Water mist removing method, outside rear-view mirror and vehicle

Abstract

The invention discloses a water mist removing method, an outside rear-view mirror and a vehicle, and the method comprises the steps: receiving the state information, collected in real time, of the surfaces of a plurality of view elements arranged at different positions of the vehicle, and carrying out the quantification processing of the state information, and obtaining the standardized state information; based on the standardized state information, determining a cleaning strategy for each visual field element according to a pre-stored mapping relationship between the standardized state information and the cleaning strategy; and cleaning the water mist on the surface of the visual field element based on the cleaning strategy. The central controller is arranged to perform unified intelligent management on the plurality of view elements at different positions in the vehicle, so that water mist on the surfaces of the view elements can be quickly, autonomously and cooperatively removed, the additional operation burden of a driver in severe weather is relieved, the driver can concentrate on driving, and the driving safety in rainy days is remarkably improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of vehicle safe driving, specifically to a water mist removal method, an exterior rearview mirror, and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] In rainy driving conditions, the exterior glass surfaces of a vehicle, especially the windshield, side windows, and rearview mirrors, are prone to accumulating water, forming a water film or mist. This creates light scattering and refraction effects, affecting the driver's field of vision and blurring the view outside the vehicle. This significantly reduces the driver's ability to perceive the surrounding environment, increasing the risk of misjudgment during critical maneuvers such as lane changes and turns, and creating driving safety hazards.

[0003] In related technologies, active wipers are generally only installed on the windshield of vehicles. For the side windows, there is a lack of effective water removal devices, relying mainly on natural air drying or manual removal by the driver. However, both of these methods are inefficient and slow to respond in continuous rainy conditions. For the exterior rearview mirrors, electric heating is typically used to remove rainwater from the mirror surface. This method has limited heating effect and is slow, unable to quickly remove water droplets from the mirror surface. Furthermore, the heating function usually requires manual judgment and activation by the driver, and cannot achieve adaptive clearing.

[0004] Therefore, how to quickly and automatically remove water mist from the side windows and exterior rearview mirrors of vehicles has become an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In view of this, embodiments of this application provide a water mist removal method, an exterior rearview mirror, and a vehicle, which can achieve unified intelligent management of multiple vision elements at different positions of the vehicle by setting a central controller, so as to realize rapid, autonomous, and collaborative removal of water mist from the surface of the vision elements.

[0006] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a water mist removal method, the method comprising: receiving real-time acquisition of state information of the surfaces of multiple field-of-view elements set at different locations on a vehicle, wherein the field-of-view elements are components used to provide occupants of the vehicle with an opportunity to observe the external environment of the vehicle, and the state information is used to characterize the degree of rainwater contamination on the surface of the field-of-view elements; quantifying the state information to obtain standardized state information; determining a cleaning strategy for each field-of-view element based on the standardized state information and a pre-stored mapping relationship between the standardized state information and the cleaning strategy; and cleaning the water mist on the surface of the field-of-view elements based on the cleaning strategy.

[0007] As one possible implementation of the first aspect, determining the cleaning strategy for each field of view element based on standardized state information and the mapping relationship between pre-stored standardized state information and cleaning strategies includes: acquiring the position information of each field of view element in the vehicle; determining the type of each field of view element based on the position information; and autonomously determining the cleaning strategy for each field of view element based on the state information and type of each field of view element and the mapping relationship.

[0008] As one possible implementation of the first aspect, the vision element is a side window glass set on both sides of the vehicle. Based on standardized state information and type, the cleaning strategy for each vision element is autonomously determined according to the mapping relationship between the pre-stored standardized state information and the cleaning strategy. This includes: autonomously determining the heating power for cleaning water mist on the current side window glass according to the mapping relationship based on the standardized state information; and performing a heating operation on the side window glass with the heating power to remove water mist from the surface of the side window glass.

[0009] As one possible implementation of the first aspect, the vision element is an exterior rearview mirror disposed on both sides of the vehicle. The exterior rearview mirror includes a first mirror surface and a second mirror surface. The first mirror surface is the mirror surface of the exterior rearview mirror facing the external environment, and the second mirror surface is the mirror surface of the exterior rearview mirror facing inward. Based on standardized state information and type, a cleaning strategy for each vision element is autonomously determined according to the mapping relationship, including: responding to the first mirror surface of the exterior rearview mirror meeting the cleaning conditions, rotating the first mirror surface to the position of the second mirror surface, and rotating the second mirror surface to the position of the first mirror surface; autonomously determining a cleaning strategy for the first mirror surface based on the state information of the first mirror surface according to the mapping relationship; and performing a cleaning operation on the first mirror surface based on the determined cleaning strategy for the first mirror surface to remove water mist from the surface of the first mirror surface.

[0010] As one possible implementation of the first aspect, the cleaning operation includes at least one of wiping, washing, and heating operations. Based on the state information of the first mirror surface, the cleaning strategy for the first mirror surface is autonomously determined according to the mapping relationship, including: determining the contamination level of the first mirror surface based on the state information of the first mirror surface, wherein the contamination level is used to characterize the degree of rainwater coverage and contamination of the surface of the viewing element, and the contamination level includes low contamination level, medium contamination level, and high contamination level; when the contamination level of the first mirror surface is low contamination level, a wiping operation is performed on the first mirror surface to remove water mist from the surface of the first mirror surface; when the contamination level of the first mirror surface is medium contamination level, a wiping operation and a heating operation are performed on the first mirror surface to remove water mist from the surface of the first mirror surface; when the contamination level of the first mirror surface is high contamination level, a washing operation, a wiping operation, and a heating operation are performed on the first mirror surface to remove water mist from the surface of the first mirror surface.

[0011] As one possible implementation of the first aspect, the state information of the field of view element surface includes at least one of rainfall information and image information and / or vehicle behavior indication information. The rainfall information includes information on the current rainfall amount in the external environment and information on the degree of rainwater coverage on the field of view element surface. Quantifying the state information to obtain standardized state information includes: based on the rainfall information, determining the rainfall level corresponding to the rainfall information according to a preset rainfall threshold range, and using the rainfall level as standardized rainfall state information; based on the image information, determining the pollution level of the field of view element surface through an image recognition algorithm, and using the pollution level as standardized pollution state information; based on the vehicle behavior indication information, converting the behavior indication information into standardized orientation state information, wherein the orientation state information is used to indicate the orientation of the field of view element to be cleaned.

