Method for operating a vehicle window cleaning device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a window glass cleaning device (1) for a vehicle (2), the window glass cleaning device (1) having at least one wiper (5) which, in a normal operating mode (NM) of the window glass cleaning device (1), crosses a specified entire section (GA) of a window glass (4) of the vehicle (2). According to the invention, the specified entire section (GA) comprises a visible area for the user of the vehicle and a visible area for the sensor system (3) required to carry out the automated driving of the vehicle (2). If it is determined that the vehicle (2) is in an automatic driving operating mode, and if it is also determined that a vehicle user is not focused or no vehicle user is present in the vehicle (2), the window cleaning device (1) is operated in a special operating mode (SM), the wiper (5) only crosses a specified partial section (TA) of the entire section (GA), and the wiper (5) only crosses a specified partial section (TA) of the entire section (GA). According to the invention, the partial section (TA) is traversed more frequently than the entire section (GA), or more frequently than the remainder of the entire section (GA), said partial section (TA) containing a visible area of the sensing system (3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an operating method for a vehicle window glass cleaning device according to the preamble features of claim 1. Background Art

[0002] From the prior art, as described in DE 10 2012 014 445 A1, an operating method for a vehicle window glass cleaning device is known. In this method, it is detected by means of a sensor whether there is dirt and / or moisture on the vehicle window glass. A cleaning liquid is applied to the window glass according to the signal of at least one sensor.

[0003] DE 100 10 434B4 describes a camera device for monitoring the rear driving space of a vehicle. At least three brake warning signal lights are arranged on the vehicle, wherein the third brake warning signal light has a greater distance from the lane of the vehicle compared to the first and second brake warning signal lights. The camera device is arranged on the third brake warning signal light. A second camera device is additionally arranged on the third brake warning signal light. The image signals recorded by the first and second camera devices are provided to an analysis unit. The analysis unit performs stereo vision image analysis on the images acquired by the first and second camera devices. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide an operating method for a vehicle window glass cleaning device that is improved compared to the prior art.

[0005] According to the present invention, this object is achieved by an operating method for a vehicle window glass cleaning device having the features of claim 1.

[0006] Advantageous design solutions of the present invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0007] In the operating method of the vehicle window glass cleaning device, it is designed that the window glass cleaning device has at least one wiper, and the wiper sweeps / scrapes a specified entire section of the vehicle window glass in the normal operating mode of the window glass cleaning device, that is, passes through this entire section.

[0008] To this end, the windshield wiper is driven, in particular by means of an electric motor, especially an electric motor. The movement of the windshield wiper is particularly in the form of a swinging movement. The movement of the windshield wiper is particularly carried out by corresponding control and / or regulation of the electric motor. For example, for water, ice, snow and / or dirt, moving the windshield wiper on the window glass, i.e., the window glass cleaning device is advantageously designed to clean water, ice, snow and / or dirt and / or other attachments on the window glass. For example, the control of the electric motor is automatically carried out according to the signal of at least one window glass cleaning sensor of the vehicle, especially a rain sensor. The window glass cleaning sensor detects water, especially rain, ice, snow and / or dirt and / or other attachments, and then activates the electric motor to move the windshield wiper. Depending on the specific degree of rainfall, snowfall and / or pollution and / or other attachments, the windshield wiper can then move slowly or quickly accordingly, or move intermittently, i.e., there is a pause between two consecutive movements. In this process, various moving speeds can be designed and / or different pause times can be designed during intermittent movement.

[0009] The window glass is especially the windshield of the vehicle, also known as the front windshield.

[0010] The window glass cleaning device is especially a windshield wiper and cleaning device, and thus especially has a cleaning and wiper function.

[0011] According to the present invention, it is proposed that the entire designated section traversed by the windshield wiper in the normal operating mode of the window glass cleaning device includes the visible area of the vehicle user and the visible area of the sensing system, which is necessary for performing the automated driving operation of the vehicle, especially the highly automated or autonomous driving operation. The sensing system especially includes a camera, such as a stereo camera or a monocular camera. Thus, the vehicle supports the automated driving operation and requires this sensing system for this purpose. Here, the term "visible area" especially refers to the perspective area of the window glass, i.e., the visible area of the vehicle user is the perspective area of the window glass, which is designed such that the vehicle user can observe through it, while the visible area of the sensing system is the perspective area of the window glass, through which the sensing system can especially detect the external surrounding environment of the vehicle, especially the external surrounding environment in front of the vehicle.

