an automobile air conditioner and / or a windshield heating device.

7. The vehicle windshield defrosting control system according to claim 6, characterized in that: The system is provided with a central control display screen, and the frost detection module, the vehicle communication module, the body domain controller, the entertainment domain controller, and the air conditioning control module communicate with each other through the vehicle CAN network.

8. A control method based on the vehicle windshield defrosting control system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: Step 1: After receiving the remote vehicle start command, the system starts the frost detection function; Step 2: The system determines whether there is frost; Step 3: If no, end; if yes, prompt the user whether to defrost; Step 4: If the user chooses defrost, the defrost execution device is started; if the user chooses not to defrost, the process ends.

9. The vehicle windshield defrosting control method according to claim 8, characterized in that: In step 1, if the frost detection function is in the on state, the subsequent steps are executed; if it is in the off state, the frost detection function is not executed.

10. The vehicle windshield defrosting control method according to claim 9, characterized in that: In step 2, the current temperature of the outer surface of the glass is first determined. If the temperature is lower than a set value, the heater is turned on and humidity information is obtained. Frost is determined when the humidity value is greater than the set value.

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