[0012] As one possible implementation of the first aspect, the field of vision element includes a heating device, and the method further includes: acquiring real-time path information of the vehicle's driving route and weather service data near the driving route; predicting rainfall conditions on road sections along the driving route based on the path information and weather service information; and activating the heating device in the field of vision element before entering the rainy road section when it is determined that there is a rainy road section in the vehicle's driving route, so that the heating device is in standby mode or controlled to operate at a first heating power, wherein the first heating power is the minimum operating power of the heating device.

[0013] As one possible implementation of the first aspect, renewable energy is collected by an energy harvesting device in the vehicle during vehicle operation; the renewable energy is converted into electrical energy, and the electrical energy is used to perform a task of cleaning water mist from the surface of the vision element.

[0014] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide an exterior rearview mirror, which includes: a first mirror surface, a second mirror surface, a flipping drive device, and a cleaning device. The initial position of the first mirror surface is set to face the external environment, and the initial position of the second mirror surface is set to face the interior of the exterior rearview mirror. The flipping drive device is connected to the first mirror surface and the second mirror surface respectively, and is used to drive the first mirror surface and the second mirror surface to flip 180°. The cleaning device is used to remove water mist from the mirror surfaces facing the interior of the rearview mirror in the current first mirror surface and the second mirror surface.

[0015] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a vehicle, characterized in that the vehicle includes a processor; a memory for storing processor-executable instructions, wherein the processor is used to execute the water mist removal method of the first aspect described above.

[0016] This application provides a water mist removal method, an exterior rearview mirror, and a vehicle. The method uses a central controller to perform unified intelligent management of multiple vision elements at different locations in the vehicle, so as to achieve rapid, autonomous, and collaborative removal of water mist from the surface of the vision elements. This reduces the extra operational burden on the driver in inclement weather, allowing the driver to focus on driving and significantly improve driving safety in rainy weather. Attached Figure Description

[0017] The accompanying drawings are provided to further illustrate the present disclosure and form part of the specification. They are used together with the embodiments of the present disclosure to explain the disclosure and do not constitute a limitation thereof. The above and other features and advantages will become more apparent to those skilled in the art from the description of detailed exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a water mist removal system provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0019] Figure 2 This is an exemplary embodiment provided by this application. Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the exterior rearview mirror in the water mist removal system.

[0020] Figure 3 This is a schematic flowchart of a water mist removal method provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0021] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of a mapping table provided by an exemplary embodiment of this application, which characterizes the mapping relationship between state information of the surface of a field of view element and a cleaning strategy.

[0022] Figure 5 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for removing water mist from the surface of a vehicle's exterior rearview mirror, provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0023] Figure 6 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining the removal of water mist from the surface of the first mirror of an exterior rearview mirror based on the state information of the first mirror surface, provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0024] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an apparatus for clearing water mist from the visibility elements of a vehicle, provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application.

[0025] Figure 8 This is a block diagram of an electronic device for clearing water mist from the visibility elements of a vehicle, provided in an exemplary embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0026] The technical solutions of the embodiments of this application will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of this application, and not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of this application, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of this application.

[0027] SUMMARY When a vehicle is driven in the rain, water vapor often condenses on the surface of its visual components (such as side windows and exterior mirrors), which affects the driver's ability to observe the external environment and poses a safety hazard.

[0028] In related technologies, windshield dewatering is typically achieved through windshield wipers to clear water droplets from the glass surface and ensure clear visibility for the driver. However, effective dewatering devices are currently lacking for side windows, relying mainly on natural air drying or manual removal of water droplets by the driver. However, this method is time-consuming, has a slow response time, and is not ideal in cleaning water droplets from the glass. Furthermore, manually cleaning water droplets while driving can easily distract the driver, compromising driving safety. For exterior rearview mirrors, related technologies employ built-in heaters to remove water droplets through electric heating. However, this heating function requires manual activation by the driver, cannot achieve adaptive removal of water droplets, and has limited heating effectiveness, failing to quickly remove formed beads of rainwater. When exterior rearview mirrors are contaminated, drivers cannot clean them while driving and must endure a blurred vision.

[0029] To address the aforementioned issues, this application creatively proposes to integrate a strategy decision module into the controller based on the state information of the vehicle's field of vision element surface to adaptively determine the cleaning strategy for water mist on the surface of the field of vision element. This enables rapid and adaptive removal of water mist from the surface of the field of vision element, improving cleaning efficiency while reducing the driver's additional operational burden and significantly enhancing driving safety in rainy weather.

[0030] Various non-limiting embodiments of this application will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0031] Example water mist removal system Figure 1 This is a structural diagram of a water mist removal system provided in some embodiments of this application. For example... Figure 1As shown, a system 100 for intelligently removing water mist from the surface of a vehicle's field of vision element may include a controller 110, a field of vision element 120, a sensor assembly 130, and a vehicle behavior detection module 140. The sensor assembly 130 can be mounted on the field of vision element 120 or located externally to the vehicle. The controller 110 communicates with the sensor assembly 130 to acquire data collected by the sensor assembly. The controller 110 can connect to the vehicle behavior detection module 140 via a CAN bus to obtain vehicle behavior indication information.

[0032] The controller 110 may be a central controller for intelligent management of the vehicle's field of vision element 120 to ensure the cleanliness of the field of vision element surface. For example, the controller 110 may be an electronic control unit (ECU).

[0033] In some embodiments, the controller 110 includes a data processing module 111 and a strategy decision module 112. The data processing module 111 performs data quantization tasks, and the strategy decision module 112 performs strategy decision tasks to achieve intelligent management of the vehicle's vision elements.

[0034] In some embodiments, the data processing module 111 can be used to quantify the data (e.g., state information of the surface of the field of view element) collected by the sensor component 130 to obtain standardized state information.