[0012] In addition, according to the present invention, it is proposed to determine whether the vehicle is in an automated driving operation mode, whether the vehicle user is inattentive or whether there is no vehicle user in the vehicle. For example, it is stipulated that if it is determined that the vehicle user is in a sleeping state, and / or the vehicle user's line of sight leaves the window glass, and / or the vehicle user's line of sight is not focused on the external surrounding environment outside the vehicle in front of the window glass, then the vehicle user is considered inattentive. For example, the inattentiveness of the vehicle user is determined by means of a vehicle user observation camera.

[0013] According to the present invention, if it is determined that the vehicle is in an autonomous driving operation mode and if it is also determined that the vehicle user is inattentive or there is no vehicle user in the vehicle, the window cleaning device is operated in a special operating mode, in which the wiper only sweeps across a specified partial section of the entire section or sweeps across this partial section more frequently relative to the remaining part of the entire section, wherein the partial section includes the visual area of the sensing system. Thus, the partial section is only a part of the entire section and is thus smaller than the entire section.

[0014] Thus, in particular, it is proposed in the method according to the present invention to recognize the situation where the vehicle is in an autonomous driving operation mode and the vehicle user is inattentive or there is no vehicle user in the vehicle. In the case of recognizing such a situation, in particular, it is stipulated to individually control the function of the window cleaning device for the partial section and the remaining part of the entire section and thus in particular for the visual area of the sensing system and the visual area of the vehicle user, such that the wiper and cleaning quality in the partial section and thus in particular in the visual area of the sensing system is better than that in the remaining part of the entire section and thus in particular in the visual area of the vehicle user.

[0015] For the execution of autonomous driving operation, it is crucial to ensure that the sensing system is protected from water, ice, snow, dirt, and other attachments. However, this is usually problematic in terms of time, consumption of cleaning fluid, and / or energy consumption of the window cleaning device, especially in adverse, especially continuously adverse, weather conditions (such as heavy rain) and / or other contamination situations, such as sewage splashed up by the vehicle in front on the lane. These problems are solved or at least alleviated by the solution according to the present invention, because when the vehicle user is inattentive during autonomous driving operation or there is no vehicle user in the vehicle and thus the visual area of the user does not need to be cleaned, only the partial section will be cleaned or preferably cleaned. The movement stroke of the wiper is thus shorter, the energy consumption of the window cleaning device is reduced accordingly, the wiper can sweep across the partial section more frequently at a constant speed, and the consumption of cleaning fluid can be reduced, thereby reducing the reserve amount of cleaning fluid to be carried and enabling a smaller and more space-saving cleaning fluid tank to be installed, or enabling a longer driving range / operating duration (Reichweite) of the vehicle without refilling the cleaning fluid with the same reserve amount.

[0016] Therefore, through the method according to the present invention, the efficiency in protecting the sensing system can be improved. For example, during heavy rain, the sensing system can be protected from the influence more quickly, otherwise the maximum possible moving speed of the wiper would be a limitation. Thus, the usability of autonomous driving operation can be improved because autonomous driving operation can be performed even under heavy rain conditions.

[0017] In particular, it is proposed in the method described herein that the windshield wiper, in the normal operating mode, especially repeatedly, in particular continuously or in the form of an intermittent movement, moves from a specified normal starting position to a specified normal turning position and back, and in the special operating mode, especially repeatedly, in particular continuously or in the form of an intermittent movement, moves from a specified special starting position to a specified special turning position and back. Here, the movement stroke of the windshield wiper from the special starting position to the special turning position, especially the swinging stroke, is smaller than the movement stroke from the normal starting position to the normal turning position. For example, it can be stipulated here that the special starting position coincides with the normal starting position, while the special turning position is different from the normal turning position, or the special turning position coincides with the normal turning position, while the special starting position is different from the normal starting position, or the special starting position is different from the normal starting position, and the special turning position is different from the normal turning position. If the special starting position is different from the normal starting position, the special starting position is especially offset and positioned in the direction of the normal turning position. If the special turning position is different from the normal turning position, the special turning position is especially offset and positioned in the direction of the normal starting position. The special starting position and the special turning position, and thus especially the partial section, are designed such that the partial section completely encompasses the visual area of the sensing system and is as small as possible in order to optimally achieve the above advantages.

