Operating procedure for operating a cleaning system of a vehicle

Abstract

The presented invention relates to an operating method (100) for operating a cleaning system of a vehicle (200), wherein the operating method (100) comprises: - determining (101) a glare characteristic value which describes a glare effect in an environment of the vehicle (200) in which the vehicle (200) is located, - blocking (103) an activation of the cleaning system (201) in the event that the glare characteristic value describes a glare effect that disturbs at least one sensor of the vehicle, - Activating (105) the cleaning system (201) in the event that the glare characteristic value describes a glare effect that does not disturb any sensor of the vehicle.

Description

[0001] The presented invention relates to an operating method for operating a cleaning system of a vehicle and a vehicle according to the appended claims.

[0002] There are various situations in which automatic vehicle cleaning using a cleaning system that, for example, sprays windshield washer fluid can disturb a driver and / or subsystems of a vehicle, so that the cleaning is detrimental and should have been delayed.

[0003] For example, when the sun is low in the sky in front of a vehicle, a situation can arise in which the activation of a cleaning system with a washer fluid function results in the driver's field of vision being restricted because the sun's light is refracted by the amount of washer fluid distributed on the windscreen.

[0004] DE 10 2016 224 332 A1 describes a motor vehicle which comprises a detection device which records the area in front of the vehicle, a windscreen and a display device arranged in the vehicle interior, wherein an image which is determined on the basis of the information supplied by the detection device and which represents the area in front of the vehicle can be output on the display device as a function of a detection of visual information which describes the quality of the driver's view through the windscreen or as a function of the actuation of an operating element or a voice input by the driver or as a function of information which indicates the failure of a windscreen wiper device.

[0005] DE 10 2017 213 548 A1 describes a device for cleaning a windscreen of a motor vehicle with a washer switch and a control, wherein the control, with the actuation of the washer switch, controls a washer fluid pump which applies washer fluid to the windscreen and a wiper motor for actuating a windscreen wiper, wherein the control is configured to control the washer fluid pump for pre-wetting the windscreen before controlling the wiper motor and to process information from a motor vehicle control in order to change the duration of the pre-wetting.

[0006] Within the scope of the invention presented, an operating method for operating a cleaning system of a vehicle and a vehicle are presented. Further features and details of the invention emerge from the respective subclaims, the description, and the drawings. Features and details described in connection with the operating method according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the vehicle according to the invention, and vice versa, so that with regard to the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention, reference is always made to each other.

[0007] Against this background, it is an object of the invention presented to provide a possibility for the safe operation of a vehicle.

[0008] Thus, according to a first aspect of the invention presented, an operating method for operating a cleaning system of a vehicle is presented.

[0009] The presented operating method comprises determining a glare characteristic value that describes a glare effect in an environment of the vehicle in which the vehicle is located, blocking an activation of the cleaning system in the event that the glare characteristic value describes a glare effect that interferes with at least one sensor of the vehicle, and activating the cleaning system in the event that the glare characteristic value describes a glare effect that does not interfere with any sensor of the vehicle.

[0010] In the context of the invention presented, a glare effect is understood to mean radiation from an environment which causes a driver of a vehicle to be disturbed by the activation of the cleaning system when driving the vehicle and / or a sensor of the vehicle to only detect information which is accompanied by a high level of noise, i.e. has a low signal to noise ratio.

[0011] In particular, a high glare effect from an environment results in water sprayed onto the vehicle by the cleaning system from the environment refracting light rays from the environment onto the vehicle and distributing them over a large area or diffusely across the vehicle, so that the driver is dazzled.

[0012] The presented invention is based on determining a glare characteristic value that describes the glare effect in the vehicle's current environment, particularly in the future. This means that the glare characteristic value indicates the probability of dazzling or disturbing the driver and / or a vehicle sensor. For this purpose, the glare characteristic value can be a numerical value, a binary value, or a so-called "flag signal."