[0035] In some embodiments, the strategy decision module 112 can be used to adaptively determine a cleaning strategy for the field-of-view element 120 based on data collected by the sensor component 130. Exemplarily, the strategy decision module can be an intelligent decision-maker, such as a finite state machine.

[0036] In some embodiments, the controller 110 can be a stand-alone hardware entity, or the functions (control logic) of the controller 110 can be integrated into the vehicle controller or body controller as a software module to save costs.

[0037] In some embodiments, sensor assembly 130 can be used to acquire state information of the surface of the vehicle's field of view element 120. For example, sensor assembly 130 can be used to acquire rainfall information and image information of the surface of the vehicle's field of view element, and can also be used to acquire rainfall information of the external environment in which the vehicle is currently located. Accordingly, sensor assembly 130 may include a rain sensor and an image sensor (e.g., an onboard camera).

[0038] In some embodiments, the vehicle behavior detection module 140 can be used to detect vehicle behavior indication information. Exemplarily, the vehicle behavior indication information may include at least one of the vehicle's turn signal indication information, reversing light indication information, and steering wheel angle indication information.

[0039] In some embodiments, the field of view element 120 may be a component for providing occupants of the vehicle with a direct field of view of the external environment of the vehicle. Exemplarily, the field of view element 120 may include multiple field of view elements disposed at different locations on the vehicle, such as side windows on both sides of the vehicle and exterior rearview mirrors of the vehicle.

[0040] In some embodiments, a heating device is built into the viewing element 120. Exemplarily, the heating device may be a heating film, such as an indium tin oxide transparent conductive film (ITO), or a thin metal heating wire. No specific limitation is made herein.

[0041] As an example, a transparent ITO film or thin metal wire can be embedded in the triangular window of the front door side window and the inner corner of the main observation area, so that the heating area can share the power supply and control module with the windshield heating wire.

[0042] In some embodiments, the vehicle's exterior rearview mirrors may employ a double-sided mirror structure capable of rotating 180° around an axis. Specifically, such as... Figure 2 As shown, the vehicle's exterior rearview mirror 200 may include a first mirror surface 210, a second mirror surface 220, a tilting drive device 230, a cleaning device 240, and a mirror housing 250. The cleaning device includes a wiping device, a washing device, and a heating device. The first mirror surface 210 is the mirror facing the external environment, and the second mirror surface 220 is the mirror facing inwards. The tilting drive device 230 controls the rotation of the first mirror surface 210 to the position of the second mirror surface 220, or vice versa. Specifically, it rotates the mirror surface with water droplets to a clean, water-free surface, exchanging the positions of the first and second mirror surfaces. This mechanical tilting and physical wiping improve water removal efficiency, shortens the response time to raindrop cleaning, and reduces the impact of rainwater on the driver's vision. Simultaneously, the washing device enhances the cleaning effect on the exterior rearview mirror surface.

[0043] In some embodiments, the cleaning device 240 may include a wiping device, a cleaning device, and a heating device. The wiping device may include a pair of retractable cleaning arms, with a cleaning device, such as a microfiber cloth or a silicone scraper, attached to the end of each arm. The cleaning device may include a miniature liquid reservoir, a miniature liquid pump, and nozzle tubing integrated within the mirror housing 250. The cleaning device can assist the wiping device in cleaning raindrops and stains from the exterior rearview mirror surface. The combined use of the cleaning and wiping devices enhances the cleaning effect on water mist on the mirror surface by removing stains.

[0044] In some embodiments, the flipping drive 230 may be a drive motor, such as a small stepper motor.

[0045] In some embodiments, the water mist removal system 100 may further include a navigation system and a communication module. The navigation system is used to obtain path information of the vehicle's driving route, and the communication module is used to obtain real-time weather service data near the driving route.

[0046] In some embodiments, rainfall conditions along the driving route can be predicted based on path information obtained by the navigation system and weather service data obtained by the communication module, so as to prepare for rainwater removal and enable the controller 110 to switch from traditional passive response to active protection, thereby shortening the system response time.

[0047] In some embodiments, the water mist removal system 100 may further include an energy recovery device and an energy storage device. The energy recovery device is used to collect renewable energy generated during vehicle operation and convert it into electrical energy; the energy storage device is used to store the electrical energy generated by the energy recovery device to provide some energy for vehicle operation and reduce the system's energy burden on the vehicle.

[0048] In some embodiments, the energy recovery device may be a micro wind turbine. Specifically, during vehicle operation, the micro wind turbine blades are rotated by wind power to generate electricity, converting wind energy into electrical energy; in some embodiments, the energy recovery device may be a kinetic energy recovery device that utilizes the flipping of the exterior rearview mirror to convert the kinetic energy generated during the flipping process into electrical energy.

[0049] In some embodiments, the energy storage device may be a small capacitor installed in the vehicle or the vehicle battery, or other devices that can store electrical energy, without specific limitations.

[0050] In some embodiments, the water mist removal method described below is performed by the controller 110.

[0051] Example water mist removal method To further explain Figure 1The process of the water mist removal system shown in the application for removing water mist from the surface of the field of view element is illustrated. This application also provides a flowchart of a water mist removal method. Figure 3 This water mist removal method is applied to the water mist removal system 100, during the process of removing water mist from the surface of the viewing element: like Figure 3 As shown, controller 110 can perform the following steps: S310: Receives real-time status information from the surfaces of multiple field-of-view elements located at different positions on the vehicle.

[0052] A vision element can be a component used to provide occupants of a vehicle, especially the driver, with an observation of the external environment of the vehicle.

[0053] In some embodiments, the vision elements may include side windows and exterior rearview mirrors on both sides of the vehicle.

[0054] The state information of the field of view (FLAV) surface can be used to characterize the degree of rainwater contamination on the FLAV surface. Specifically, this state information can include rainfall information and image information of the FLAV surface.

[0055] In some embodiments, the rainfall information in the status information includes information on the degree of rain coverage on the surface of the field of view element and rainfall information of the current external environment in which the vehicle is located.

