Device for determining atmospheric property parameters for a vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (2) for determining property parameters describing an atmosphere located in the environment of a vehicle (1), wherein a number of sensors (4.1 to 4.n) are provided for detecting at least one property parameter. According to the invention, the number of sensors (4.1 to 4.n) are arranged in the interior of a housing of an external microphone (3) of the vehicle (1), and a housing (3.1) of the external microphone (3) has at least one opening (O) which leads from the interior of the housing to the outside of the housing (3.1). The invention further relates to a vehicle (1) comprising at least one such device (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for determining a property parameter describing an atmosphere located in the environment of a vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] The invention also relates to a vehicle.

[0003] From US Patent 2011 / 0094297 A1, a method for determining the condition of an air filter on the intake manifold of a diesel engine is known. For this determination, a pressure sensor is first installed in the intake manifold. Before the diesel engine is started, an initial pressure sensor reading is obtained. After the diesel engine has started, a second pressure sensor reading is obtained. The difference between the two pressure sensor readings is calculated, and the condition of the air filter is determined based on this difference.

[0004] The invention is based on the objective of specifying a novel device for determining property parameters describing an atmosphere located in the environment of a vehicle and a novel vehicle.

[0005] The problem is solved according to the invention by a device which has the features specified in claim 1 and by a vehicle which has the features specified in claim 4.

[0006] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0007] A device for determining property parameters describing an atmosphere located in the environment of a vehicle comprises a number of sensors for detecting at least one property parameter.

[0008] According to the invention, the number of sensors is arranged in a housing interior of an external microphone of the vehicle and the housing has at least one opening which leads from the housing interior to the outside of the housing.

[0009] Vehicles, for example automated, especially highly automated or autonomous vehicles, require measurements of the properties of the air atmosphere in the vehicle's surroundings. Such properties can include: - Air pressure for altitude measurement, especially for determining floors in parking garages, - an outside temperature for controlling the vehicle's air conditioning system and for detecting difficult driving conditions, such as rain, fog, snow and ice, - a relative humidity for controlling the air conditioning system and for detecting the aforementioned difficult driving conditions, - airborne particles for controlling filters in the air conditioning system and - a concentration of gases in the air atmosphere, for example carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, for controlling the air conditioning system.

[0010] External acoustic microphones for detecting ambient noise in a vehicle's environment, such as emergency vehicle sirens and human voices, are usually positioned in exposed locations on the vehicle to ensure low-interference reception. Furthermore, these microphones are often connected to corresponding data processing units, such as control units, to which the captured information, for example in digital form, is transmitted.

[0011] The present device reduces complexity and costs within the vehicle by integrating the sensors into the housing of the external microphone. Because the housing is open to the atmosphere, airborne sound and atmospheric properties can be captured without obstruction.

[0012] In one possible embodiment, several sensors are arranged inside the housing. Regardless of the number of sensors, these can be designed as miniaturized sensors with particularly small dimensions.

[0013] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

[0014] This shows: Fig. 1. Schematic side view of a vehicle and Fig. 2. Schematic block diagram of a device for determining property parameters describing an atmosphere located in the environment of a vehicle.

[0015] Corresponding parts are marked with the same reference symbols in all figures.

[0016] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a side view of a possible embodiment of a vehicle 1. Fig. Figure 2 shows a block diagram of a device 2 for determining property parameters describing an atmosphere, which is located in the vicinity of the vehicle 1.

[0017] The device 2 comprises an external microphone 3 with a housing 3.1 and a sound transducer 3.2 arranged inside the housing 3.1 for converting detected sound waves into electronic sound values. The housing 3.1 has an opening O leading from the inside of the housing to the outside of the housing 3.1, so that the sound waves can enter the housing 3.1.

[0018] Furthermore, a transmission unit 3.3 for transmitting the sound values ​​to a data processing unit (not shown in detail) is arranged within the housing 3.1. The data processing unit is, for example, a component of a control unit that controls vehicle functions, for example in automated operation of the vehicle 1, depending on acoustic signals detected in the vicinity of the vehicle 1.

[0019] Additionally, the device 2 comprises a number of sensors 4.1 to 4.n for detecting at least one property parameter of an atmosphere in the vicinity of the vehicle 1, wherein the number of sensors 4.1 to 4.n are arranged inside the housing 3.1. The number of sensors 4.1 to 4.n are also coupled to the transmission unit 3.3, so that the property parameters detected by the sensors 4.1 to 4.n, together with the sound values, can be transmitted to the data processing unit.

[0020] The number of sensors 4.1 to 4.n includes, for example, an air pressure sensor, whereby an altitude measurement for vehicle 1 can be carried out based on air pressure data recorded by the air pressure sensor. This enables, for example, the determination of the floor in parking garages.

[0021] Furthermore, the number of sensors 4.1 to 4.n includes, for example, a temperature sensor, whereby an outside temperature recorded by means of this temperature sensor can be used to control an air conditioning system of the vehicle 1 as well as to detect difficult driving conditions, such as rain, fog, snow and ice.

[0022] Furthermore, the number of sensors 4.1 to 4.n includes, for example, a humidity sensor, whereby the relative humidity detected by this humidity sensor can be used to control the air conditioning system and to detect the aforementioned difficult driving conditions.

[0023] Furthermore, the number of sensors 4.1 to 4.n includes, for example, a gas sensor for detecting gas components in the atmosphere, whereby, for example, the concentration of gases in the air atmosphere, such as carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, can be determined using this gas sensor and can be used to control the air conditioning system.

[0024] Furthermore, the number of sensors 4.1 to 4.n includes, for example, a particle sensor for detecting particles in the air, whereby filters in the air conditioning system can be controlled based on these detected values.

[0025] In order to be able to detect sound waves using the sound transducer 3.2 and atmospheric properties using the number of sensors 4.1 to 4.n as unimpeded as possible, the device 2 is arranged at exposed positions on the vehicle 1. As shown in Fig.As shown in Figure 1, such a position can be a vehicle front area, a vehicle rear area and / or at least a vehicle roof area located between the vehicle front area and the vehicle rear area. QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 2011 / 0094297 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Device (2) for determining characteristic variables describing an atmosphere in the surroundings of a vehicle (1), wherein a number of sensors (4.1 to 4.n) are provided for detecting at least one characteristic variable, characterized by , that - the number of sensors (4.1 to 4.n) is arranged in a housing interior of an external microphone (3) of the vehicle (1) and - a housing (3.1) of the external microphone (3) has at least one opening (O) which leads from the interior of the housing to the outside of the housing (3.1). [2] Device (2) according to claim 1, characterized bythat at least one sound transducer (3.2) is arranged within the housing (3.1) in addition to the number of sensors (4.1 to 4.n), wherein the sound transducer (3.2) and the number of sensors (4.1 to 4.n) are coupled to a common transmission unit (3.3) for transmitting detected property variables and sound values ​​to a data processing unit. [3] Device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the number of sensors (4.1 to 4.n) - at least one air pressure sensor and / or - at least one temperature sensor and / or - at least one humidity sensor and / or - a gas sensor for detecting gas components in the atmosphere and / or - includes a particle sensor. [4] Vehicle (1) comprising at least one device (2) according to one of the preceding claims. [5] Vehicle (1) according to claim 4, wherein - at least one device (2) on a vehicle front area and / or - at least one device (2) at a rear area of ​​the vehicle and / or - at least one device (2) is / is arranged on a vehicle roof area located between the vehicle front area and the vehicle rear area.

Images