[0013] Based on the glare value, a decision is automatically made as to whether activation of the cleaning system is permissible, resulting in acceptable glare, or impermissible, resulting in unacceptable glare. This decision is made, for example, by comparing the glare value with a threshold value. For example, if the glare value is greater than a specified threshold, activation of the cleaning system is blocked. Similarly, if the glare value is less than or equal to the threshold, the cleaning system is activated.

[0014] It may be provided that at least one window of the vehicle is cleaned by activating the cleaning system.

[0015] The cleaning system may, for example, be a windshield cleaning system that is configured to spray at least one window of the vehicle with water and / or wipe it with a wiper.

[0016] It can be provided that by activating the cleaning system at least one sensor of the vehicle is cleaned.

[0017] The cleaning system can, for example, be a sensor cleaning system that is configured to spray at least one sensor of the vehicle with water and / or wipe it with a wiper.

[0018] It can further be provided that the vehicle comprises a plurality of sensors, and when the cleaning system is blocked, respective sensors of the plurality of sensors are cleaned one after the other.

[0019] By selectively blocking the cleaning of individual sensors or cleaning different sensors one after the other, i.e. not simultaneously or selectively, one sensor is always not cleaned or the cleaning of a sensor is blocked, so that this sensor is exempt from glare or interference caused by an activity of the cleaning system.

[0020] It can further be provided that the glare characteristic predicts a glare effect in an environment of the vehicle in which the vehicle will be located in a predetermined time range in the future, blocking occurs when the glare characteristic is greater than a predetermined threshold value, and activation occurs when the glare characteristic is less than or equal to the threshold value.

[0021] It can further be provided that, in order to determine the glare characteristic value, optical information determined by means of an optical sensor of the vehicle is evaluated and, on the basis of the optical information, a first glare probability of a driver of the vehicle and / or a second glare probability of the optical sensor is inferred, wherein the glare characteristic value is determined on the basis of the first glare probability and / or the second glare probability.

[0022] Based on optical information, particularly image information, obtained by an optical sensor such as a camera or a brightness sensor, it is possible to infer properties, particularly the probability of glare or interference, of the vehicle's future surroundings. For this purpose, the optical information can be filtered, for example, and / or evaluated using a spectral analysis.

[0023] Alternatively or in addition to an analysis of the optical information by a filter and / or a spectral analysis, the optical information can be assigned by a machine learner to a first class “high glare probability” or a second class “low glare probability”.

[0024] It can further be provided that, in order to determine the glare characteristic value, a position of the vehicle is evaluated in relation to the position of the sun and, based on the determined position of the vehicle in relation to the position of the sun, a third glare probability of a driver of the vehicle and / or a fourth glare probability of the optical sensor is inferred, whereby the glare index is determined based on the third glare probability and / or the fourth glare probability.

[0025] To determine the glare effect of the sun on a driver or a vehicle sensor, for example, the current position of the vehicle or a future expected position of the vehicle can be queried from a navigation system. Furthermore, the position of the sun can be determined based on a time relative to the determined position. For example, the glare effect can be determined as a function of the angle of incidence of the sun's rays radiated onto the vehicle.

[0026] It can further be provided that, in order to determine the glare characteristic value, a position of a sun visor on a driver position of the vehicle and / or an image of the driver is evaluated, and a fifth glare probability of the driver of the vehicle is inferred based on the position of the sun visor and / or the image of the driver.

[0027] Since an extended sun visor indicates a high probability of a low sun or shallow sun rays, the position of the sun visor can be used to determine the glare index. Furthermore, by analyzing an image of the driver, sunglasses, for example, can be detected, which also indicates a high probability of a low sun or shallow sun rays.

[0028] It can further be provided that, in order to determine the glare characteristic value, the first glare probability, the second glare probability, the third glare probability, the fourth glare probability and / or the fifth glare probability are combined to form the glare characteristic value, wherein a specific weighting factor is assigned to each glare probability.