[0056] In some embodiments, image information of the surface of the field of view element can be obtained through an image recognition algorithm to help determine the extent to which the surface of the field of view element is affected by rainwater.

[0057] In some embodiments, the state information of the viewing element surface may further include vehicle behavior indication information. For example, the vehicle behavior indication information may include at least one of the vehicle's turn signal indication information, reversing light indication information, and steering wheel angle indication information.

[0058] S320. Quantize the state information to obtain standardized state information.

[0059] In order to enable the system to uniformly identify heterogeneous data from different sensors, the data processing module quantifies the state information of the field of view element surface acquired in S310 to obtain standardized state information that can be uniformly identified by the system.

[0060] Specifically, for rainfall information in the status information, the rainfall level corresponding to the rainfall information can be determined according to a preset rainfall threshold range, and the rainfall level is used as standardized rainfall status information. For example, the acquired rainfall information can be quantified into four rainfall levels: 0, 1, 2, and 3. The higher the rainfall level, the more rainfall is on the surface of the viewing element, and it can also indirectly reflect the current rainfall situation. For example, 0 represents no rain, 1 represents light rain, 2 represents moderate rain, and 3 represents heavy rain.

[0061] For image information, the contamination level of the field of view element surface can be determined using image recognition algorithms, and this contamination level is used as standardized contamination status information. Specifically, image recognition algorithms can be used to extract features from the image, obtaining the grayscale value variation features and contour features of the image. Then, based on these grayscale value variation features and contour features, the contamination level of the image is determined. For example, the acquired image information of the field of view element surface can be quantified into four contamination levels: 0, 1, 2, and 3. The higher the contamination level, the greater the degree of contamination on the surface of the field of view element. For example, 0 represents a clean surface of the field of view element; 1 represents a small amount of rainwater or stains on the surface of the field of view element (e.g., the area covered by rainwater is less than half of the total area of ​​the field of view element); 2 represents a large amount of rainwater or stains on the surface of the field of view element (e.g., the area covered by rainwater is greater than half of the total area of ​​the field of view element but less than two-thirds of the total area of ​​the field of view element); and 3 represents a large amount of rainwater or stains on the surface of the field of view element (e.g., the area covered by rainwater is greater than two-thirds of the total area of ​​the field of view element) or the presence of stubborn stains.

[0062] For vehicle behavior indication information, this behavior indication information can be converted into standardized orientation status information, which is used to indicate the orientation of the visual elements to be cleared. For example, if the acquired behavior indication information is a right turn signal, the corresponding orientation status information is right, and the visual elements on the right side of the vehicle should be cleared first.

[0063] It should be noted that the rainfall information, image information, and vehicle behavior indication information listed above are merely examples of the state information of the field of view (LAD) element surface. This LAD element surface state information may also include other information that can characterize the degree of rainwater contamination on the LAD element surface or auxiliary information helpful in formulating subsequent rainwater cleanup strategies. Furthermore, the LAD element surface state information may also include only rainfall information and image information, excluding vehicle behavior indication information; this is not specifically limited here.

[0064] S330. Based on standardized state information, determine the cleaning strategy for each field of view element according to the mapping relationship between the pre-stored standardized state information and the cleaning strategy.

[0065] S340. Clean the water mist on the surface of the field of view element based on the determined cleaning strategy.

[0066] In some embodiments, a mapping table can be pre-constructed to represent the mapping relationship between standardized state information and cleanup strategies. This mapping table can be understood as a predefined strategy lookup table. In some embodiments, the constructed mapping table is embedded in the strategy decision module.

[0067] In some embodiments, the strategy decision module implements the strategy decision function through this mapping table. Specifically, based on the standardized state information obtained in S320, the strategy decision module determines the cleaning strategy for the visual elements according to the pre-established mapping table.

[0068] Considering the different locations of the vision elements in the vehicle, the urgency and cleaning strategies for removing surface water mist also differ. In some embodiments, the location information of each vision element in the vehicle is first obtained, then the type of each vision element is determined based on the location information, and finally, a cleaning strategy is determined for each vision element based on its status information and type.

[0069] Specifically, considering that side windows primarily provide auxiliary lateral visibility, while exterior rearview mirrors are essential windows for drivers to observe road conditions to the side and rear of the vehicle, the requirements for removing water mist from the surface of exterior rearview mirrors are greater than those for removing water mist from the surface of side windows. Therefore, this application adopts different cleaning strategies for side windows and exterior rearview mirrors to ensure effective and efficient removal of water mist from the exterior rearview mirrors.

[0070] For side windows, a heating device is installed within the side window to remove water vapor. Specifically, based on the acquired surface condition information of the side window, a mapping table is used to determine the heating power required to remove water vapor from the current side window. The heating device is then controlled to perform a heating operation on the side window at this power to remove the water vapor.

[0071] For exterior rearview mirrors where high cleaning effectiveness and efficiency are required, a 180° rotating double-sided mirror structure is employed. Utilizing this structural characteristic, the rain-contaminated mirror surface is first flipped inside the mirror, while the clean surface is flipped to the outside. A cleaning device then further cleans the rain-contaminated surface, ensuring thorough cleaning and achieving zero visual interruption during the cleaning process. The rotating double-sided mirror ensures that at least one clean mirror provides the driver with a clear view at all times, eliminating traffic safety hazards caused by cleaning operations and improving driving safety in rainy weather. For detailed information on exterior rearview mirror cleaning, please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 5 The description of its embodiments.

[0072] As an example, the mapping rule between standardized status information and cleaning strategies can be as follows: When the input status information is high rainfall level (3) and the turn signal is on, the corresponding cleaning strategy is to send a maximum power heating command to the side window heating device on the same side as the turn signal, and at the same time send a flip, wipe, clean, and heat command to the same side exterior mirror. When the input status information is medium rainfall level (2), the corresponding cleaning strategy is to send a medium power heating command to the side window on the same side as the turn signal, and at the same time send a flip, wipe, and clean command to the same side exterior mirror. When the input rainfall is low rainfall level (1), the corresponding cleaning strategy is to send a low power heating command to the side window on the same side as the turn signal, and at the same time send a flip command to the same side exterior mirror. When the input status information only has rainfall level and no vehicle behavior instruction information is received, the corresponding cleaning strategy is to send the corresponding heating command to the side window heating devices on both sides, and at the same time send the corresponding flip, wipe, clean, or heat command to the side exterior mirrors on both sides. For details on the mapping relationship between standardized status information and cleaning strategies, please refer to Figure 4 The mapping table shown.

