Motor vehicle with a sensor and an associated cleaning device

Abstract

Motor vehicle (1) with a sensor (3) for detecting the surroundings and a cleaning device (13) associated with the sensor (3) where an actuator (8) is assigned to the sensor (3), wherein the actuator (8) is designed to position the sensor (3) in a working position (3') or to lower it into a body of the vehicle in a rest position (3"), wherein when changing from one position to the other, the sensor (3) sweeps over the cleaning device (13), characterized in that the cleaning device (13) comprises a wiping device (15, 19) and a textile element (17) which can be moistened by a cleaning agent supply device (23), wherein a control device (31) determines a dosage of the cleaning agent supplied to the textile element (17) by the cleaning agent supply device (23), wherein the cleaning device (13) comprises a heating element (18) for heating the textile surface (17) and is constructed such that during the transition from a working position (3') to a rest position (3") the sensor first sweeps over the wiping device (15), then the textile surface (17) and subsequently a further wiping device (19).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle with a sensor and a cleaning device associated with the sensor.

[0002] From the disclosure DE 10 2015 118 670 A1, a camera device with a cleaning device is known, which is designed such that mechanical cleaning of the lens can be performed. The camera has a protective element that covers the camera lens in a closed position, with the cleaning device arranged on the protective element. The cleaning device is designed as a lip, a fleece, a brush, bristles, a cloth, and / or a polishing element, which sweep over the camera lens during a transition from an open to a closed position.

[0003] DE 20 2004 017 308 U1 describes a device for cleaning rearview mirrors. One or more textile strips are attached to the mirror and are blown against its surface by the wind for cleaning.

[0004] From DE 10 2017 221 486 A1 a cleaning device for the efficient cleaning of cover glasses of sensors is known, wherein a cleaning agent is designed as a textile surface.

[0005] DE 10 2017 107 858 A1 discloses systems and methods for camera cleaning for a vehicle. A cleaning material is moved over a lens cover while the camera is moved from a first position to a second position.

[0006] DE 602 14 047 T2 relates to a night vision system for a vehicle. A wiper blade is arranged in such a way that a lens of the night vision system is cleaned as soon as it is moved to a rest position.

[0007] DE 10 2008 008 656 A1 discloses a camera system with a protective element, wherein a cleaning lip mechanically cleans the camera when the protective element is moved.

[0008] US 2022 / 0 063 516 A1 discloses a rear view camera whose lens sweeps over a wiper element during each folding and unfolding process.

[0009] From US 2020 / 0 099 865 A1, a rearview mirror designed as a camera is known, whereby the camera lens of the rearview mirror is cleaned by means of a wiper lip each time it is folded in and out.

[0010] JP 2019 - 131 097 A discloses a vehicle with a camera for monitoring rear traffic, comprising means for washing the lens surface of the camera. When the camera is pivoted into a working position, the lens surface is wiped by a wiper lip.

[0011] From JP 2015 - 189 291 A it is known to pivot a sensor around a bearing point, whereby the sensor lens sweeps over a cleaning lip during the pivoting movement.

[0012] EP 3 437 930 A1 discloses an arrangement in which an optical element is sprayed with water from a nozzle and subsequently cleaned by relative movement to a wiper lip.

[0013] According to US 2023 / 0 001 890 A1, a sensor lens is swept over and cleaned by a wiper lip when it is moved from a rest position to a working position.

[0014] DE 10 2020 102 643 A1 discloses a roof module for forming a vehicle roof, on which an environmental sensor is mounted so that it can be adjusted between a rest position and a use position. To remove dirt, a wiping element can be arranged in the sensor housing, which wipes a section of the outer surface of the environmental sensor. When the environmental sensor is extended into the use position, a movement relative to the wiping element cleans the environmental sensor.

[0015] The object of the invention is to provide a motor vehicle with an improved cleaning device.

[0016] The object is achieved by a motor vehicle having the features of claim 1. The dependent claims define preferred and advantageous embodiments of the present invention.

[0017] In the motor vehicle according to the invention, an actuator is assigned to the sensor, wherein the actuator is designed to position the sensor in a working position or to lower it into a rest position in a body of the vehicle, wherein when changing from one position to the other the sensor sweeps over the cleaning device. If the sensor is not needed for a function, the actuator moves the sensor into the rest position in a translational or rotational manner. In the context of the present application, lowering the sensor into the body means that the sensor or the sensor lens is moved in the direction of the space or volume enclosed by an outer contour of the motor vehicle. In other words, the sensor, which in the working position at least partially protrudes beyond the contour of the motor vehicle, is moved in such a way that the protrusion is reduced or, ideally, disappears completely.In the rest position, the sensor is therefore preferably enclosed by the contour of the body, in other words the sensor does not protrude beyond the body contour. The sensor is then protected from environmental influences in the rest position, while at the same time the aerodynamics are not disrupted. In contrast, in the working position, e.g. in automated driving mode, the sensor protrudes beyond the contour of the body. This position provides the sensor with a wide field of view. The sensor is, for example, a camera, a lidar or radar sensor. The motor vehicle comprises a cleaning device which is arranged in such a way that the sensor, e.g. the sensor lens, sweeps over the cleaning device when changing from a rest position to a working position and vice versa. The cleaning device is likewise arranged within the body contour.Advantageously, the vehicle according to the invention enables a protected arrangement of the sensor when not in use; likewise, to ensure the sensor function, the sensor is regularly cleaned by the cleaning device.