[0018] In a possible embodiment of this method, it is proposed that the windshield wiper moves from the normal starting position to the special starting position at the start of the special operating mode and only stops at the special starting position during the special operating mode. This especially occurs when the special starting position is different from the normal starting position. In the normal operating mode, the windshield wiper is located at the normal starting position when it stops. Therefore, when switching to the special operating mode, it is necessary to first move the windshield wiper to the special starting position. Next, the windshield wiper does not return to the normal starting position during the special operating mode, that is, it does not return even in the stopped state, but stays at the special starting position in the stopped state. When exiting the special operating mode, that is, when the above conditions for the special operating mode are no longer met, the windshield wiper is moved back to the normal starting position again.

[0019] In a possible embodiment of this method, it is proposed that in the special operating mode, the above cleaning liquid is only sprayed onto a partial section, or more cleaning liquid is sprayed onto the partial section compared to the remaining part of the entire section, or the cleaning liquid is sprayed onto the partial section more frequently compared to the remaining part of the entire section. In this way, the advantages mentioned above are achieved in terms of the consumption of the cleaning liquid and reducing the required reserve amount or increasing the cruising range with the reserve amount remaining unchanged. The spraying of the cleaning liquid is especially carried out automatically, especially by controlling and / or regulating the cleaning liquid delivery pump and / or by controlling and / or regulating one or more nozzles, especially by opening and closing the corresponding nozzles.

[0020] In a possible implementation of this method, it is proposed that the cleaning liquid is only sprayed onto a partition / sub-region of a partial section in a special operating mode, or more cleaning liquid is sprayed onto the partition of the partial section compared to the remaining part of the partial section and / or the remaining part of the entire section, or the cleaning liquid is sprayed onto the partition of the partial section more frequently compared to the remaining part of the partial section and / or the remaining part of the entire section, wherein the partition contains the visual area of the sensing system. Thus, the partition is only a part of the partial section and is therefore smaller than the partial section. This can further reduce the consumption of the cleaning liquid, because advantageously, the cleaning liquid is only sprayed onto a relatively small partition of the partial section.

[0021] To achieve this, for example, on the windshield wiper, especially on the wiper blade of the windshield wiper, a plurality of nozzles for spraying the cleaning liquid onto the vehicle window glass are arranged, and are especially distributed along the entire length of the windshield wiper, especially the wiper blade. For example, this distribution of the nozzles can be uniform, or more nozzles can be arranged in the area of the windshield wiper, especially the wiper blade, that sweeps across the visual area of the sensing system compared to the remaining area of the windshield wiper, especially the wiper blade, in order to achieve a further improved cleaning effect for the visual area of the sensing system.

[0022] In a possible implementation of this method, it can be proposed that in the special operating mode, the cleaning liquid is only sprayed onto the vehicle window glass from one nozzle or a plurality of nozzles that sweep across a partial section due to the movement of the windshield wiper. In particular, it can be proposed that in the special operating mode, the cleaning liquid is only sprayed onto the vehicle window glass from one nozzle or a plurality of nozzles that sweep across the partition of the partial section due to the movement of the windshield wiper, so as to optimally reduce the consumption of the cleaning liquid. For example, for this purpose, a corresponding nozzle or a plurality of corresponding nozzles are activated, i.e., opened, to spray the cleaning liquid, while the other one or more nozzles remain deactivated, i.e., closed.

[0023] As described above, the vehicle window glass cleaning device has at least one windshield wiper. It can also have two or more windshield wipers. In this case, the above description will apply to all windshield wipers. In particular, the entire section, partial section, and partition are thus swept across by all windshield wipers, and the entire section, partial section, and partition thus especially consist of the sections or areas swept across by each windshield wiper, wherein some of these sections or areas can be swept across by multiple windshield wipers.