[0073] By incorporating vehicle behavior information into the status information of the vision element as one of the bases for clearing decisions, the resulting clearing decisions are more applicable to the current driving state, thus improving the intelligence of the decisions. For example, when the vehicle is indicated by the turn signal to prepare for a right turn, the right side window and exterior rearview mirror are cleared first, providing the driver with a clear view of the road conditions to the right rear, reducing the safety risks of lane changes or turns in rainy weather.

[0074] It should be noted that, Figure 4 The contents of the mapping table shown are merely an example of the mapping relationship between the state information of the vision element and the cleanup strategy. In practical applications, it can be flexibly adjusted according to the situation, and no specific limitation is made here.

[0075] In some embodiments, the cleaning actions of the side windows and the exterior rearview mirrors can be coordinated through unified control of the control unit.

[0076] In some embodiments, during vehicle operation, the vehicle's navigation system can obtain real-time route information, and the communication module can obtain real-time weather service data for the vicinity of the route. Based on the obtained route information and weather data, rainfall areas along the route are predicted to prepare for clearing rainwater from the surface of the visibility element before the vehicle enters a rainy area, thus shortening the system's response time. For example, if the weather data for the road segment 5 minutes later indicates light rain, and the vehicle is about to enter a rainy area, the controller automatically activates the side window heating device to standby mode or controls the heating device to operate at a first heating power. This first heating power can be the minimum heating power of the heating device. By activating the heating device in the visibility element in advance, initial fogging on the surface of the visibility element is prevented. For example, the minimum heating power can be 20% of the rated power.

[0077] In some embodiments, a geofencing algorithm can be built into the data processing module. Based on the vehicle's location, heading, route, and weather data provided by the navigation system, the geofencing matching algorithm calculates whether the vehicle has entered a rainfall area within a preset time threshold. For example, the time threshold can be 5 minutes.

[0078] In some embodiments, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology can be used to receive rain warnings from other vehicles on the road ahead, allowing for advance preparation to clear rainwater from the surface of the vision element and shortening response time.

[0079] In some embodiments, after determining that the vehicle is about to enter a rainy area and activating the corresponding device for assisting in clearing rainwater from the surface of the vision aid element, a voice prompt can be given to the driver via a voice system: "Approaching a rainy area, vision aid system activated."

[0080] In some embodiments, the communication module may be an in-vehicle telematics box (T-Box).

[0081] In some embodiments, an energy recovery device can collect renewable energy generated during vehicle operation and convert it into electrical energy. The electrical energy generated by the energy recovery device is further stored in an energy storage device to reduce the overall vehicle's electrical energy consumption, embodying the concept of energy conservation and environmental protection.

[0082] As an example, the energy recovery device could be a micro-generator. Specifically, during vehicle operation, wind power drives the blades of the micro-generator to rotate. Magnets and coils are installed inside the generator. The rotation of the blades drives the main shaft inside the generator to rotate. As the main shaft rotates, it generates a changing magnetic field, causing the coil to continuously cut magnetic field lines to generate current, thereby converting the kinetic energy generated by the wind-driven blades into electrical energy.

[0083] As an example, the energy recovery device can also be an exterior rearview mirror. Specifically, during the process of cleaning rainwater from the exterior rearview mirror, the positions of the first and second mirror surfaces in the exterior rearview mirror are swapped by a flip drive device (drive motor) in the exterior rearview mirror. During the flipping process controlled by the flip drive device, mechanical energy is generated. Based on the same principle as the micro generator mentioned above, the mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy.

[0084] As an example, an energy recovery device could also be a small solar panel integrated above the exterior rearview mirror housing, converting solar energy into electrical energy.

[0085] As an example, an energy storage device could be a small capacitor or a vehicle battery.

[0086] In some embodiments, during the cleaning of the surface of the vision element in the aforementioned S340 process, the electrical energy in the energy storage device is used preferentially for power supply to reduce the energy consumption of the entire vehicle and embody the concept of energy conservation and environmental protection.

[0087] In summary, by integrating multi-source state information such as rainfall data, image data, and vehicle behavior indicators, the degree of rainwater contamination on the surface of the field of vision element is determined, effectively improving the accuracy of the judgment on the surface state of the field of vision element. Furthermore, by centrally processing multi-source state information, an adaptive cleaning strategy is generated for the field of vision element, enabling unified intelligent management of multiple field of vision elements in different locations within the vehicle. This achieves rapid, autonomous, and collaborative removal of water mist from the surface of the field of vision element, reducing the extra operational burden on the driver in inclement weather, allowing them to focus on driving, and significantly improving driving safety in rainy weather.

[0088] Example method of removing water mist from an exterior rearview mirror surface of a vehicle To further illustrate the process of removing water fog from the exterior rearview mirrors of a vehicle, this application provides a flowchart illustrating a method for cleaning the surface of a vehicle's exterior rearview mirrors. Figure 5 ).

[0089] In some embodiments, such as Figure 5 As shown, controller 110 can perform the following steps: S510. In response to the first mirror surface of the exterior rearview mirror meeting the cleaning conditions, the first mirror surface is rotated to the position of the second mirror surface, and the second mirror surface is rotated to the position of the first mirror surface.

[0090] The tilting drive device can be a device capable of driving the first and second mirror surfaces of the exterior rearview mirror to tilt 180°. For detailed information on tilting drive devices, please refer to [link / reference needed]. Figure 1 The description of its embodiments.

[0091] In some embodiments, when the rainfall level of the exterior rearview mirror is detected to be greater than or equal to 1 or the pollution level of the first mirror is detected to be greater than or equal to 1, it is determined that the mirror meets the cleaning conditions and needs to be cleaned.

