Outside rear-view mirror and vehicle

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model provides an outside rear-view mirror and a vehicle, and belongs to the technical field of outside rear-view mirrors. The outside rear-view mirror comprises a shell, a hydrophobic layer and a first rainfall sensor. The hydrophobic layer is arranged on the windward side of the shell and attached to the shell. The first rainfall sensor is fixedly connected to the shell and located on the inner side of the hydrophobic layer. In this way, the first rainfall sensor has high detection sensitivity.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of exterior rearview mirror technology, and particularly to an exterior rearview mirror and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, vehicles are equipped with automatic wipers. These wipers use a rain sensor located inside the windshield to detect the amount of rain on the outside of the windshield, automatically turning the wipers on and off and adjusting their frequency. This eliminates the need for the driver to manually turn the wipers on and off or adjust their frequency, improving driving safety. However, the rain sensor's sensitivity is relatively low, which can lead to situations where the wipers don't activate in light rain or operate too slowly in heavy rain, affecting driving safety. Utility Model Content

[0003] This application provides an exterior rearview mirror and a vehicle, which enables a first rain sensor to have high detection sensitivity.

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide an exterior rearview mirror, which includes a housing, a hydrophobic layer, and a first rain sensor. The hydrophobic layer is disposed on the windward side of the housing and attached to the housing. The first rain sensor is fixedly connected to the housing and is located inside the hydrophobic layer.

[0005] In this embodiment, the wiper system's operation is controlled by rainfall information detected by a first rain sensor to ensure driving safety. Since the housing does not obstruct the driver's view, the first rain sensor is mounted on the housing, allowing for a large detection area. This increases the number of raindrops detected, resulting in higher detection sensitivity. Furthermore, raindrops can slide on the surface of the hydrophobic layer under the influence of gravity and / or wind, preventing them from remaining within the sensor's detection area for extended periods, thus improving its sensitivity. Additionally, raindrops falling outside the sensor's detection area can slide along the hydrophobic layer into it, further increasing the number of raindrops detected and enhancing the sensor's detection area, thereby increasing its sensitivity.

[0006] In some possible implementations, the housing is insulated from the first rain sensor.

[0007] This avoids the problem of the housing causing a short circuit in the first rain gauge, ensuring its normal operation. Additionally, it decouples the housing material from the first rain gauge, reducing the difficulty of material selection for the housing.

[0008] In some possible implementations, the exterior rearview mirror also includes an insulating layer disposed on the windward side of the housing and attached to the housing, a first rain sensor disposed on the inner side of the insulating layer, and a hydrophobic layer disposed on the outer side of the insulating layer and attached to the insulating layer.

[0009] In this way, when the hydrophobic layer has poor insulation performance, the first rain sensor is protected by the insulating layer to prevent the external environment from corroding the metal structure of the first rain sensor.

[0010] In some possible implementations, the hydrophobic layer is made of an insulating hydrophobic material.

[0011] In this way, the hydrophobic layer has insulating properties, preventing external environmental corrosion of the metal structure of the first rain sensor. Additionally, it reduces the number of parts in the exterior rearview mirror, lowering its cost.

[0012] In some possible implementations, a groove is provided on the windward side of the housing, and at least a portion of the first rain sensor is located inside the groove.

[0013] This allows the first rain sensor to be decoupled from the shape of the housing, and the shape of the housing can meet the requirements of wind resistance design.

[0014] In some possible implementations, the first rain sensor is a capacitive rain sensor.

[0015] In this way, the first rain gauge has a large detection area, which can improve the detection sensitivity of the first rain gauge.

[0016] In some possible implementations, the first rain sensor includes a first electrode and a second electrode arranged at intervals. The first electrode includes a first main plate and a plurality of first supporting plates, which are spaced apart along the length of the first main plate, located on the same side of the first main plate and fixedly connected to it. The second electrode includes a second main plate and a plurality of second supporting plates, which are spaced apart along the length of the second main plate, located on the same side of the second main plate and fixedly connected to it. The plurality of second supporting plates and the plurality of first supporting plates are located between the first and second main plates, and the first and second supporting plates are alternately arranged and spaced apart along the length of the first main plate.

[0017] Thus, the first rain sensor is a cross-type capacitive sensor, which can further increase the detection area of ​​the first rain sensor and further increase the detection sensitivity.

[0018] In some possible implementations, the mounting surface of the first rain sensor has an angle with the horizontal plane, and the angle is used to allow raindrops falling on the exterior rearview mirror to pass through the detection area of ​​the first rain sensor.

[0019] In this way, the first rain sensor is tilted relative to the horizontal plane, and raindrops can slide along the surface of the rearview mirror under the action of gravity and / or wind force and enter the detection area of ​​the first rain sensor, thereby increasing the number of raindrops detected by the first rain sensor and improving the detection sensitivity of the first rain sensor.

[0020] Secondly, embodiments of this application provide a vehicle including a body controller, a windshield wiper system, and an exterior rearview mirror as described in any of the first aspects. The body controller is electrically connected to a first rain sensor and is used to control the windshield wiper system.

[0021] Since the exterior rearview mirror does not obstruct the driver's view, placing the first rain sensor within it allows for a large detection area, resulting in high detection sensitivity. Furthermore, raindrops falling outside the sensor's detection area can slide along the surface of the hydrophobic layer into the detection area, increasing the number of raindrops detected and further enhancing sensitivity. Additionally, the hydrophobic layer prevents raindrops from remaining within the sensor's detection area for extended periods, thus improving sensitivity.