[0024] For example, in addition to the above conditions, a special operating mode is only activated if a window glass cleaning requirement is recognized, in particular by means of the signal of a window glass cleaning sensor, i.e., a wiper wiping movement and / or a cleaning fluid spraying requirement, i.e., if water, in particular rain, ice, snow and / or dirt and / or other attachments are detected on the window glass by means of the window glass cleaning sensor in particular. Advantageously, the special operating mode is only deactivated when the above conditions regarding the vehicle user and automated driving are no longer met. In particular, it is provided that when no window glass cleaning requirement is recognized any longer, but the special operating mode continues due to the continued existence of the conditions regarding the vehicle user and automated driving, the wiper will stop at a special starting position and remain there until there is again a window glass cleaning requirement, or until the special operating mode is exited due to at least one of the above conditions regarding the vehicle user and automated driving not being met any longer and advantageously the normal operating mode is reactivated. If the special operating mode is exited, the wiper will then return to the normal starting position. Description of the Drawings

[0025] Embodiments of the present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

[0026] Wherein:

[0027] Figure 1 The normal operating mode of a window glass cleaning device of a vehicle is schematically shown, and

[0028] Figure 2 The special operating mode of the window glass cleaning device is schematically shown.

[0029] Parts corresponding to each other in all the drawings are denoted by the same reference numerals. Detailed Description of the Embodiments

[0030] Figure 1 and Figure 2 Two operating modes NM, SM of a window glass cleaning device 1 of a vehicle 2 are shown by way of example. Here, Figure 1 The normal operating mode NM corresponding to the conventional operation of the window glass cleaning device 1 is shown, while Figure 2 The special operating mode SM is shown.

[0031] The vehicle 2 supports the execution of automated driving, in particular highly automated driving or autonomous driving. For this purpose, it has a sensing system 3 required for performing this automated driving. For the sake of brevity, only the window glass 4, the window glass cleaning device 1 and the sensing system 3 are shown for the vehicle 2.

[0032] The window glass cleaning device 1 has at least one wiper 5. In an operating method of a window glass cleaning device 1, it is provided that the wiper 5 sweeps across a specified entire section GA of the window glass 4 of the vehicle 2 in the normal operating mode NM of the window glass cleaning device 1. This entire section GA includes the visible area of the vehicle user and the visible area of the sensor system 3. The sensor system 3 is therefore arranged behind the window glass 4, i.e., on the inner side of the window glass 4 facing the passenger compartment. It particularly includes a camera. The window glass 4 is the windshield of the vehicle 2 in the illustrated example.

[0033] Here, the term visible area particularly refers to the perspective area of the window glass 4, i.e., the visible area of the vehicle user is the perspective area of the window glass 4, which is designed such that the vehicle user can observe through it, while the visible area of the sensor system 3 is the perspective area of the window glass 4, through which the sensor system 3 can particularly detect the external surroundings of the vehicle 2, especially the external surroundings in front of the vehicle 2.

[0034] The window glass cleaning device 1 is particularly a windshield wiper and washer device, which therefore particularly has cleaning and wiper functions.

[0035] For cleaning, the window glass cleaning device 1 has a plurality of nozzles 6 for spraying a cleaning liquid F onto the window glass 4, which are arranged on the wiper 5, particularly on the wiper blade of the wiper 5, and are particularly evenly distributed over the entire length of the wiper blade.

[0036] Figure 1 The normal operating mode NM is shown, i.e., the wiper 5 always sweeps across the specified entire section GA of the window glass 4. Additionally, the cleaning liquid F is always sprayed onto the entire section GA of the window glass 4 through all the nozzles 6, i.e., all the nozzles 6 are always opened for spraying the cleaning liquid F.

[0037] For these automated drives, it is crucial to ensure that the sensor system 3 is protected from water, ice, snow, dirt, and other attachments. However, this is usually problematic in terms of time, the consumption of the cleaning liquid F, and / or the energy consumption of the window glass cleaning device 1, especially in adverse, particularly in continuously adverse weather conditions (such as heavy rainfall) and / or other pollution situations, such as in the case of sewage splashed up from the lane.

[0038] In order to avoid or at least mitigate these problems, it is proposed in the operating method of the window glass cleaning device 1 described herein to determine whether the vehicle 2 is in an autonomous driving operating mode and, in addition, whether the vehicle user is inattentive or whether there is no vehicle user in the vehicle 2. For example, it is stipulated that if it is determined that the vehicle user is in a sleeping state, and / or the vehicle user's line of sight has left the window glass 4, and / or the vehicle user's line of sight is not focused on the surrounding environment outside the vehicle 2 in front of the window glass 4, then the vehicle user is considered inattentive. For example, the inattentiveness of the vehicle user is determined by means of a vehicle user observation camera.