[0029] By using a predefined weighting function or predefined weighting factors for the respective glare probabilities, several glare indicators can be combined to produce a particularly reliable statement about the glare probability.

[0030] It may further be provided that the threshold value is selected as a function of the speed of the vehicle.

[0031] A speed-dependent threshold value requires the cleaning system to be activated or blocked depending on the driving situation, so that, for example, the cleaning system can be activated when the vehicle is stationary despite a high probability of glare, as the threshold value when stationary is very low or zero.

[0032] It may further be provided that blocking the activation of the cleaning system comprises issuing a warning on an output unit of the vehicle, the warning warning a driver of glare caused by the activation of the cleaning system.

[0033] To protect a driver from glare, the driver can be prepared for an expected glare by displaying a warning message on an output device, such as a display. In response to this warning, the driver can, for example, provide a confirmation command to activate the cleaning system or cancel the activation of the cleaning system.

[0034] It can also be specified that blocking the activation of the cleaning system delays the activation of the cleaning system until a specified activation condition is met.

[0035] An activation condition, such as a glare value that is less than or equal to the threshold value, ensures safe activation of the cleaning system.

[0036] It may further be provided that, in the event that the vehicle is controlled in at least a partially autonomous operating mode, the activation of the cleaning system is blocked until an operating mode manually secured by the driver is activated.

[0037] By blocking the activation of the cleaning system until an operating mode manually secured by the driver is activated, an impairment, in particular a malfunction of an at least partially autonomous control system due to disruption of the respective sensors of the vehicle, is prevented or manually corrected by the driver.

[0038] According to a second aspect, the presented invention relates to a vehicle.

[0039] The presented vehicle comprises a cleaning system, at least one optical sensor and a computing unit, wherein the computing unit is configured to carry out a possible embodiment of the presented operating method.

[0040] In the context of the invention presented, a computing unit is understood to mean a computer, a processor, a control unit or any other programmable circuit.

[0041] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which describes embodiments of the invention in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description may be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. They show: Fig. 1 a possible design of the presented operating procedure, Fig. 2 a possible design of the presented vehicle.

[0042] In Fig. 1 shows an operating method 100 for operating a cleaning system of a vehicle.

[0043] The operating method 100 comprises a determination step 101 in which a glare characteristic value is determined that describes a glare effect in an environment of the vehicle.

[0044] Furthermore, the operating method 100 comprises a blocking step 103 in which activation of the cleaning system is blocked in the event that the glare characteristic value describes a glare effect that disrupts at least one sensor of the vehicle.

[0045] Furthermore, the operating method 100 comprises an activation step 105 in which the cleaning system is activated in the event that the glare characteristic value describes a glare effect that does not interfere with any sensor of the vehicle.

[0046] For example, the operating method 100 may include that if the glare characteristic value is above the threshold value for a predetermined period of time, in particular 30 seconds, a distance to a front object is increased by a distance system of the vehicle, and the cleaning system is then activated when the increased distance is set.

[0047] For example, the vehicle's driving safety systems can be activated based on swarm data if the glare value is less than or equal to the threshold value.

[0048] Furthermore, when activating the cleaning system, the traffic density and the relative speeds around the vehicle can also be taken into account.

[0049] Alternatively or additionally, the presence of a structural road separation can be taken into account when activating or blocking the cleaning system.

[0050] Furthermore, it can be provided that oncoming traffic is detected and that as soon as no traffic is detected, the cleaning system is activated.

[0051] In a traffic jam, however, if there is a sufficiently large time gap to the object in front, the cleaning system can be activated earlier than in flowing traffic.

[0052] The cleaning system can also be activated based on speed. For example, if the vehicle is stopped at a traffic light, the cleaning system can be activated immediately. Alternatively, if, for example, Car2X information indicates that a traffic light stop is imminent, the cleaning system can be blocked until the vehicle comes to a stop.