[0022] In some possible implementations, the vehicle also includes a second rain sensor and a windshield. The second rain sensor is disposed on the inside of the windshield and is electrically connected to the vehicle body controller. The vehicle body controller has a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode, the vehicle body controller controls the wiper system based on a rain signal output by either the first or second rain sensor. In the second mode, the vehicle body controller controls the wiper system based on a first rain signal output by the first rain sensor and a second rain signal output by the second rain sensor.

[0023] In this way, the first and second rain sensors can be redundant, improving the reliability of rain detection. Furthermore, by controlling the wiper system through the first and / or second rain signals, the amount of rain can be accurately detected in various special operating conditions, further improving the accuracy of rain detection.

[0024] In some possible implementations, the type of the second rain sensor is different from the type of the first rain sensor.

[0025] This can further improve the accuracy and reliability of rainfall detection in various special working conditions.

[0026] In some possible implementations, the second rain sensor is an infrared rain sensor.

[0027] In this way, existing infrared rain sensors can be used, reducing the cost of the second rain sensor. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Figure 1 A three-dimensional structural diagram of a means of transportation provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0029] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A right-side view of the vehicle shown;

[0030] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A cross-sectional view of the exterior rearview mirror;

[0031] Figure 4 for Figure 2 A front view of the first rain sensor in conjunction with its housing;

[0032] Figure 5 A system architecture block diagram of a windshield wiper system provided in this application embodiment;

[0033] Figure 6 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of another means of transportation provided in an embodiment of this application;

[0034] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating a windshield wiper control method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0035] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0036] 100. Exterior rearview mirror;

[0037] 110. Outer shell; 111. Groove;

[0038] 120. Hydrophobic layer;

[0039] 130. First rain gauge sensor;

[0040] 131. First pole plate; 1311. First main board; 1312. First support board;

[0041] 132. Second pole plate; 1321. Second main board; 1322. Second support board;

[0042] 140. Insulation layer;

[0043] 150. Lens body;

[0044] 200. Windshield;

[0045] 300. Second rain sensor. Detailed Implementation

[0046] The terminology used in the implementation section of this application is for the purpose of explaining specific embodiments of this application only, and is not intended to limit this application.

[0047] This application provides a means of transportation, which can be a known means of transportation such as a car, an airplane, a ship, or a rocket, or a new means of transportation that may emerge in the future. The car can be an electric vehicle, a gasoline-powered vehicle, or a hybrid vehicle, such as a pure electric vehicle, a range-extended electric vehicle, a hybrid electric vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle, or a new energy vehicle; this application does not specifically limit the type of vehicle.

[0048] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of a vehicle provided in an embodiment of this application. In the figure, the X direction is the length direction of the vehicle, the Y direction is the width direction of the vehicle, and the Z direction is the height direction of the vehicle.

[0049] like Figure 1 As shown, the vehicle includes a wiper system (not shown) and a windshield 200. The wiper system is used to wipe away rain, snow, dust and other substances from the outer surface of the windshield 200 to ensure that the driver has a clear view and to ensure driving safety.

[0050] For example, the wiper system includes a wiper blade, a drive unit, a control unit, and a washer system. The drive unit is kinetically connected to the wiper blade and electrically connected to the control unit. The washer system is also electrically connected to the control unit. The control unit includes a wiper switch located below the steering wheel. The driver operates the wiper switch to control the drive unit to rotate the wiper blade so that it wipes the outer surface of the windshield 200, and also to control the washer system to spray washer fluid onto the surface of the windshield 200.

[0051] For example, the wiper switch provides multiple operating mode selections, such as off mode, intermittent mode, low speed mode, high speed mode, and washer spray mode. When the wiper switch is in off mode, the wipers do not rotate. When the wiper switch is in one of the intermittent, low speed, or high speed modes, the drive unit drives the wipers to rotate. The wiping frequency of the wipers differs depending on whether the wiper switch is in intermittent, low speed, or high speed mode. When the wiper switch is in washer spray mode, the washer system sprays washer fluid onto the windshield 200.

[0052] In related technologies, the vehicle also includes a body control module (BCM) and a rain sensor. The rain sensor is electrically connected to the body control module and is located inside the windshield 200. The body control module controls the operation of the wiper system based on the amount of rain detected by the rain sensor in the raindrop sensing area of ​​the windshield 200, thereby realizing the automatic opening and closing of the wipers and the automatic adjustment of the wiper frequency. This eliminates the need for the driver to manually open and close the wipers or adjust the wiper frequency, avoiding driver distraction and improving driving safety.

[0053] The rain sensor is an infrared rain sensor, which includes an infrared light-emitting diode (LED) and an infrared photodetector. The LED emits infrared light towards the windshield 200, and the photodetector detects the infrared light reflected back from the windshield 200. When no raindrops fall on the reflective area of ​​the windshield 200, the infrared light emitted by the LED is totally reflected by the windshield 200 to the photodetector. When raindrops fall on the reflective area, some infrared light enters the raindrops, reducing the amount of infrared light reflected to the infrared detection area. The amount of rainfall can be determined by the reduction in infrared light.

[0054] Typically, rain sensors are mounted on a bracket that fits snugly between the rearview mirror and the windshield. The infrared LED and infrared photodetector are located within a 3cm circular area to prevent the rain sensor from entering the driver's field of vision, thus improving driving safety. Therefore, the detection area of ​​the rain sensor is relatively small.