[0039] If both are determined, that is, if it is determined that the vehicle 2 is in an autonomous driving operating mode and, in addition, it is determined that the vehicle user is inattentive or there is no vehicle user in the vehicle 2, then the window glass cleaning device 1 is operated in a special operating mode SM, where, as Figure 2 exemplarily shown, the wiper 5 only sweeps across a specified partial section TA of the entire section GA, where this partial section TA encompasses the visual area of the sensor system 3. Thus, this partial section TA is only a part of the entire section GA and is therefore smaller than the entire section GA. In other examples, it can be proposed that the wiper 5 sweeps across this partial section TA more frequently compared to the remaining part of the entire section GA. Thereby, for example, it can be ensured that there will not be an excessive accumulation of dirt or ice and snow in the remaining part of the entire section GA either, such that the wiper 5 can no longer clean it in the normal operating mode NM then.

[0040] The above problems are solved or at least mitigated by this solution because when the vehicle user is inattentive during autonomous driving or there is no vehicle user in the vehicle 2 and thus the visual area thereof does not have to be cleaned, only the partial section TA will be cleaned or preferably cleaned. The movement stroke of the wiper 5 is thus shorter, the energy consumption of the window glass cleaning device 1 is therefore reduced, the wiper 5 can sweep across the partial section TA more frequently at a constant speed, and the consumption of the cleaning fluid F can be reduced, thereby reducing the reserve amount of the cleaning fluid F to be carried and enabling a smaller and more space-saving cleaning fluid tank to be installed, or enabling a longer driving range of the vehicle 2 without refilling the cleaning fluid F with the same reserve amount.

[0041] Therefore, through the method described, the efficiency can be increased with respect to the protection of the sensor system 3. For example, during heavy rainfall, the sensor system 3 can be protected from the influence more quickly, otherwise the maximum possible moving speed of the wiper 5 would impose a limitation on this. Thus, the usability of autonomous driving can be increased because autonomous driving can also be carried out under heavy rainfall conditions.

[0042] In the method described herein, it is particularly proposed that, as Figure 1As shown, the windshield wiper 5 moves in a normal operating mode NM, in particular repeatedly, especially continuously or in the form of an intermittent movement, from a specified normal starting position NS to a specified normal turning position NW and back, and as Figure 2 shown, in a special operating mode SM, in particular repeatedly, especially continuously or in the form of an intermittent movement, from a specified special starting position SS to a specified special turning position SW and back. Here, the movement stroke of the windshield wiper 5 from the special starting position SS to the special turning position SW, in particular the swing stroke, is smaller than the movement stroke from the normal starting position NS to the normal turning position NW.

[0043] In the example shown here, by comparing Figure 1 and Figure 2 it can be seen that the special starting position SS is different from the normal starting position NS, and the special turning position SW is different from the normal turning position NW. The special starting position SS is offset and positioned in the direction of the normal turning position NW here, and the special turning position SW is offset and positioned in the direction of the normal starting position NS.

[0044] In other examples, for example, it can be stipulated that the special starting position SS coincides with the normal starting position NS, while the special turning position SW is different from the normal turning position NW, or the special turning position SW coincides with the normal turning position NW, while the special starting position SS is different from the normal starting position NS.

[0045] The special starting position SS and the special turning position SW, and thus the partial section TA in particular, are specified in such a way that the partial section TA completely encompasses the visual area of the sensing system 3 and is as small as possible in order to optimally achieve the above advantages.

[0046] In an exemplary embodiment of the method shown with the aid of Figure 1 and Figure 2 it is particularly proposed that the windshield wiper 5 moves from the normal starting position NS to the special starting position SS at the start of the special operating mode SM and only stops at the special starting position SS during the special operating mode SM. Thus, in the normal operating mode NM, the windshield wiper 5 is located at the normal starting position NS when stopped. Therefore, when switching to the special operating mode SM, the windshield wiper 5 needs to be first moved to the special starting position SS. Next, the windshield wiper does not return to the normal starting position NS during the special operating mode SM, not even in the stopped state, but remains in the stopped state at the special starting position SS. Only when exiting the special operating mode SM, i.e., when the above conditions of the special operating mode SM are no longer met, is the windshield wiper 5 returned to the normal starting position NS again.

