Method for monitoring a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for monitoring a motor vehicle (1), in which hail can be detected by means of the motor vehicle (1), and in the event of detection of hail, one or more predefined actions (A) are carried out by means of the motor vehicle (1) in a triggered manner by means of the motor vehicle (1). In the method according to the invention, the detection of hail is carried out by means of a sensor system (3) of the motor vehicle (1), which sensor system comprises at least one acceleration sensor (301), the occurrence of hail is determined on the basis of acceleration pulses (BI) detected by the at least one acceleration sensor (301).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a method for monitoring a motor vehicle and to a corresponding motor vehicle. Background Art

[0002] It is known from the prior art that the weather conditions at the location of a motor vehicle can be detected and measures to protect the motor vehicle can be taken when necessary. For example, document DE 10 2007 040 055 A1 discloses a motor vehicle with a closable roof, which closes the opened roof when rain, hail or low ambient temperature is detected by a detection device of the motor vehicle. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to improve the monitoring of hail exposure of motor vehicles.

[0004] This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1 and a motor vehicle according to claim 9. Further developments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0005] The method according to the invention is used to monitor a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle is preferably a car, but can also be a truck if necessary. The motor vehicle to be monitored is preferably parked. Hail can be detected by the motor vehicle, and when hail is detected, one or more predefined actions are executed by the motor vehicle in a manner triggered by the motor vehicle.

[0006] The method according to the invention is characterized in that the detection of hail is performed by a sensor system installed in the motor vehicle, the sensor system comprising at least one acceleration sensor, the presence of hail being determined based on acceleration pulses detected by the at least one acceleration sensor.

[0007] By using one or more acceleration sensors, the method according to the invention enables hail to be detected very reliably, so that corresponding actions associated with the detection of hail are only performed by the motor vehicle when hail actually occurs.

[0008] In a preferred embodiment, the sensor system comprises a single acceleration sensor, which saves costs. In another preferred embodiment, the at least one acceleration sensor is installed in the roof of the motor vehicle. This central installation position ensures that hail impacts are detected at all locations in the motor vehicle. Alternatively, the at least one acceleration sensor can also be installed at other locations in the motor vehicle, or a plurality of further acceleration sensors can be provided, which are installed at other locations than the roof of the motor vehicle. For example, the acceleration sensor can also be integrated in the hood or at the rear of the motor vehicle.

[0009] In another preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the one or more predefined actions include optical and / or acoustic signal recording on the motor vehicle. Such signal recording is to be understood as the detection of optical or acoustic signals and their storage. In this way, the occurrence of hail can be properly recorded. Preferably, the signal recording on the motor vehicle includes capturing one or more images on the motor vehicle by means of one or more cameras of the motor vehicle, in particular by means of one or more external cameras for detecting the surroundings of the motor vehicle and / or by means of one or more internal cameras for detecting the interior space or the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a video is captured by means of the one or more cameras, which video also includes an audio recording, if necessary, in order to acoustically record the impact sound of the hailstones.

[0010] In another preferred embodiment, the one or more predefined actions include a message sent by the motor vehicle, wherein the message is designed so that the message triggers the output of a warning via a user interface of a terminal device associated with the motor vehicle, so as to inform the user of the terminal device of the detected hail. With this solution, the user is provided with the possibility of being informed of the occurrence of hail in a timely manner and taking countermeasures if necessary. In particular, the user can go to his motor vehicle and drive it to a place where the motor vehicle is protected (e.g. a parking lot).

[0011] The user's terminal device is preferably a mobile terminal device and in particular a mobile phone. However, the terminal device may also be any other terminal device with a corresponding user interface, such as a laptop, a tablet computer, or, if necessary, a desktop computer. In a preferred embodiment, the warning is output optically via a display screen of the terminal device, i.e., the user interface of the terminal device includes a display screen. As an alternative or in addition, the user interface may also include an acoustic input and / or output device and / or a tactile input and / or output device.