[0055] However, since the area of ​​a 200mm windshield is on the order of square meters, in light rain, raindrops may not reach the detection area of ​​the rain sensor for an extended period, resulting in a low detection probability. Even when the driver sees a large number of raindrops, the rain sensor may still not detect rain. For example, in related technologies, infrared rain sensors have a detection area of ​​less than 50 square millimeters for raindrops with a diameter of 1mm. If 500 1mm diameter raindrops fall per square meter per second, according to the binomial distribution, even with 100% detection sensitivity, the probability of raindrops failing to reach the 50 square millimeter detection area for 10 consecutive seconds is as high as (1-50 / 1000000)^(500×10)=78%. At this point, there are already 5000 raindrops per square meter in the driver's field of vision. Such a large number of raindrops will significantly affect visibility and thus impact safe driving.

[0056] Therefore, the rain sensors of this technology have low detection sensitivity, which can easily lead to situations such as the wipers not starting when the rainfall is light, or the wipers wiping slowly when the rainfall is heavy, thus affecting driving safety.

[0057] In view of this, embodiments of this application provide an exterior rearview mirror 100, a vehicle, and a windshield wiper control method, see below. Figure 1 As shown, by providing a first rain sensor 130 on the exterior rearview mirror 100, the first rain sensor 130 will not appear in the driver's field of vision. The detection area of ​​the first rain sensor 130 can be designed to be large, giving it high detection sensitivity. Furthermore, by placing the first rain sensor 130 inside the hydrophobic layer 120, which is hydrophobic, raindrops are prevented from remaining within the detection area of ​​the first rain sensor 130 for extended periods. This allows raindrops falling outside the detection area to enter the detection area, further improving the detection sensitivity of the first rain sensor 130.

[0058] Example 1

[0059] like Figure 1 As shown, the vehicle also includes a body control module (BCM) and an exterior rearview mirror 100. The body control module is electrically connected to the wiper system and is used to control the wiper system.

[0060] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the right-side view of the vehicle. Figure 3 for Figure 2 A cross-sectional schematic diagram of the exterior rearview mirror.

[0061] like Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the exterior rearview mirror 100 includes a housing 110, a hydrophobic layer 120, a first rain sensor 130, and a mirror body 150. The hydrophobic layer 120 is disposed on and attached to the windward side of the housing 110. The windward side of the housing 110 refers to the side of the housing 110 that directly faces the airflow impact during vehicle operation. The first rain sensor 130 is fixedly connected to the housing 110 and is located inside the hydrophobic layer 120. The first rain sensor 130 is electrically connected to the vehicle body controller. The mirror body 150 is fixedly connected to the housing 110, and the driver observes the environmental conditions on both sides of the vehicle through the mirror body 150.

[0062] like Figure 1 As shown, there are two exterior rearview mirrors 100, which are located on opposite sides of the vehicle. In one embodiment, as... Figure 1As shown, each of the exterior rearview mirrors 100 is equipped with a hydrophobic layer 120 and a first rain sensor 130. The current rainfall amount can be calculated from the rainfall detected by the two first rain sensors 130, and the operation of the wiper system can be controlled based on the current rainfall amount, thereby improving detection and control accuracy. In another embodiment, the hydrophobic layer 120 and the first rain sensor 130 can be provided in one of the two exterior rearview mirrors 100, which can reduce costs.

[0063] When the vehicle is in a rainy environment, the first rain sensor 130 can detect the amount of rain at the exterior rearview mirror 100 and output a first rain signal. The vehicle body controller receives the first rain signal and controls the operation of the wiper system according to the first rain signal. For example, it controls the wipers of the wiper system to switch from the off mode to the on mode, and controls the wiping frequency of the wipers to switch from low speed to high speed.

[0064] It should be noted that the outer casing 110 is usually a curved casing. The surface of the windward side of the outer casing 110 is curved. The slope of a part of the curved surface of the outer casing 110 is close to the slope of the windshield 200. The density of raindrops falling on the outer casing 110 is comparable to the density of raindrops falling on the windshield 200. The relationship between the two densities can be obtained through rainfall calibration, so as to control the wiper system to wipe the windshield 200 according to the amount of rain detected by the first rain sensor 130.

[0065] To increase the probability of the first rain sensor 130 detecting raindrops, along the height direction of the vehicle (e.g., Figure 3 (in the Z direction), the first rain sensor 130 is arranged on the upper half of the housing 110.

[0066] Since the housing 110 does not obstruct the driver's field of vision, the first rain sensor 130 is placed on the housing 110. The first rain sensor 130 will not appear in the driver's field of vision. The detection area of ​​the first rain sensor 130 can be designed to be large, so that the first rain sensor 130 has high detection sensitivity.

[0067] In this embodiment, the hydrophobic layer 120 is made of a hydrophobic material, which is a material that repels water and is not easily wetted. When raindrops fall on the surface of the hydrophobic layer 120, they will form water droplets and slide under the action of wind and / or gravity, rather than spreading out.

[0068] Hydrophobic materials can include polytetrafluoroethylene, polydimethylsiloxane, polyethylene, polypropylene, etc. Alternatively, hydrophobic materials can also be superhydrophobic materials, which are materials with a surface contact angle with water greater than 150° and a roll-off angle less than 10°.

[0069] Raindrops can slide on the surface of the hydrophobic layer 120 under the influence of gravity and / or wind, preventing them from remaining within the detection area of ​​the first rain gauge 130 for extended periods, thus further improving the detection sensitivity of the first rain gauge 130. Furthermore, raindrops falling outside the detection area of ​​the first rain gauge 130 can also slide along the surface of the hydrophobic layer 120 into the detection area of ​​the first rain gauge 130, making the effective detection area of ​​the first rain gauge 130 larger than the actual detection area, further enhancing its detection sensitivity.