[0018] The cleaning device includes a wiper device, for example, in the form of a rubber lip. When the cleaning device is swept over, moisture residues or water beads are removed from the sensor lens by the wiper device, thus preventing any impairment of the sensor's function.

[0019] The cleaning device further comprises a textile element that can be moistened with a cleaning agent supply device. The textile element is constructed, for example, from a cotton, microfiber, and / or fleece fabric. The cleaning agent supply device comprises, for example, one or more spray nozzles, and a water-detergent mixture is preferably used as the cleaning agent.

[0020] A control unit doses the cleaning agent supplied to the textile element. Depending on the dryness and degree of dirt, the control unit doses the amount supplied to the textile element and the supply pressure by controlling a pump and / or a solenoid valve connected to the pump. The degree of dirt can be detected, for example, by evaluating the sensor signal itself or by a dirt sensor. Preferably, a machine learning model determines when and in what quantity the cleaning agent is supplied, depending on the route, weather, season, and / or road conditions, so that the sensor's function is available as fully as possible.

[0021] In a further preferred embodiment, the cleaning agent comprises a heating element for heating the textile surface, so that the textile element and preferably also the wiping device are heated and thereby an icy sensor surface is freed from thinner layers of ice or snow during the wiping process.

[0022] In a modified embodiment, the cleaning device is constructed such that when moving from a working position to a rest position, the sensor first sweeps over the wiping device, then over the textile surface, and subsequently over another wiping device. In other words, the cleaning device comprises two wiping devices, with the textile element arranged between them. The arrangement has the advantage that, starting from a working position, the lens of the sensor first sweeps over the first wiping device, so that coarse dirt and ambient moisture are removed. Subsequently, the textile element moistened with cleaning agent is then swept over, loosening any adhering dirt. When the sensor sweeps over the second wiping device, the cleaning agent previously applied by the textile element and the loosened dirt are removed.The sensor device is thus advantageously moved into the rest position in a cleaned state.

[0023] In one embodiment, the actuator moves the sensor into or out of the area enclosed by the vehicle's contour, moving it into a resting or working position. Rotating the sensor around an axis causes the sensor to fold in and out. This allows for cost-effective integration of the sensor with the stationary cleaning device.

[0024] Further advantages, features, and details will become apparent from the following description, in which at least one exemplary embodiment is described in detail—possibly with reference to the drawings. Described and / or illustrated features may form the subject matter of the invention alone or in any meaningful combination, possibly independently of the claims, and may, in particular, also be the subject of one or more separate applications. Identical, similar, and / or functionally equivalent parts are provided with the same reference numerals.

[0025] Showing: Fig. 1 motor vehicle with sensors for environmental detection and Fig. 2 enlarged view of the sensor system of the motor vehicle from Fig. 1.

[0026] According to Fig. 1 is a motor vehicle 1, also referred to as a vehicle for short, depicted with a sensor 3 for monitoring the surroundings in and against the direction of travel. For example, this is a radar, lidar sensor, or a camera for automated driving functions according to SAE Level 3, 4, or 5.

[0027] The sensor 3 is in the position marked 3' in a working position, i.e. for a function such as automated driving, the sensor 3 in the working position 3' supplies the signals required. In the working position 3', the sensor 3 protrudes beyond the contour of the vehicle body. In the position marked 3", the sensor 3 is in a resting position, i.e. the sensor 3 is located within the vehicle contour, i.e. in the resting position, a disruption of the aerodynamics and the associated wind noise are avoided. Fig. 1 actuator (not shown) rotates the sensor in the direction of arrow 7 from the working position 3' to the rest position 3" as soon as the sensor signals are not required for a function of the vehicle.

[0028] The area shown in the dashed circle 9 is in the Fig. 2 shown enlarged.

[0029] The sensor 3 is rotated by the actuator 8 from a working position 3' to the rest position 3" shown. During the rotational movement shown by the direction of the arrow 7, the sensor 3 sweeps over a cleaning device 13 with the sensor lens 11.