[0012] In another preferred solution, when a warning is output through the user interface of the terminal device, the user can also select one or more control instructions through the user interface of the terminal device, wherein an operation of the motor vehicle is assigned to the corresponding selectable control instruction, and when the corresponding control instruction is selected by the user, the operation associated with the corresponding selected control instruction is performed by the motor vehicle triggered by the terminal device. In this way, the user of the terminal device can remotely control the motor vehicle when hail occurs. The selection of the control instruction is preferably performed by touching the control instruction on the display screen of the terminal device or by operating a separate button on the terminal device.

[0013] An operation differs from the above-mentioned pre-set actions in that an operation is triggered by a user of a terminal device, rather than by a motor vehicle. Nevertheless, an operation may also include closing an entrance as described below, or include recording an optical and / or acoustic signal as described above. In this case, the one or more pre-set actions triggered by the motor vehicle are other actions besides closing an open entrance or recording an optical and / or acoustic signal.

[0014] In another preferred embodiment, the one or more predefined actions include closing one or more open accesses to the interior of the motor vehicle and / or to the trunk. In particular, in the event of hail, open windows and / or open doors and / or open trunk lid and / or open luggage compartment lid and / or open roof can be closed. In this way, damage to the interior of the motor vehicle from hail is reliably prevented.

[0015] In another particularly preferred embodiment, the sensor system determines the intensity and / or direction of the acceleration of the corresponding acceleration pulse and / or the average frequency of occurrence of the acceleration pulses in the predetermined time period (i.e., the average frequency in the predetermined time period) based on the acceleration pulses occurring in the predetermined time period. Here, the sensor system determines the presence of hail when the intensity and / or direction of the corresponding acceleration pulse and / or the average frequency of occurrence of the acceleration pulses meet a predetermined criterion. Here, use is made of the knowledge that these parameters are very suitable for distinguishing hail from other types of precipitation or other forces acting on the motor vehicle.

[0016] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the embodiment just described, the presence of hail is determined by the sensor system according to a predetermined criterion when the intensity of the acceleration of at least a certain number of acceleration pulses, in particular all acceleration pulses, within a predetermined time period deviates from the average value of the acceleration intensity of all acceleration pulses within the predetermined time period by less than a predetermined acceleration threshold value. An additional or alternative condition for determining hail may be that the direction of the acceleration of at least a certain number of acceleration pulses, in particular all acceleration pulses, within the predetermined time period deviates from the vertical downward direction (i.e. the direction of gravity) by less than a predetermined angle threshold value. An additional or alternative condition for determining hail may be that the average occurrence frequency of the acceleration pulses within the predetermined time period exceeds a predetermined frequency threshold value. Preferably, the presence of hail is determined only when all three of the above conditions are met. In this embodiment, use is made of the recognition that hail is accompanied by a large number of acceleration pulses of similar intensity that accelerate from top to bottom within a short period of time.

[0017] In addition to the above method, the invention also relates to a motor vehicle, wherein the motor vehicle is capable of detecting hail and is designed such that, when hail is detected, one or more predefined actions are performed by the motor vehicle triggered by the motor vehicle. The motor vehicle comprises a sensor system for detecting hail, the sensor system comprising at least one acceleration sensor, the sensor system being designed such that the presence of hail is determined based on acceleration pulses detected by the at least one acceleration sensor. Preferably, the motor vehicle according to the invention is configured to perform one or more preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] The following will be based on the attached Figure 1 An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described in detail. The FIGURE shows a schematic diagram of a motor vehicle with which an embodiment of the method according to the invention is carried out. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] exist Figure 1 In the figure, a parked motor vehicle 1 is schematically shown in a top view, and only the parts of the motor vehicle that are important for the present invention are described below. In addition, Figure 1 A terminal 2 is shown schematically, which comprises a user interface in the form of a display screen 201 and is operated by a user U.

[0020] The motor vehicle 1 comprises a sensor system 3 with an acceleration sensor 301. The sensor system and the acceleration sensor integrated therein are Figure 1 Schematically illustrated in the figure as a square with horizontal hatching. The sensor system 3 is integrated in the roof of the motor vehicle and is able to detect hail very reliably based on the corresponding acceleration pulses BI detected by the acceleration sensor 301. These acceleration pulses are evaluated by a (not shown) processor of the sensor system in order to determine the presence of hail therefrom. The processor does not necessarily have to be installed in the roof of the motor vehicle here, but can also be arranged at other locations in the motor vehicle if necessary. Likewise, the position of the sensor system or the acceleration sensor in the roof is merely exemplary. In particular, the acceleration sensor can also be arranged at other locations in the motor vehicle, for example in the engine hood. In addition, if necessary, a plurality of acceleration sensors can be installed at different locations in the motor vehicle for detecting acceleration pulses.