[0070] The movement of raindrops on the surface of the hydrophobic layer 120 is illustrated below using a specific scenario:

[0071] In the first scenario, the vehicle is stationary with zero speed. Under the influence of gravity, raindrops slide down the surface of the hydrophobic layer 120 (e.g., Figure 3 As shown in A1, raindrops fall onto the ground. Some raindrops that fall above the detection area of ​​the first rain sensor 130 can pass through the detection area and be detected by the first rain sensor 130, increasing the number of raindrops detected and improving detection sensitivity. Raindrops falling within the detection area of ​​the first rain sensor 130 slide downwards and leave the detection area.

[0072] It should be noted that when the vehicle is stationary, if there is wind in the surrounding environment, raindrops will be affected by wind force and gravity. Under the combined effect of wind force and gravity, raindrops can slide down the surface of the hydrophobic layer 120 towards the ground or slide up the surface of the hydrophobic layer 120 (e.g., Figure 3 (As shown in A2).

[0073] In the second scenario, the vehicle is traveling at a low speed. Raindrops falling on the surface of the hydrophobic layer 120 are subject to gravity and a small amount of wind. Under the influence of gravity and wind, the raindrops can slide along the surface of the hydrophobic layer 120 towards the ground (e.g., Figure 3 (As shown in A1). Some raindrops that fall above the detection area of ​​the first rain sensor 130 can pass through the detection area of ​​the first rain sensor 130 during their fall, thus being detected by the first rain sensor 130, improving detection sensitivity. Raindrops that fall within the detection area of ​​the first rain sensor 130 slide downwards and leave the detection area.

[0074] In the third scenario, the vehicle is in a high-speed state, and the raindrops falling on the surface of the hydrophobic layer 120 are subject to gravity and strong winds, causing them to slide upwards along the surface of the hydrophobic layer 120 (e.g., Figure 3As shown in Figure A2. Raindrops falling below the detection area of ​​the first rain sensor 130 can slide upwards through the detection area of ​​the first rain sensor 130, thereby increasing detection sensitivity. Raindrops falling within the detection area of ​​the first rain sensor 130 can slide upwards and leave the detection area (e.g., Figure 3 (As shown in A2).

[0075] It should be noted that the raindrop movement in the above three scenarios represents the general trend of raindrop movement and does not constitute a limitation on the specific movement of each raindrop falling on the hydrophobic layer 120. In addition, when the raindrops falling on the surface of the hydrophobic layer 120 are subjected to relatively strong winds, the raindrops may not only slide on the surface of the hydrophobic layer 120, but also drift away from the surface of the hydrophobic layer 120.

[0076] For example, the first rain sensor 130 is a capacitive rain sensor, which gives the first rain sensor 130 a large detection area and can improve the detection sensitivity of the first rain sensor 130.

[0077] When a raindrop is within the detection area of ​​a capacitive rain gauge, the dielectric constant between the electrodes changes, causing a change in the sensor's capacitance and generating a voltage signal. The raindrop is detected by sensing this change in capacitance. Once the raindrop leaves the electrode area, the sensor's capacitance returns to its initial value. The raindrop that causes the change in dielectric constant can be one that falls directly into the detection area or one that falls outside the detection area and slides into it under the influence of gravity and / or wind.

[0078] It is understandable that the detection area of ​​a capacitive rain sensor is the area between the two electrodes of the capacitive rain sensor.

[0079] Figure 4 for Figure 2 A front view schematic diagram of the first rain sensor in conjunction with the housing.

[0080] For example, such as Figure 4As shown, the first rain sensor 130 includes a first electrode plate 131 and a second electrode plate 132 arranged at intervals. The first electrode plate 131 includes a first main plate 1311 and a plurality of first support plates 1312. The plurality of first support plates 1312 are arranged at intervals along the length direction of the first main plate 1311, and are located on the same side of the first main plate 1311 and are respectively fixedly connected to the first main plate 1311. The second electrode plate 132 includes a second main plate 1321 and a plurality of second support plates 1322. The plurality of second support plates 1322 are arranged at intervals along the length direction of the second main plate 1321, and are located on the same side of the second main plate 1321 and are respectively fixedly connected to the second main plate 1321. The plurality of second support plates 1322 and the plurality of first support plates 1312 are located between the first main plate 1311 and the second main plate 1321, and the first support plates 1312 and the second support plates 1322 are arranged alternately and at intervals along the length direction of the first main plate 1311.

[0081] The length direction of the first motherboard 1311 and the length direction of the second motherboard 1321 (e.g.) Figure 4 The Y-direction of the first rain sensor 130 is parallel to the width direction of the vehicle, so that the first rain sensor 130 is arranged laterally on the housing 110. It should be noted that the length direction of the first motherboard 1311 and the length direction of the second motherboard 1321 are not absolutely parallel to the width direction of the vehicle, and a certain degree of error is allowed.

[0082] like Figure 4 As shown, the first rain sensor 130 is a cross-type capacitive sensor, which can further increase the detection area of ​​the first rain sensor 130 and further increase the detection sensitivity.

[0083] like Figure 4 As shown, the lateral and longitudinal dimensions of the interdigitated capacitive sensor can be made relatively large, for example, exceeding 10cm laterally (the size of the exterior rearview mirror 100 is generally exceeding 12cm) and 1cm longitudinally. Furthermore, the distance between the first support plate 1312 and the second support plate 1322 between the first main board 1311 and the second main board 1321 is approximately 1mm. Assuming the width of each first support plate 1312 and each second support plate 1322 is also 1mm, then the interdigitated capacitive sensor on each exterior rearview mirror 100 has 25 pairs of interdigitations, and the area between the first electrode plate 131 and the second electrode plate 132 is approximately (25*2-1)*10 = 490mm². 2 .