[0053] In Fig. 2, a vehicle 200 is shown. The vehicle 200 comprises a cleaning system 201, an optical sensor 203 and a computing unit 205, wherein the computing unit 205 is configured to execute the operating method 100 according to Fig.1 to be carried out. List of reference symbols 100 operating procedures 101 Determination step 103 Blocking step 105 Activation step 200 vehicles 201 cleaning system 203 Sensor 205 computing unit

Claims

[1] Operating method (100) for operating a cleaning system of a vehicle (200), the operating method (100) comprising: - determining (101) a glare characteristic value which describes a glare effect in an environment of the vehicle (200) in which the vehicle (200) is located, - blocking (103) an activation of the cleaning system (201) in the event that the glare characteristic value describes a glare effect that disturbs at least one sensor of the vehicle, - Activating (105) the cleaning system (201) in the event that the glare characteristic value describes a glare effect that does not disturb any sensor of the vehicle. [2] Operating method (100) according to claim 1, characterized by that by activating the cleaning system (201) at least one window of the vehicle (200) is cleaned. [3] Operating method (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat by activating the cleaning system (201) at least one sensor of the vehicle (200) is cleaned. [4] Operating method (100) according to claim 3, characterized by that the vehicle (200) comprises a plurality of sensors and that when the cleaning system (201) is blocked, respective sensors of the plurality of sensors are cleaned one after the other. [5] Operating method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by in that the glare characteristic predicts a glare effect in an environment of the vehicle (200) in which the vehicle (200) will be located in a predetermined time range in the future, the blocking occurs when the glare characteristic is greater than a predetermined threshold value, and the activation occurs when the glare characteristic is less than or equal to the threshold value. [6] Operating method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat optical information determined by an optical sensor (203) of the vehicle (200) is evaluated and, based on the optical information, a first glare probability of a driver of the vehicle (200) and / or a second glare probability of the optical sensor (203) is deduced, wherein the glare characteristic value is determined based on the first glare probability and / or the second glare probability. [7] Operating method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized byin that, to determine the glare characteristic value, a position of the vehicle (200) is evaluated in relation to the position of the sun and, on the basis of the determined position of the vehicle (200) in relation to the position of the sun, a third glare probability of a driver of the vehicle (200) and / or a fourth glare probability of the optical sensor (203) is deduced, wherein the glare characteristic value is determined on the basis of the third glare probability and / or the fourth glare probability. [8] Operating method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by in that, to determine the glare characteristic value, a position of a sun visor on a driver position of the vehicle (200) and / or an image of the driver is evaluated, and a fifth glare probability of the driver of the vehicle (200) is inferred based on the position of the sun visor and / or the image of the driver. [9] Operating method (100) according to claim 6, 7 or 8, characterized by that, to determine the glare characteristic value, the first glare probability, the second glare probability, the third glare probability, the fourth glare probability and / or the fifth glare probability are combined to form the glare characteristic value, wherein each glare probability is assigned a specific weighting factor. [10] Operating method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the threshold value is selected as a function of a speed of the vehicle (200). [11] Operating method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat blocking (103) the activation of the cleaning system (201) comprises outputting a warning on an output unit of the vehicle (200), the warning warning a driver of glare caused by the activation of the cleaning system (201). [12] Operating method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the blocking (103) of the activation of the cleaning system (201) delays the activation (105) of the cleaning system (201) until a predetermined activation condition is met. [13] Operating method (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that in the event that the vehicle (200) is controlled in an at least partially autonomous operating mode, the activation of the cleaning system (201) is blocked until an operating mode manually secured by the driver is activated. [14] Vehicle (200), the vehicle (200) comprising: - a cleaning system (201), - at least one optical sensor (203), - a computing unit (205), wherein the computing unit (205) is configured to carry out an operating method (100) according to one of claims 1 to 13.

Images