[0021] In the embodiment described here, the sensor system 3 is used to determine the intensity and direction of the acceleration of the corresponding acceleration pulse and the average occurrence frequency of the acceleration pulse within a predetermined time period based on the acceleration pulse BI detected by the acceleration sensor 301 within a predetermined time period. When the intensity and direction of the corresponding acceleration pulse and the average occurrence frequency of the acceleration pulse meet predetermined criteria, it is determined that hail has occurred.

[0022] In the embodiment described here, the criterion is defined as follows: when the intensity of the acceleration of all acceleration pulses within a predetermined time period deviates from the average value of the acceleration intensity of all acceleration pulses within a predetermined time period by less than a predetermined acceleration threshold value, and when the direction of the acceleration of all acceleration pulses within a predetermined time period deviates from the vertical downward direction (i.e., the gravity direction) by less than a predetermined angle threshold value, and when the average occurrence frequency of the acceleration pulses exceeds a predetermined frequency threshold value, the sensor system determines that hail has occurred. Only when all three of the above conditions are met is the occurrence of hail determined in the embodiment described here. Here, the recognition is utilized that a large number of acceleration pulses with similar intensity and accelerating from top to bottom within a short period of time is a clear sign of hail. Nevertheless, the criterion for detecting hail can also be designed in a different way if necessary, or can also include other or more conditions, such as a minimum intensity of acceleration pulses occurring within a predetermined time period.

[0023] according to Figure 1 The motor vehicle 1 also includes four external cameras, which are denoted by reference numeral 4 and schematically indicated by white squares. One external camera is located in the middle of the front of the motor vehicle, one external camera is installed in the right rearview mirror of the motor vehicle, another external camera is installed in the left rearview mirror of the motor vehicle, and a third external camera is located in the middle of the rear of the motor vehicle. In a known manner, a 360° panoramic view around the motor vehicle can be detected using the external cameras. In addition to the external camera 4, the motor vehicle 1 also includes an interior camera 5 integrated in the roof interior, which is schematically indicated by a square with vertical hatching. The interior of the motor vehicle can be photographed using this camera. The number and position of the external and interior cameras are merely exemplary and can also be selected in different ways.

[0024] When hail appears on the motor vehicle according to the acceleration pulse BI of the acceleration sensor 301, the motor vehicle 1 will immediately trigger the preset actions. Figure 1denoted only generally by the reference numeral A. In the embodiment described here, when hail is detected or identified, as an action, a message M is sent via the wireless communication interface of the motor vehicle, which is indicated by an arrow. Via a known communication infrastructure, the message M reaches a back end, which prompts another message to be sent towards the terminal device 2. The other message received via the wireless communication interface on the terminal device 2 causes a warning W to be output on the display screen 201 of the terminal device 2. By means of this warning, the user U is informed that hail has appeared on his motor vehicle. The user can then take corresponding countermeasures. In particular, the user can go to his motor vehicle and move the motor vehicle to a safe place before the hail arrives, thereby avoiding damage caused by the hail.

[0025] In the embodiment described here, as a further action A, when hail is detected, video recording is started by means of the four external cameras 4 and the internal camera 5, and audio is also captured by means of a microphone (not shown) while the video recording is being performed. The video recording is stored in a corresponding memory in the motor vehicle or, if necessary, can also be uploaded to a remote storage location outside the motor vehicle. The video recording serves to record the actual occurrence of hail on the motor vehicle. Thus, the user of the motor vehicle can prove to his insurance company that the accidental damage to the motor vehicle was caused by hail.

[0026] In the embodiment described here, as a further action A, when hail is detected by the motor vehicle, a closure of the open access to the motor vehicle interior and the trunk is triggered if the corresponding access is open. In particular, an open window or an open trunk lid or an open trunk lid or an open door is automatically closed by the motor vehicle. In this way, it is ensured that hail particles cannot enter the motor vehicle interior and cause damage there.