[0084] With this design, the area of ​​the first pole plate 131 and the second pole plate 132 on the two exterior rearview mirrors 100 reaches 490*2=980mm². 2This is more than 10 times the detection area of ​​an infrared rain sensor attached to the inside of the windshield 200 mm² in related technologies (the detection area of ​​an infrared rain sensor for a 1 mm diameter raindrop is around 50 mm²), thus significantly increasing the probability of detecting raindrops. Furthermore, considering the effects of gravity and wind on raindrops mentioned earlier, the actual equivalent detection area of ​​the toe-type capacitive sensor is several times greater than 980 mm². 2 It has higher detection capabilities.

[0085] The increased detection area of ​​the first rain sensor 130 also significantly increases the sensitivity to detect small raindrops. For example, if 500 raindrops with a diameter of 1 mm fall per square meter per second, then according to the binomial distribution, the detection sensitivity reaches 100%. However, since the raindrops don't even hit the detection area, they cannot reach the 980 mm diameter area for 10 consecutive seconds. 2 The probability of detecting raindrops is as high as (1-980 / 1000000)^(500×10)=0.74%, which is more than 100 times lower than the 78% mentioned above. Therefore, the probability of detecting raindrops will be greatly increased.

[0086] Of course, in addition to being a cross-type capacitive sensor, the first rain sensor 130 can also be other types of capacitive rain sensors. For example, the first rain sensor 130 can also include a first main board 1311 and a second main board 1321. The first rain sensor 130 is a parallel plate capacitive sensor.

[0087] When the first rain sensor 130 is a capacitive rain sensor, in order to prevent false detection of rain in situations such as when there is no rain, human touch, or foreign objects falling into the detection area of ​​the first rain sensor 130, the following measures can be taken in some embodiments to improve the situation:

[0088] (1) Automatic wipers can be activated when the vehicle speed is greater than 0. Understandably, for common situations where the vehicle speed is zero, such as traffic lights and garage entrances and exits, if a lot of rain has accumulated on the windshield, the driver will not need to pay too much attention to manually control the wiper system, which will not lead to distracted driving and will not affect driving safety.

[0089] (2) If the foreign object remains within the detection area of ​​the first rain sensor 130 and is not removed, the first rain sensor 130 can perform waveform recognition and self-calibration to shield the influence of the foreign object. Because the pulse voltage waveform of the raindrop hitting and leaving is different from the constant voltage change waveform of the foreign object stuck on the hydrophobic layer 120, a monitoring signal is sent to the vehicle body controller based on the waveform recognition result to remind the driver to clean the surface of the hydrophobic layer 120.

[0090] (3) If a foreign object falls into the detection area of ​​the first rain sensor 130 during vehicle operation, such as when driving in a sandstorm, the amount of rain detected by the first rain sensor 130 may match the required level of wiping, thus causing the vehicle controller to control the wiper system. In this case, specific identification can be performed based on the waveform characteristics of the capacitance change caused by the foreign object and water droplets, such as residence time and particle size, to reduce the false detection rate of rain.

[0091] In the preceding description, the first rain sensor 130 is a capacitive rain sensor; however, the first rain sensor 130 may also be other types of rain sensors.

[0092] In one embodiment, the first rain sensor 130 can be a thermal conductivity rain sensor. By detecting the surface temperature change caused by rainwater, the surface temperature of the thermal conductivity rain sensor keeps the surface temperature of the hydrophobic layer 120 at a fixed temperature. When raindrops fall on the surface of the hydrophobic layer 120, the surface temperature of the hydrophobic layer 120 changes, thereby changing the surface temperature of the thermal conductivity rain sensor. The amount of rainfall can be estimated by measuring the rate of temperature change of the thermal conductivity rain sensor.

[0093] In one embodiment, the first rain sensor 130 can be an ultrasonic rain sensor. The ultrasonic waves emitted by the ultrasonic rain sensor pass through the hydrophobic layer 120 and couple with raindrops on the surface of the hydrophobic layer 120. When the ultrasonic waves encounter the raindrops, they will be reflected or attenuated. The rainfall can be analyzed by the time difference or intensity change of the received signal.

[0094] The hydrophobic layer 120 is made of a hydrophobic material that allows ultrasound waves to pass through, ensuring the transmission of ultrasound waves. Alternatively, the hydrophobic layer 120 can be an ultra-thin hydrophobic coating, which can also avoid affecting the transmission and reception of ultrasound waves.

[0095] In one embodiment, the first rain sensor 130 can be a microwave rain sensor, in which raindrops absorb and scatter microwave signals of a specific frequency band, and the amount of rainfall is estimated by measuring the signal attenuation of the microwave signal.

[0096] In order to ensure that microwave signals can penetrate the hydrophobic layer 120, the hydrophobic layer 120 can be made of a low dielectric loss material and avoid containing conductive components.

[0097] When the first rain sensor 130 is an ultrasonic rain sensor or a microwave rain sensor, through reasonable material selection and structural design, the hydrophobic layer 120 is hydrophobic while enabling effective penetration of ultrasonic waves or microwaves, so that raindrops come into contact with microwave signals or ultrasonic waves.

[0098] In one embodiment, the first rain sensor 130 may also be a piezoelectric rain sensor, which measures the amount of rainfall by measuring the electrical signal generated by the first rain sensor 130 when raindrops hit the hydrophobic layer 120.