[0092] In some embodiments, the exterior rearview mirror has a dual-mirror structure. When it is determined that the outward-facing mirror (first mirror) of the exterior rearview mirror meets the cleaning conditions, the mirror is rotated 180 degrees by a flipping drive device to exchange positions with the inward-facing mirror (second mirror), so as to minimize the time when the vision is blurred due to water droplets adhering to the surface of the exterior rearview mirror, thereby reducing the impact of water droplets on the driver's vision.

[0093] S520. Based on the state information of the first mirror surface, determine the cleaning strategy for the first mirror surface according to the mapping relationship.

[0094] In some embodiments, such as Figure 6 S520 may include the following sub-steps: S521. Based on the state information of the first mirror surface, determine the rainfall level and pollution level of the first mirror surface.

[0095] Pollution levels can be used to characterize the extent to which the surface of a field of view element is covered by rainwater and the degree of pollution. For example, pollution levels can include low pollution level, medium pollution level, and high pollution level.

[0096] S522. When the pollution level of the first mirror is low, a wiping operation is performed on the first mirror to remove water mist from the surface of the first mirror.

[0097] S523. When the pollution level of the first mirror is medium pollution level, a wiping operation and a heating operation are performed on the first mirror to remove water mist from the surface of the first mirror.

[0098] S524. When the contamination level of the first mirror is high, a cleaning operation, a wiping operation, and a heating operation are performed on the first mirror to remove water mist from the surface of the first mirror.

[0099] Considering that stubborn stains, such as mud and insect residue, may remain on the surface of exterior rearview mirrors that cannot be removed by rainwater, the nature of these stains should be taken into account when developing a cleaning strategy for exterior rearview mirrors.

[0100] In some embodiments, an image of the exterior rearview mirror surface can be acquired using an onboard camera, and the pollution level of the exterior rearview mirror surface can be determined based on this image information. For detailed information on acquiring images of the exterior rearview mirror surface, please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 3 And the relevant content in the corresponding embodiments.

[0101] In some embodiments, cleaning strategies of varying intensities can be developed based on the level of contamination on the exterior rearview mirror surface.

[0102] As an example, when the image information of the exterior rearview mirror detects that the outward-facing mirror surface (first mirror surface) is free of raindrops, it can be determined that the pollution level of the mirror surface is unpolluted, clean, and does not require cleaning; when a small number of raindrops are detected on the mirror surface of the exterior rearview mirror, and there are no other stains, for example, the area of ​​raindrops or stains on the mirror surface does not exceed half of the total area of ​​the mirror surface, or the rainfall in the current external environment where the vehicle is located is light rain, it can be determined that the pollution level of the mirror surface is low pollution level (1); when a large number of raindrops or stains are detected on the mirror surface, for example, raindrops or stains are attached to the mirror surface If the area of ​​the raindrops exceeds one-half of the total area of ​​the mirror, but does not exceed two-thirds of the total area of ​​the mirror, or if the rain in the current external environment where the vehicle is located is moderate rain, the pollution level of the mirror can be determined to be medium pollution level (2); when the entire mirror is basically covered with water droplets or there are a large number of stains or stubborn stains on the mirror, for example, if the area of ​​the raindrops or the area of ​​the stains on the mirror exceeds two-thirds of the total area of ​​the mirror, or if the rain in the current external environment where the vehicle is located is heavy rain or even torrential rain, or if stubborn stains are detected on the exterior rearview mirror, the pollution level of the mirror can be determined to be high pollution level (3).

[0103] It should be noted that the cleaning strategy and pollution level classification logic of the exterior rearview mirror described in the above S522, S523, S524 and related embodiments are only examples. Pollution levels can be classified and the cleaning strategy of the vehicle's exterior rearview mirror can be determined in other ways, which are not specifically limited here.

[0104] S530. Based on the determined cleaning strategy for the first mirror, perform a cleaning operation on the first mirror to remove water mist from the surface of the first mirror.

[0105] In some embodiments, the cleaning operation includes at least one of wiping, washing, and heating operations.

[0106] In some embodiments, cleaning of the exterior rearview mirror can be achieved by installing a cleaning device within the mirror. Specifically, the cleaning device may include a wiping device, a washing device, and a heating device. The washing device integrates a miniature liquid reservoir, a miniature liquid pump, and nozzle tubing. As an example of cleaning stubborn stains, when stubborn stains are determined to exist on the surface of the first mirror surface of the exterior rearview mirror, the miniature liquid pump is first activated, spraying a small amount of specialized cleaning fluid onto the surface of the first mirror surface through the nozzle. The cleaning fluid softens and dissolves the stains. Then, the wiping device is used to wipe the first mirror surface, achieving a thorough cleaning of the stubborn stains. For detailed information on the cleaning device, please refer to [link to relevant documentation]. Figure 2 The relevant descriptions of its embodiments are not repeated here.

[0107] It should be noted that the above embodiments are merely examples, and the cleaning device may also include only a wiping device and a washing device. This application does not specifically limit the washing device.

[0108] In some embodiments, the cleaning process of the exterior rearview mirror is initiated by sending a cleaning command to the exterior rearview mirror through the controller.

[0109] Considering that during continuous rainfall or heavy rain, the outward-facing mirror surface of the exterior rearview mirror may be continuously covered by rainwater and requires cleaning, a cleaning strategy corresponding to the high pollution level can be directly adopted in this situation. Alternatively, a pre-set rotation time threshold for the exterior rearview mirror surface can be configured. For example, the rotation time threshold can be set to 5 seconds. Every 5 seconds, the rotation drive device controls the two mirror surfaces of the exterior rearview mirror to rotate 180°, swapping their positions.

[0110] By adopting different cleaning intensities based on the varying levels of surface contamination, the cleaning task can be completed with lower power consumption. This avoids energy waste caused by using high-intensity cleaning for lightly contaminated surfaces, thus reducing the overall energy consumption of the system while ensuring effective cleaning.