[0047] In a possible embodiment of the present method, it can be proposed that in the special operating mode SM, the cleaning liquid F is sprayed only onto a partial section TA, or more cleaning liquid F is sprayed onto the partial section TA compared to the remaining part of the entire section GA, or the cleaning liquid F is sprayed more frequently onto the partial section TA compared to the remaining part of the entire section GA.

[0048] In the embodiment of the present method exemplarily shown by means of Figure 1 and Figure 2 it is proposed, in order to further reduce the consumption of the cleaning liquid F, that in the special operating mode SM, the cleaning liquid F is sprayed only onto a sub - section TB of the partial section TA, where, as Figure 2 shown, the sub - section TB includes the visual area of the sensing system 3. Thus, the sub - section TB is only a part of the partial section TA and is therefore smaller than the partial section TA. In the example shown, the sub - section TB is the upper area of the partial section TA of the vehicle window glass 4, since the visual area of the sensing system 3 is located in this upper area of the partial section TA.

[0049] In other examples, it can be designed, for example, that in the special operating mode SM, more cleaning liquid F is sprayed onto the sub - section TB of the partial section TA compared to the remaining part of the partial section TA and / or the remaining part of the entire section GA, or the cleaning liquid F is sprayed more frequently onto the sub - section TB of the partial section TA compared to the remaining part of the partial section TA and / or the remaining part of the entire section GA. In this way, for example, an excessive accumulation of dirt in the remaining part of the partial section TA and / or the remaining part of the entire section GA can be avoided.

[0050] Advantageously, since by the described operating steps the cleaning liquid F is sprayed only or at least preferably onto a relatively small sub - section TB of the partial section TA, the consumption of the cleaning liquid F can be further reduced. In this way, the advantages mentioned above will be achieved in terms of reducing the required reserve quantity or increasing the cruising range with the reserve quantity remaining unchanged.

[0051] The spraying of the cleaning liquid F is carried out especially automatically, especially by controlling and / or regulating the cleaning liquid F delivery pump and / or by controlling and / or regulating one or more nozzles 6, in particular by opening and closing the corresponding nozzles 6.

[0052] In a possible embodiment of the present method, it can be stipulated that in the special operating mode SM, the cleaning liquid F is sprayed onto the vehicle window glass 4 only from one nozzle 6 or a plurality of nozzles 6 that traverse the partial section TA. In the example shown by means of Figure 1 and Figure 2In an exemplary embodiment of the method described herein, it is provided that, in order to spray as little cleaning fluid F as possible onto the visible area of the sensor system 3 in a targeted manner, in a special operating mode SM, the cleaning fluid F is sprayed onto the vehicle window 4 only from one or more nozzles 6 of a partition TB that traverses a partial section TA. In the example shown, this is only one nozzle 6, which is opened for the purpose of spraying the cleaning fluid F. Figure 2 The opened nozzle GS and the cleaning fluid F sprayed therethrough are shown therein.

[0053] Thus, in the case of heavy rain and when the above-mentioned conditions regarding the vehicle user and automated driving are met, the vehicle window cleaning device 1, in particular its windshield wiper 5, is automatically activated by means of the method described herein, and additionally the special operating mode SM is automatically activated. The windshield wiper 5, more precisely the motor that moves the windshield wiper 5, is controlled and / or regulated in such a way that the windshield wiper 5 only moves from a special starting position SS to a special steering position SW and back, where the windshield wiper, for example, first moves from a normal starting position NS to the special starting position SS at the beginning. By moving the windshield wiper 5 from the special starting position SS to the special steering position SW and back, the windshield wiper 5 traverses the visible area of the sensor system 3, thereby cleaning it. Advantageously, the windshield wiper 5 stops at the special starting position SS. Advantageously, it returns to the normal starting position NS only when exiting the special operating mode SM, i.e., when resuming the normal operating mode NM.

[0054] By means of the method described herein, in the case where the above-mentioned conditions regarding the vehicle user and automated driving are met, if the vehicle window 4 is recognized as dirty, the vehicle window cleaning device 1, in particular its windshield wiper 5, and the spraying function for spraying the cleaning fluid F are automatically activated, and additionally the special operating mode SM is automatically activated, wherein the cleaning fluid F is only sprayed onto the partition TB of the partial section TA and thus onto the visible area of the sensor system 3. For this purpose, only the nozzle 6 that sprays this partition TB is opened. In the example shown, only one nozzle 6 marked as the opened nozzle GS is opened, and advantageously, it is only sprayed when the windshield wiper 5 traverses the partition TB of the partial section TA.