[0099] When the first rain sensor 130 is a piezoelectric rain sensor, the hydrophobic layer 120 can protect the piezoelectric rain sensor and allow raindrops in the detection area of ​​the piezoelectric rain sensor to stay briefly, avoiding the raindrops staying for a long time, which would weaken the impact of subsequent raindrops on the piezoelectric rain sensor, prevent the piezoelectric rain sensor from failing to generate an electrical signal, and also achieve the purpose of further improving the detection sensitivity.

[0100] In some possible implementations, the mounting surface of the first rain sensor 130 has an angle with the horizontal plane, the angle being used to allow raindrops falling on the exterior rearview mirror 100 to pass through the detection area of ​​the first rain sensor 130.

[0101] In this way, the first rain sensor 130 is tilted relative to the horizontal plane, so that raindrops can slide along the surface of the rearview mirror of the housing 110 under the action of gravity and / or wind force, thereby increasing the number of raindrops detected by the first rain sensor 130, expanding the equivalent detection area of ​​the first rain sensor 130, and increasing the detection sensitivity of the first rain sensor 130.

[0102] In this embodiment of the application, the horizontal plane can be understood as the plane containing the length and width directions of the vehicle, or the plane perpendicular to the height direction of the vehicle, or the plane perpendicular to the direction of gravity.

[0103] Since the first rain sensor 130 is located inside the hydrophobic layer 120, the angle between the mounting surface of the first rain sensor 130 and the horizontal plane is related to the position of the hydrophobic layer 120 relative to the horizontal plane. For example, as... Figure 3 As shown, the hydrophobic layer 120 is arranged in the upper region of the curved surface of the housing 110, such that the hydrophobic layer 120 is inclined to the horizontal plane while the mounting surface of the first rain sensor 130 has an angle with the horizontal plane, so that when the vehicle is stationary, the raindrops can slide under the action of gravity.

[0104] Typically, the outer surface of the housing 110 is coated with metallic paint, which is conductive. This makes the housing 110 conductive, potentially causing short circuits in the first rain sensor 130. Therefore, in some possible implementations, the first rain sensor 130 is insulated from the housing 110, preventing the housing 110 from causing short circuits between the two electrode plates of the first rain sensor 130 and ensuring its normal operation. Additionally, the material of the housing 110 can be decoupled from that of the first rain sensor 130, reducing the difficulty of material selection for the housing 110.

[0105] For example, the exterior rearview mirror 100 also includes an insulating member (not shown in the figure), which is disposed between the first rain sensor 130 and the housing 110, so that the first rain sensor 130 and the housing 110 are insulated from each other.

[0106] Alternatively, in some embodiments, the area where the housing 110 mates with the first rain sensor 130 is made of an insulating material, which can also make the first rain sensor 130 and the housing 110 insulated from each other.

[0107] In some possible implementations, such as Figure 3 As shown, the exterior rearview mirror 100 also includes an insulating layer 140, which is disposed on the windward side of the housing 110 and attached to the housing 110. The first rain sensor 130 is disposed on the inner side of the insulating layer 140, and the hydrophobic layer 120 is disposed on the outer side of the insulating layer 140 and attached to the insulating layer 140. In this way, when the insulation performance of the hydrophobic layer 120 is poor, the first rain sensor 130 is protected from corrosion of the metal structure of the first rain sensor 130 by the external environment.

[0108] The material of the insulating layer 140 can be polymethyl methacrylate, polycarbonate, etc., and there are no restrictions here.

[0109] In some possible implementations, the hydrophobic layer 120 is made of an insulating hydrophobic material. While possessing hydrophobic properties, the hydrophobic layer 120 also has insulating properties. It can be insulated from the first rain sensor 130, preventing negative impacts on the first rain sensor 130, such as preventing a short circuit between the two electrode plates. Additionally, it protects the first rain sensor 130 from external environmental corrosion of its metal structure. Furthermore, while the hydrophobic layer 120 can contact the first rain sensor 130, it will not cause a short circuit between the two electrodes, ensuring the normal operation of the first rain sensor 130. Moreover, in some scenarios, the insulating layer 140 can be omitted, reducing the number of parts in the exterior rearview mirror 100.

[0110] Insulating hydrophobic materials can be fluorocarbon resin composites (such as polytetrafluoroethylene), organosilicon-based superhydrophobic insulating materials (such as silicone rubber modified coatings), etc.

[0111] In some possible implementations, such as Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, a groove 111 is provided on the windward side of the housing 110, and at least a portion of the first rain sensor 130 is located inside the groove 111, for example... Figure 3 , Figure 4 As shown, the first rain sensor 130 is located inside the groove 111. This decouples the first rain sensor 130 from the shape of the housing 110, and the shape of the housing 110 can meet the wind resistance design requirements.

[0112] For example, the exterior rearview mirror 100 also has an insulating layer 140. In this case, the insulating layer 140 can be located inside the groove 111, and the groove 111 is used to accommodate the insulating layer 140 to avoid the insulating layer 140 affecting the shape of the housing 110.

[0113] For example, the hydrophobic layer 120 is disposed at the opening of the groove 111, the hydrophobic layer 120 is located inside the groove 111, and the outer surface of the hydrophobic layer 120 is aligned with the outer surface of the housing 110, so that the overall shape of the exterior rearview mirror 100 meets the wind resistance design requirements.

