Device for determining atmospheric property parameters for a vehicle

Abstract

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 of the property parameters describing the atmosphere, wherein - an external microphone (3) with a housing (3.1) is available, - the number of sensors (4.1 to 4.n) arranged in a housing inside the external microphone (3) of the vehicle (1) and - the housing (3.1) of the external microphone (3) has at least one opening (O) which leads from the inside of the housing to the outside of the housing (3.1).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for determining characteristic variables describing an atmosphere in the environment of a vehicle.

[0002] The invention further relates to a vehicle.

[0003] US 2011 / 0 094 297 A1 discloses a method for determining the condition of an air filter on the intake manifold of a diesel engine. 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 determined using the pressure sensor. After the diesel engine is started, a second pressure sensor reading is determined using the pressure sensor. A difference is determined between the two pressure sensor readings, and the condition of the air filter is determined based on this difference.

[0004] Furthermore, DE 11 2021 007 239 T5 discloses a system for detecting a device in a vehicle, which comprises: - a sensor arrangement on the vehicle configured to detect the picking up of a passenger in the vehicle and the dropping off of a passenger from the vehicle; - a plurality of sensors within the vehicle, at least one of the sensors being configured to detect and connect to the device; and - an on-board computer configured to determine whether the connection to the device is maintained after the passenger has been dropped off and, based on the determination, configured to initiate a passenger notification protocol.

[0005] DE 10 2021 210 787 A1 describes a device for predictive wear analysis of a component of a motor vehicle. The device comprises: - an interface which is designed to receive sensor data from at least one sensor arranged in the surroundings and on the one component of the motor vehicle, wherein the sensor comprises at least one of at least one microphone, rotation sensor, magnetometer, barometer, proximity sensor, acceleration sensor, thermometer, structure-borne sound sensor, airborne sound sensor and / or gas meter; - a storage device designed to store predetermined information regarding a maximum permissible wear of the component; and - a computing device which is designed to determine information relating to a current wear of the component using the acquired sensor data, and to determine a remaining wear of the component using a comparison of the determined information relating to the current wear of the component with predetermined information relating to a maximum permissible wear of the component.

[0006] The invention is based on the object of providing a novel device for determining characteristic variables describing an atmosphere in the environment of a vehicle and a novel vehicle.

[0007] The object is achieved 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.

[0008] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

[0009] A device according to the invention for determining characteristic variables describing an atmosphere in the surroundings of a vehicle comprises a number of sensors for detecting at least one of the characteristic variables describing the atmosphere. An external microphone with a housing is provided. The number of sensors is arranged inside the housing of the external microphone of the vehicle, and the housing has at least one opening leading from the housing interior to the outside of the housing.

[0010] Vehicles, for example, automated, especially highly automated or autonomous vehicles, require measured values ​​about the properties of the air atmosphere in the vehicle's environment. Such properties can include: - Air pressure for altitude measurement, especially for determining floors in parking garages, - an outside temperature to control the vehicle's air conditioning system and to detect difficult driving conditions such as rain, fog, snow and ice, - a relative humidity to control the air conditioning system and to detect the difficult driving conditions mentioned above, - airborne particles to control filters in the air conditioning system and - a content of gases in the air atmosphere, such as carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons used to control the air conditioning system.

[0011] External acoustic microphones for detecting external noise in a vehicle environment, such as special acoustic signals from emergency vehicles and human voices, are usually mounted in prominent positions on the vehicle so that the acoustic signals can be received with minimal interference. Furthermore, the microphones are often connected to corresponding data processing units, such as control units, to which they transmit the recorded information, for example, in digital form.

[0012] By integrating the numerous sensors into the exterior microphone housing, this device reduces vehicle complexity and costs. The housing's opening leaves it open to the atmosphere, allowing unhindered recording of airborne sound and atmospheric properties.

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

[0014] Showing: Fig. 1 schematically shows a side view of a vehicle and Fig. 2 schematically shows a block diagram of a device for determining property variables describing an atmosphere in the environment of a vehicle.

[0015] Corresponding parts are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

[0016] In Fig. 1 shows a side view of a possible embodiment of a vehicle 1. Fig. 2 shows a block diagram of a device 2 for determining property variables describing an atmosphere, which is located in an environment 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 within the housing 3.1 for converting detected sound waves into electronic sound values. The housing 3.1 has an opening O leading from the interior of the housing to the exterior of the housing 3.1, allowing the sound waves to penetrate into the housing 3.1.

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

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

[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 performed based on air pressure data acquired by the air pressure sensor. This enables, for example, floor determination in parking garages.

[0021] Furthermore, the number of sensors 4.1 to 4.n includes, for example, a temperature sensor, wherein an outside temperature detected by this temperature sensor can be used to control an air conditioning system of the vehicle 1 and 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 a 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 by means of this gas sensor, for example, a content of gases in the air atmosphere, for example carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons, can be determined 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 these detected values ​​can be used, for example, to control filters in the air conditioning system.

[0025] In order to be able to record the sound waves by means of the sound transducer 3.2 as well as the atmospheric properties by means of the number of sensors 4.1 to 4.n as unhindered as possible, the device 2 is arranged at exposed positions on the vehicle 1. As shown in Fig.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.

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 of the characteristic variables describing the atmosphere, wherein - an external microphone (3) with a housing (3.1) is present, - the number of sensors (4.1 to 4.n) is arranged in a housing interior of the external microphone (3) of the vehicle (1) and - the 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.

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