Claims

1. A method for operating a window glass cleaning device (1) of a vehicle (2), wherein, The window glass cleaning device (1) has at least one wiper (5), which sweeps across a designated entire section (GA) of the window glass (4) of the vehicle (2) in the normal operating mode (NM) of the window glass cleaning device (1). It is characterized in that - the designated entire section (GA) includes the visual area of the vehicle user and the visual area of the sensing system (3) required for the automated driving of the vehicle (2). - If it is determined that the vehicle (2) is in the autonomous driving operation mode, and if it is also determined that the vehicle user is not focused or there is no vehicle user in the vehicle (2), the window glass cleaning device (1) is operated in a special operating mode (SM), in which the wiper (5) only sweeps across a designated partial section (TA) of the entire section (GA), or sweeps across the partial section (TA) more frequently compared to the remaining part of the entire section (GA), where the partial section (TA) includes the visual area of the sensing system (3).

2. The method according to claim 1 Characterized in that, The wiper (5) moves from a designated normal starting position (NS) to a designated normal turning position (NW) and back in the normal operating mode (NM), and moves from a designated special starting position (SS) to a designated special turning position (SW) and back in the special operating mode (SM), wherein the movement stroke of the wiper (5) from the special starting position (SS) to the special turning position (SW) is less than the movement stroke from the normal starting position (NS) to the normal turning position (NW).

3. The method according to claim 2 It is characterized in that - the special starting position (SS) coincides with the normal starting position (NS), while the special turning position (SW) is different from the normal turning position (NW), or - the special turning position (SW) coincides with the normal turning position (NW), while the special starting position (SS) is different from the normal starting position (NS), or - the special starting position (SS) is different from the normal starting position (NS), and the special turning position (SW) is different from the normal turning position (NW).

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3 It is characterized in that The wiper (5) moves from the normal starting position (NS) to the special starting position (SS) at the start of the special operating mode (SM), and only stops at the special starting position (SS) during the special operating mode (SM).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims It is characterized in that, In the special operating mode (SM), the cleaning liquid (F) is only sprayed onto the partial section (TA), or more cleaning liquid (F) is sprayed onto the partial section (TA) compared to the remaining part of the entire section (GA), or the cleaning liquid (F) is sprayed onto the partial section (TA) more frequently compared to the remaining part of the entire section (GA).

6. The method according to claim 5, Characterized in that, The cleaning liquid (F) is sprayed only onto the sub - section (TB) of the partial section (TA) in the special operating mode (SM), or more cleaning liquid (F) is sprayed onto the sub - section (TB) of the partial section (TA) compared to the remaining part of the partial section (TA) and / or the remaining part of the entire section (GA), or the cleaning liquid (F) is sprayed more frequently onto the sub - section (TB) of the partial section (TA) compared to the remaining part of the partial section (TA) and / or the remaining part of the entire section (GA), wherein the sub - section (TB) comprises the visual area of the sensing system (3).

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, It is characterized in that A plurality of nozzles (6) for spraying the cleaning liquid (F) onto the vehicle window glass (4) are arranged on the windscreen wiper (5), wherein in the special operating mode (SM), the cleaning liquid (F) is sprayed onto the vehicle window glass (4) only from one nozzle (6) or a plurality of nozzles (6) that sweep across the partial section (TA).

8. The method according to claim 7, It is characterized in that In the special operating mode (SM), the cleaning liquid (F) is sprayed onto the vehicle window glass (4) only from one nozzle (6) or a plurality of nozzles (6) that sweep across the sub - section (TB) of the partial section (TA).

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, Characterized in that, If it is determined that the vehicle user is in a sleeping state, and / or the vehicle user's line of sight leaves the vehicle window glass (4), and / or the vehicle user's line of sight is not focused on the surrounding environment outside the vehicle (2) in front of the vehicle window glass (4), then it is determined that the vehicle user is not focused.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The non - focus situation of the vehicle user is determined by means of a vehicle user observation camera.

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