[0114] In some embodiments, in order to enable the first rain sensor 130 to be electrically connected to the vehicle body controller, the sidewall of the groove 111 is provided with a through hole (not shown in the figure), which is used for the first rain sensor 130 to pass through or for the electrical connection structure (e.g., cable) that powers the first rain sensor 130 to pass through the vehicle body controller.

[0115] Figure 5 This is a system architecture block diagram of a windshield wiper control system provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0116] See also some possible implementations. Figure 5 As shown, the vehicle also includes a rain controller (not shown in the figure). The rain controller is electrically connected to the first rain sensor 130 and the vehicle body controller. The rain controller receives the first rain signal output by the first rain sensor 130 and calculates the wiping command based on the first rain signal. The vehicle body controller receives the wiping command output by the rain controller and controls the operation of the wiper system based on the wiping command.

[0117] For example, the rain controller may include a microcontroller unit (MCU) and an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The voltage signal emitted by the first rain sensor 130 is converted into a digital signal by the ASIC. The MCU calculates the digital signal to obtain a judgment signal of the amount of rain, and then generates a wiping command and transmits it to the vehicle body controller. The vehicle body controller controls the wiper system to produce the corresponding wiping action according to the received wiping command.

[0118] The scraping command can include commands such as starting the scraping process, stopping the scraping process, increasing the scraping frequency, and decreasing the scraping frequency.

[0119] In some embodiments, the rain controller may be located on the exterior rearview mirror 100, for example, the rain controller may be located inside the housing 110.

[0120] In some embodiments, the rain gauge may also be located inside the door of the vehicle.

[0121] In some embodiments, the rain gauge may also be located within the dashboard of the vehicle.

[0122] In some possible implementations, the vehicle may also eliminate the rain controller. In this case, the vehicle body controller integrates the function of the rain controller. The vehicle body controller can convert the voltage signal emitted by the first rain sensor 130 into a digital signal and calculate the digital signal to obtain the wiping command.

[0123] Example 2

[0124] Figure 6 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of another means of transportation provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0125] Combination Figure 1 and Figure 6 As can be seen, the difference between Embodiment 2 and Embodiment 1 is that the vehicle further includes a second rain sensor 300, which is disposed on the inner side of the windshield 200 and electrically connected to the vehicle body controller. The vehicle body controller has a first mode and a second mode. When the vehicle body controller is in the first mode, it controls the wiper system based on the rain signal output by either the first rain sensor 130 or the second rain sensor 300. When the vehicle body controller is in the second mode, it controls the wiper system based on the first rain signal output by the first rain sensor 130 and the second rain signal output by the second rain sensor 300.

[0126] In this way, the first rain sensor 130 and the second rain sensor 300 can be redundant, improving the reliability of rain detection. Furthermore, by controlling the wiper system through the first and / or second rain signals, rain information can be detected in various environments, improving the reliability and accuracy of automatic wipers.

[0127] In some possible implementations, the second rain sensor 300 is of a different type than the first rain sensor 130, which can further improve the accuracy and reliability of rain detection in a variety of environments.

[0128] Of course, the second rain sensor 300 can be of the same type as the first rain sensor 130. For example, both the second rain sensor 300 and the first rain sensor 130 can be capacitive rain sensors.

[0129] For example, the second rain sensor 300 is an infrared rain sensor, thus the cost of the second rain sensor 300 can be reduced by using an infrared rain sensor in the prior art.

[0130] The second rain sensor 300 can also be other types of rain sensors, such as capacitive rain sensors, piezoelectric rain sensors, ultrasonic rain sensors, etc.

[0131] It should be noted that there are no restrictions on how the wiper system is controlled based on the amount of rainfall collected by the first rain sensor 130 and the second rain sensor 300.

[0132] For example, taking the first rain sensor 130 as a capacitive rain sensor and the second rain sensor 300 as an infrared rain sensor as an example, this article describes how to control the windshield wiper system based on the first rain sensor 130 and the second rain sensor 300.

[0133] (1) When the vehicle is stationary and its speed is zero, raindrops can be detected by an infrared rain sensor to control the wiper system, reducing the workload of the driver in manually controlling the wiper system. During vehicle operation, raindrops can be detected by a capacitive rain sensor to control the wiper system, or a combination of a capacitive rain sensor and an infrared rain sensor can be used to detect raindrops and control the wiper system.

[0134] (2) For scenarios with a lot of dust, such as sandstorms or construction sites, a soft switch can be set on the vehicle's display screen or physical buttons to allow the driver to switch to a mode that only uses the infrared rain sensor. Compared to Example 1, Example 2 can still use the automatic wipers in environments with sand and dust and rain.

[0135] Therefore, in special operating conditions where capacitive rain sensors are prone to false detection or missed detection, infrared rain sensors are used to ensure that the basic functions of automatic wipers are available. Additionally, when the capacitive rain sensor is operating normally, the wiper system can be controlled by the capacitive rain sensor alone, or by the combined use of a capacitive rain sensor and an infrared rain sensor.

[0136] To further improve the synergy between infrared and capacitive rain gauges, in some embodiments, information such as street-level weather information about the vehicle's location can be obtained through an in-vehicle internet information system, and environmental information about the vehicle's location can be obtained through an intelligent driving system. This information can be fused and used to make arbitration decisions regarding the sensing signals from the infrared and capacitive rain gauges. This fusion perception and arbitration decision includes, but is not limited to: disabling the capacitive rain gauge in sunny or dusty weather; disabling all rain gauges in tunnels or underground parking garages; and disabling highly sensitive capacitive rain gauges in lightly foggy weather. This reduces the frequency of false triggering of the rain gauges, while not restricting the rain gauges in cloudy or rainy weather, thus fully utilizing their detection performance.