[0111] Example device for removing water mist from a field of view element of a vehicle The above text combined Figures 1-6 The method embodiments of this application have been described in detail. The apparatus embodiments for clearing water mist from the visibility elements of a vehicle are described in detail below. It should be understood that the descriptions of the method embodiments correspond to the descriptions of the apparatus embodiments; therefore, any parts not described in detail can be referred to the foregoing method embodiments. Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of a system module for a device for clearing water mist from the visibility elements of a vehicle, as shown in some embodiments of this application.

[0112] like Figure 7As shown, the device 700 for clearing water mist from the vehicle's visibility elements may include a data receiving module 710, an information processing module 720, a strategy formulation module 730, and a water mist clearing module 740.

[0113] The data receiving module 710 can be configured to receive real-time status information from the surfaces of multiple field-of-view elements set at different locations on the vehicle.

[0114] The information processing module 720 can be configured to quantify the status information to obtain standardized status information.

[0115] The strategy formulation module 730 can be configured to determine a cleaning strategy for each field of view element based on standardized state information and the mapping relationship between pre-stored standardized state information and cleaning strategies.

[0116] The water mist cleaning module 740 can be configured to clean water mist from the surface of the field of view element based on a defined cleaning strategy.

[0117] In some embodiments, the strategy formulation module 730 is further configured to: construct a mapping table to characterize the mapping relationship between standardized state information and cleanup strategies, and based on the standardized state information, the strategy formulation module determines a cleanup strategy for the visual element according to the mapping table.

[0118] In some embodiments, the strategy formulation module 730 is further configured to: determine the heating power for cleaning water mist on the current side window glass based on standardized state information and a mapping table; and control the heating device to perform a heating operation on the side window glass with the heating power to remove water mist from the surface of the side window glass.

[0119] In some embodiments, the viewing element includes at least an exterior rearview mirror, which includes a first mirror, a second mirror, a tilting drive, and a cleaning device. The first mirror is the side of the exterior rearview mirror facing the external environment, and the second mirror is the side of the exterior rearview mirror facing inwards. Based on standardized state information, the strategy formulation module 730 is further configured to: in response to the first mirror of the exterior rearview mirror meeting the cleaning conditions, rotate the first mirror to the position of the second mirror using the tilting drive, and rotate the second mirror to the position of the first mirror; determine a cleaning strategy for the first mirror based on the state information of the first mirror surface according to a mapping table; and perform a cleaning operation on the first mirror using the cleaning device based on the determined cleaning strategy to remove water mist from the surface of the first mirror.

[0120] It should be understood that specific limitations regarding the device can be found in the above-mentioned limitations regarding the method for clearing water mist from the vehicle's visibility elements, and will not be repeated here. Each module in the aforementioned device can be implemented entirely or partially through software, hardware, or a combination thereof. These modules can be embedded in hardware or independently of the processor in a computer device, or stored in software in the memory of a computer device, so that the processor can call and execute the corresponding operations of each module.

[0121] Example electronic device and computer readable storage medium This application also provides an electronic device, such as Figure 8 As shown. The electronic device 800 provided in this application includes a memory 810, a processor 820, and an input / output interface 830. The memory 810, processor 820, and input / output interface 830 are connected via internal connection paths. The memory 810 stores instructions, and the processor 820 executes the instructions stored in the memory 810 to control the input / output interface 830 to receive input data and information, and output operation results and other data.

[0122] It should be understood that in the embodiments of this application, the processor 820 may be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), GPU, FPGA, microprocessor, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits to execute related programs in order to implement the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application.

[0123] The memory 810 may include read-only memory and random access memory, and provides instructions and data to the processor 820. A portion of the processor 820 may also include non-volatile random access memory. For example, the processor 820 may also store device type information.

[0124] In implementation, each step of the above method can be completed by the integrated logic circuits in the hardware of the processor 820 or by instructions in software form. The method for protecting the quantum key distribution process disclosed in the embodiments of this application can be directly implemented by the hardware processor, or by a combination of hardware and software modules in the processor. The software modules can be located in random access memory, flash memory, read-only memory, programmable read-only memory, electrically erasable programmable memory, registers, or other mature storage media in the art. This storage medium is located in memory 810, and the processor 820 reads the information in memory 810 and completes the steps of the above method in combination with its hardware. To avoid repetition, it will not be described in detail here. This application also provides a computer program product, including a computer program / instructions. When the computer program / instruction processor in the computer program product provided in this application is executed, the water mist removal method provided in this application can be implemented.

[0125] All of the above-mentioned optional technical solutions can be combined in any way to form the optional embodiments of this application, and will not be described in detail here.

[0126] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the units and algorithm steps of the various examples described in conjunction with the embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented in electronic hardware, or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware. Whether these functions are implemented in hardware or software depends on the specific application and design constraints of the technical solution. Those skilled in the art can use different methods to implement the described functions for each specific application, but such implementation should not be considered beyond the scope of this application.

[0127] Those skilled in the art will understand that, for the sake of convenience and brevity, the specific working processes of the systems, devices, and units described above can be referred to the corresponding processes in the foregoing method embodiments, and will not be repeated here.

[0128] In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed systems, apparatuses, and methods can be implemented in other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described above are merely illustrative; for instance, the division of units is only a logical functional division, and in actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined or integrated into another system, or some features may be ignored or not executed. Furthermore, the coupling or direct coupling or communication connection shown or discussed may be through some interfaces; the indirect coupling or communication connection between apparatuses or units may be electrical, mechanical, or other forms.

[0129] The units described as separate components may or may not be physically separate. The components shown as units may or may not be physical units; that is, they may be located in one place or distributed across multiple network units. Some or all of the units can be selected to achieve the purpose of this embodiment according to actual needs.

[0130] In addition, the functional units in the various embodiments of this application can be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit can exist physically separately, or two or more units can be integrated into one unit.

[0131] If the aforementioned functions are implemented as software functional units and sold or used as independent products, they can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, the technical solution of this application, in essence, or the part that contributes to the prior art, or a portion of the technical solution, can be embodied in the form of a software product. This computer software product is stored in a storage medium and includes several instructions to cause a computer device (which may be a personal computer, server, or network device, etc.) to execute all or part of the steps of the methods described in the various embodiments of this application. The aforementioned storage medium includes various media capable of storing program verification codes, such as USB flash drives, portable hard drives, read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disks, or optical disks.