[0027] In a variant embodiment, in addition to the warning W, control instructions are displayed to the user U on the display screen 201, which the user can select in order to thereby trigger a predetermined operation on the motor vehicle. In other words, when the corresponding control instruction is selected, a message is sent by the terminal device 2, which triggers the sending of another message to the motor vehicle at the back end, wherein the other message causes the execution of the corresponding operation in the motor vehicle. An operation differs from the above-mentioned action A in that it is triggered by the user U, rather than being triggered automatically by the motor vehicle 1 when hail is detected.

[0028] The embodiments of the invention described above have a number of advantages. In particular, hail on motor vehicles can be detected very reliably by means of a sensor system with an acceleration sensor. In addition, suitable measures are provided for counteracting damage caused by hail or recording the occurrence of hail.

[0029] Reference numerals list

[0030] 1Motor Vehicles

[0031] 2Terminal equipment

[0032] 201 User interface (display screen)

[0033] 3Sensor systems for detecting hail

[0034] 301 Acceleration Sensor

[0035] 4 External cameras

[0036] 5. Internal Camera

[0037] M Message

[0038] BI acceleration pulse

[0039] A-Action

[0040] UUser

[0041] W Warning.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a motor vehicle (1), wherein: The motor vehicle (1) is capable of detecting hail, and when hail is detected, one or more predefined actions (A) are performed by the motor vehicle (1) triggered by the motor vehicle (1), characterized in that the detection of hail is performed by a sensor system (3) of the motor vehicle (1), the sensor system comprising at least one acceleration sensor (301), and the presence of hail is determined based on acceleration pulses (BI) detected by the at least one acceleration sensor (301).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The sensor system (3) comprises a single acceleration sensor (301).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The at least one acceleration sensor (301) is mounted in the roof of the motor vehicle (1).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The one or more predetermined actions (A) include optical and / or acoustic signal recording on the motor vehicle (1), the signal recording preferably including capturing one or more images on the motor vehicle (1) by means of one or more cameras (4, 5) of the motor vehicle (1).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The one or more predefined actions (A) include sending a message (M) by the motor vehicle (1), wherein the message (M) is designed so that it triggers the output of a warning (W) via a user interface (201) of a terminal device (2) associated with the motor vehicle (1) in order to inform a user (U) of the terminal device (2) of the detected hail.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The one or more predetermined actions (A) include closing one or more opened access points to the interior of the motor vehicle and / or the trunk.

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The sensor system (3) is used to determine the intensity and / or direction of the acceleration of the corresponding acceleration pulse (BI) and / or the average occurrence frequency of the acceleration pulse (BI) within the predetermined time period based on the acceleration pulse (BI) that occurs within the predetermined time period. When the intensity and / or direction of the corresponding acceleration pulse (BI) and / or the average occurrence frequency of the acceleration pulse (BI) meet a predetermined standard, the sensor system (3) determines that hail has occurred.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that According to a predetermined criterion, when the acceleration intensity of at least a certain number of acceleration pulses within a predetermined time period deviates from the average value of the acceleration intensity of all acceleration pulses (BI) within the predetermined time period by less than a predetermined acceleration threshold value, and / or when the acceleration direction of at least a certain number of acceleration pulses (BI) within the predetermined time period deviates from the vertical downward direction by less than a predetermined angle threshold value, and / or when the average occurrence frequency of the acceleration pulses (BI) within the predetermined time period exceeds a predetermined frequency threshold value, the sensor system (3) determines that hail has occurred.

9. A motor vehicle, wherein: The motor vehicle (1) is capable of detecting hail, and is designed so that when hail is detected, one or more predefined actions (A) are performed by the motor vehicle (1) triggered by the motor vehicle (1), characterized in that the motor vehicle (1) comprises a sensor system (3) for detecting hail, the sensor system comprising at least one acceleration sensor (301), and the sensor system (3) is designed so that the presence of hail is determined based on acceleration pulses (BI) detected by the at least one acceleration sensor (301).

10. A motor vehicle, characterized in that The motor vehicle (1) is configured to carry out a method according to any one of claims 2 to 8.

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