[0137] Example 3

[0138] Figure 7 This is a flowchart illustrating a windshield wiper control method provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0139] This embodiment provides a windshield wiper control method, see [link to relevant documentation] Figure 7 As shown, the wiper control method includes the following steps:

[0140] S1. Obtain current rainfall information, which includes the first rainfall signal output by the first rainfall sensor 130.

[0141] Specifically, the vehicle body controller or rain controller acquires the current rainfall information. For example, the first rain sensor 130 is a capacitive rain sensor, and the rain controller acquires the voltage signal generated by the first rain sensor 130 due to raindrops. This voltage signal is the first rainfall signal.

[0142] In addition to the first rainfall signal output by the first rainfall sensor 130, the current rainfall information may also include, in some possible implementations, the second rainfall signal output by the second rainfall sensor 300.

[0143] S2. Control the working mode of the wiper system based on the current rainfall information.

[0144] Specifically, the vehicle body controller or rain gauge controller processes the received current rainfall information to obtain a judgment signal on the amount of rainfall. Based on the judgment signal, it generates a wiping command, and the vehicle body controller controls the operating mode of the wiper system according to the wiping command. For example, the rain gauge controller processes the current rainfall information and generates a wiping command, and the vehicle body controller controls the operating mode of the wiper system according to the wiping command generated by the rain gauge controller.

[0145] The working modes of the wiper system can include off wipers, intermittent wiping, low-speed wiping, and high-speed wiping.

[0146] In some embodiments, when the current rainfall information includes a first rainfall signal and a second rainfall signal, the vehicle body controller can control the operating mode of the wiper system based on either the first rainfall signal or the second rainfall signal; alternatively, the vehicle body controller can control the operating mode of the wiper system based on either the first rainfall signal or the second rainfall signal. Therefore, the vehicle body controller has the first mode and the second mode described above.

[0147] In the description of the embodiments of this application, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, or the internal connection of two components or the interaction between two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application according to the specific circumstances. The terms "first," "second," "third," "fourth," etc. (if present) are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence.

[0148] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although the embodiments of this application have been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

Claims

1. An exterior rearview mirror (100), characterized in that, include: Outer shell (110); A hydrophobic layer (120) is disposed on the windward side of the outer shell (110) and attached to the outer shell (110); A first rain sensor (130) is fixedly connected to the housing (110) and is located inside the hydrophobic layer (120).

2. The exterior rearview mirror (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The housing (110) is insulated from the first rain sensor (130).

3. The exterior rearview mirror (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The exterior rearview mirror (100) further includes an insulating layer (140), which is disposed on the windward side of the housing (110) and attached to the housing (110). The first rain sensor (130) is disposed on the inner side of the insulating layer (140), and the hydrophobic layer (120) is disposed on the outer side of the insulating layer (140) and attached to the insulating layer (140).

4. The exterior rearview mirror (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hydrophobic layer (120) is made of an insulating hydrophobic material.

5. The exterior rearview mirror (100) according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The housing (110) has a groove (111) on its windward side, and at least a portion of the first rain sensor (130) is located inside the groove (111).

6. The exterior rearview mirror (100) according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The first rain sensor (130) is a capacitive rain sensor.

7. The exterior rearview mirror (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The first rain sensor (130) includes a first electrode plate (131) and a second electrode plate (132) arranged at intervals; The first electrode plate (131) includes a first main plate (1311) and a plurality of first support plates (1312). The plurality of first support plates (1312) are arranged at intervals along the length direction of the first main plate (1311). The plurality of first support plates (1312) are located on the same side of the first main plate (1311) and are respectively fixedly connected to the first main plate (1311). The second pole piece (132) includes a second main plate (1321) and a plurality of second support plates (1322). The plurality of second support plates (1322) are arranged at intervals along the length direction of the second main plate (1321). The plurality of second support plates (1322) are located on the same side of the second main plate (1321) and are respectively fixedly connected to the second main plate (1321). The plurality of second support plates (1322) and the plurality of first support plates (1312) are located between the first main plate (1311) and the second main plate (1321). The first support plates (1312) and the second support plates (1322) are arranged alternately and at intervals along the length direction of the first main plate (1311).

8. The exterior rearview mirror (100) according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that, The mounting surface of the first rain sensor (130) has an angle with the horizontal plane, and the angle is used to allow raindrops falling on the exterior rearview mirror (100) to pass through the detection area of ​​the first rain sensor (130).

9. A means of transportation, characterized in that, Includes a body control unit, a windshield wiper system, and an exterior rearview mirror (100) as described in any one of claims 1-8; The vehicle body controller is electrically connected to the first rain sensor (130), and the vehicle body controller is used to control the wiper system.

10. The means of transport according to claim 9, characterized in that, The vehicle also includes a second rain sensor (300) and a windshield (200), the second rain sensor (300) being disposed on the inside of the windshield (200) and electrically connected to the vehicle body controller; The body controller has a first mode and a second mode; When the vehicle body controller is in the first mode, the vehicle body controller controls the wiper system according to the rain signal output by one of the first rain sensor (130) and the second rain sensor (300); When the vehicle body controller is in the second mode, the vehicle body controller controls the wiper system according to the first rainfall signal output by the first rain sensor (130) and the second rainfall signal output by the second rain sensor (300).

11. The means of transport according to claim 10, characterized in that, The second rain sensor (300) is of a different type than the first rain sensor (130).

12. The means of transport according to claim 11, characterized in that, The second rain sensor (300) is an infrared rain sensor.

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