[0132] It should be noted that in the description of this application, the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance. Furthermore, in the description of this application, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0133] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of this application and is not intended to limit this application. Any modifications or equivalent substitutions made within the spirit and principles of this application should be included within the protection scope of this application.

Claims

1. A water mist cleaning method, the method comprising: receiving real-time collected state information of surfaces of a plurality of view elements arranged at different positions of a vehicle, wherein the view elements are components for providing a person inside the vehicle with a view of an environment outside the vehicle, and the state information is used to represent a degree of contamination of the surfaces of the view elements by rainwater; quantitatively processing the state information to obtain standardized state information; based on the standardized state information, determining a cleaning strategy for each view element according to a pre-stored mapping relationship between the standardized state information and the cleaning strategy; and cleaning water mist on the surfaces of the view elements based on the cleaning strategy.

2. The water mist purge method of claim 1, wherein, The determining of the cleaning strategy for each view element based on the standardized state information and the mapping relationship comprises: obtaining position information of each view element in the vehicle from the plurality of view elements; determining a type of each view element according to the position information; based on the state information and the type of each view element, autonomously determining a cleaning strategy for each view element according to the mapping relationship.

3. The water mist purge method of claim 2, wherein, The view elements are side window glasses arranged on both sides of the vehicle, and the autonomously determining of the cleaning strategy for each view element based on the standardized state information and the type and the mapping relationship comprises: based on the standardized state information, autonomously determining a heating power for cleaning water mist on a current side window glass according to the mapping relationship; performing a heating operation on the side window glass at the heating power to remove water mist on the surface of the side window glass.

4. The water mist purge method of claim 2, wherein, The view elements are outside rearview mirrors arranged on both sides of the vehicle, the outside rearview mirror comprises a first mirror surface and a second mirror surface, the first mirror surface is a mirror surface of the outside rearview mirror facing the external environment, and the second mirror surface is a mirror surface of the outside rearview mirror facing the inside of the outside rearview mirror, and the autonomously determining of the cleaning strategy for each view element based on the standardized state information and the type and the mapping relationship comprises: in response to the first mirror surface of the outside rearview mirror satisfying a cleaning condition, rotating the first mirror surface to a position where the second mirror surface is located, and rotating the second mirror surface to a position where the first mirror surface is located; based on the state information of the surface of the first mirror surface, determining a cleaning strategy for the first mirror surface according to the mapping relationship; based on the determined cleaning strategy for the first mirror surface, performing a cleaning operation on the first mirror surface to remove water mist on the surface of the first mirror surface.

5. The water mist purge method of claim 4, wherein, The cleaning operation comprises at least one of a wiping operation, a washing operation, and a heating operation, and the autonomously determining of the cleaning strategy for the first mirror surface based on the state information of the surface of the first mirror surface and the mapping relationship comprises: determine a pollution level of the first mirror surface based on the state information of the first mirror surface, wherein the pollution level is used to represent a degree of coverage of the first mirror surface by rainwater and a pollution degree, and the pollution level comprises a low pollution level, a medium pollution level and a high pollution level; when the pollution level of the first mirror surface is the low pollution level, perform a wiping operation on the first mirror surface to remove the water mist on the first mirror surface; when the pollution level of the first mirror surface is the medium pollution level, perform a wiping operation and a heating operation on the first mirror surface to remove the water mist on the first mirror surface; when the pollution level of the first mirror surface is the high pollution level, perform a cleaning operation, a wiping operation and a heating operation on the first mirror surface to remove the water mist on the first mirror surface.

6. The water mist purge method of claim 1, wherein, The state information of the field-of-view element surface comprises at least one of rainfall information and image information, and / or behavior indication information of the vehicle, wherein the rainfall information comprises information of a rainfall size of a current external environment and information of a degree of coverage of the field-of-view element surface by rainwater, and the quantification of the state information comprises: based on the rainfall information, determining a level of rainfall corresponding to the rainfall information according to a preset rainfall threshold interval, and taking the level of rainfall as standardized rainfall state information; based on the image information, determining a pollution level of the field-of-view element surface by an image recognition algorithm, and taking the pollution level as standardized pollution state information; based on the behavior indication information of the vehicle, converting the behavior indication information into standardized orientation state information, wherein the orientation state information is used to indicate orientation information of the field-of-view element to be cleaned.

7. The water mist purge method of claim 1, wherein, The field-of-view element comprises a heating device, and the method further comprises: obtaining path information of a driving route of the vehicle and weather service data near the driving route in real time; based on the path information and the weather service information, predicting a rainfall condition of a road segment on the driving route; when it is determined that there is a rainfall road segment on the driving route of the vehicle, activating the heating device in the field-of-view element before entering the rainfall road segment, so that the heating device is in a standby state or the heating device is controlled to operate at a first heating power, wherein the first heating power is a minimum operating power of the heating device.

8. The water mist purge method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The method further comprises: obtaining renewable energy collected by an energy recovery device in the vehicle during driving of the vehicle, and converting the renewable energy into electric energy, and using the electric energy to perform a cleaning task of the water mist on the field-of-view element surface.

9. An exterior mirror, characterized in that The outside rearview mirror comprises: a first mirror surface, a second mirror surface, a flip driving device and a cleaning device, The initial position of the first mirror surface is arranged to face the external environment, the initial position of the second mirror surface is arranged to face the inside of the external rearview mirror, the flipping driving device is connected with the first mirror surface and the second mirror surface respectively, and is used to drive the first mirror surface and the second mirror surface to flip by 180°, and the cleaning device is used to remove the water mist of the mirror surface facing the inside of the external rearview mirror among the first mirror surface and the second mirror surface.

10. A vehicle characterized by comprising: The vehicle comprises: a processor; a memory for storing instructions executable by the processor, wherein the processor is configured to perform the water mist removal method of any one of claims 1-8.

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