[0030] The cleaning device 13 comprises a wiping device 15, a textile element 17 and a further wiping device 19.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, a spring 21 presses the cleaning device 13 against the sensor lens 11 so that it rests securely during the rotational movement of the sensor 3.

[0032] In a further variant, the cleaning device 13 has a cleaning agent supply device 23, which comprises one or more washing nozzles 25, a pump 27 with a valve 28, and a tank 29. The pump 27 and / or the valve are controlled by a control unit 31.

[0033] By rotating the sensor 3 from the working position 3' to the rest position 3", the sensor lens 11 sweeps over the wiping device 15 and is thus cleaned of coarse dirt and moisture introduced by ambient conditions.

[0034] In a further cleaning stage, the sensor lens 11 is cleaned by the textile element 17 during the rotational movement of the sensor 3. The textile element 17 is sprayed with cleaning agent from the tank 29 via the washing nozzles 25 of the humidification device or cleaning agent supply device 23 as needed, i.e., depending on the current ambient conditions or the current degree of soiling of the sensor lens 11. Depending on the ambient conditions, the pressure and quantity of the sprayed cleaning agent can be adjusted via the control unit 31. In an alternative or additional modification, some of the washing nozzles are directed directly at the sensor lens 11.

[0035] The control unit 31 further controls a heating element 18 associated with the textile element 17. The heating element 18 heats the textile element 17 and the applied cleaning agent, so that the sensor lens 11 of the sensor 3 is freed of snow and ice when the textile element is swept over.

[0036] By further rotation of the sensor 3, the sensor lens 11 sweeps over a further wiping device 19, which removes moisture and loosened dirt previously introduced via the textile element and the washing nozzles 25.

[0037] In the rest position 3", the sensor 3 is protected from environmental influences within the outer contour 37 of the vehicle body. Thus, the sensor lens 11 of the sensor 3 does not become dirty when not in use.

[0038] If, for example, automated driving of the vehicle 1 is requested, the sensor 3 pivots from the rest position 3" back to the working position 3'. During this rotational movement, the sensor 3 with the sensor lens 11 sweeps over the cleaning device 13 again and is cleaned again accordingly.

[0039] In the event that contamination of the sensor lens 11 is detected in the working position 3', which impairs a function such as, for example, automated driving, the sensor can be moved into the rest position 3" for cleaning purposes only at a suitable time, such as while waiting at a traffic light, and immediately thereafter back into the working position. Such a cleaning run can be requested by the corresponding function, e.g., by the control unit responsible for automated driving.

[0040] In an alternative embodiment, the cleaning device 13 is moved in the direction of arrow 33 into a position spaced from the lens either during the movement of the sensor 3 from the rest position 3" to the working position 3' or vice versa by an adjusting device (not shown), so that the sensor lens 11 of the sensor 3 only passes over the cleaning device in the direction of arrow 7 for cleaning. The sensor lens 11 is thus cleaned in one direction of rotation; by spacing the sensor 3 from the cleaning device 13 during a movement in the opposite direction of rotation, the introduction of dirt onto the lens with previously wiped-off dirt is avoided.

[0041] The stripped cleaning agent mixed with dirt flows into the environment in a suitable drainage channel 35. List of reference symbols 1 motor vehicle, vehicle 3 Sensor 3' Working position sensor 3" rest position sensor 7 Arrow direction rotation 8 Actuator 9 Magnification range 11 Sensor lens 13 Cleaning device 15, 19 scraper device 17 textile element 18 Heating element 21 spring 23 Detergent supply device 25 Washer nozzle 27 Pump 28 Valve 29 tanks 31 Control unit 33 Arrow direction 35 drainage channel 37 Outer contour

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle (1) with a sensor (3) for detecting the surroundings and a cleaning device (13) associated with the sensor (3) where an actuator (8) is assigned to the sensor (3), wherein the actuator (8) is designed to position the sensor (3) in a working position (3') or to lower it into a body of the vehicle in a rest position (3"), wherein when changing from one position to the other, the sensor (3) sweeps over the cleaning device (13), characterized by , that the cleaning device (13) comprises a wiping device (15, 19) and a textile element (17) which can be moistened by a cleaning agent supply device (23), wherein a control device (31) determines a dosage of the cleaning agent supplied to the textile element (17) by the cleaning agent supply device (23), wherein the cleaning device (13) comprises a heating element (18) for heating the textile surface (17) and is constructed such that during the transition from a working position (3') to a rest position (3") the sensor first sweeps over the wiping device (15), then the textile surface (17) and subsequently a further wiping device (19). [2] Motor vehicle (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the dosing is carried out depending on current ambient conditions and / or an identified degree of contamination of the sensor (3). [3] Motor vehicle (1) with a sensor device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the actuator (8) moves into the rest position (3") or into the working position (3') by folding the sensor (3) in or out of the area enclosed by a vehicle contour.

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