Cleaning nozzle for a vehicle sensor of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a cleaning nozzle for a vehicle sensor of a motor vehicle, comprising at least the following components: - a guiding device for directing airflow as a directed airflow over an associated vehicle sensor when a motor vehicle is in motion; and - A joint arrangement for moving the guide device between an inactive position and an active position, wherein in the active position the guide device is aligned by means of the joint arrangement such that the directed airflow is accelerated compared to the oncoming airflow. The cleaning nozzle is characterized in particular by the fact that the guide device can be moved from the inactive position to the active position by means of a flow pressure mechanism via the joint arrangement and the oncoming airflow during travel. The cleaning nozzle proposed here makes it possible to utilize the airflow while driving, while at the same time ensuring a simple and robust design.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cleaning nozzle for a vehicle sensor of a motor vehicle, a vehicle sensor device with such a cleaning nozzle for a motor vehicle, and a motor vehicle with such a vehicle sensor device.

[0002] Vehicles today are equipped with a multitude of sensors, and especially cameras, which are required for modern driver assistance systems. However, these cameras can become dirty during driving, rendering the camera image unusable. A simple mechanism is needed to clean the camera lens of this dirt.

[0003] US 12,139,107 B2 relates to an adjustable air vane for lens cleaning. The described system includes an imager with a lens, a housing that supports the imager and defines an inlet opening, a movable vent cover that is movable between an open and a closed position, and a duct defined by a portion of the housing, the movable vent cover, and a deflector. The duct is configured to selectively direct an incoming airflow from the inlet opening to the lens. The disclosure describes a system that includes an arm with a housing, a mounting plate, an inlet opening, a movable vent cover, and a duct defined by the housing and an aperture. A deflector directs the airflow to the lens for cleaning.In one embodiment, a protruding element is configured such that, when there is a sufficiently strong airflow against the element, the force of the air moves the movable ventilation cover from a closed to an open position.

[0004] JP 2002 240 628 A relates to a reversing camera for a motor vehicle, installed at the rear of the vehicle to visually detect the rear area, wherein the lower part of the front frame is comb-shaped and a diffuser is provided to blow air over the front of the camera. This enables reliable visual detection of the rear of the car, even in rain.

[0005] Based on this, the present invention aims to overcome, at least partially, the disadvantages known from the prior art. The features of the invention are defined in the independent claims, for which advantageous embodiments are shown in the dependent claims. The features of the claims can be combined in any technically meaningful way, whereby the explanations in the following description and features from the figures, which comprise supplementary embodiments of the invention, can also be used.

[0006] The invention relates to a cleaning nozzle for a vehicle sensor of a motor vehicle, comprising at least the following components: - a guiding device for directing airflow as a directed airflow over an associated vehicle sensor when a motor vehicle is in motion; and - a joint arrangement for moving the guide device between an inactive position and an active position, wherein in the active position the guide device is aligned by means of the joint arrangement such that the directed airflow is accelerated compared to the oncoming air, wherein the guide device can be moved from the inactive position to the active position by means of a flow pressure mechanism via the joint arrangement by means of the air flowing on it during travel.

[0007] Unless explicitly stated otherwise, ordinal numbers used in the preceding and following descriptions serve solely for unambiguous differentiation and do not indicate any order or ranking of the components referred to. An ordinal number greater than one does not necessarily imply the presence of another such component.

[0008] The cleaning nozzle proposed here allows the airflow to be utilized while driving, while maintaining a simple and robust design. It should be noted that the cleaning nozzle is suitable for use with cameras and their lenses, but its application is not limited to this. Its use is particularly advantageous where contamination leads to a significant impairment of signal quality or measurement data. Especially in semi-autonomous and fully autonomous vehicles, any impairment of a vehicle sensor is often considered critical and therefore must be rectified immediately.

[0009] The guiding device is a channel, wall, or flow profile that directs and accelerates an incoming airflow in a desired direction, thus amplifying its momentum. In an active state, this results in a directed airflow. This directed airflow is aimed, either entirely or at least near the surface, at a (preferably shallow) angle or tangentially at a vehicle sensor. In this active state, this results in very good cleaning performance, as the momentum of the directed airflow reliably removes contaminant particles. The vehicle sensor is typically affected by this process, for example, by an optical component such as a camera lens.

[0010] However, cleaning a vehicle sensor is often necessary unexpectedly (for example, due to an insect adhering to it) and only occurs with a certain statistical probability. As long as cleaning is not necessary, it is advantageous to keep the flow resistance coefficient as low as possible. For this purpose, the guide device is designed to be switchable to an inactive position by means of the articulated arrangement. In the inactive position, the flow resistance is preferably comparable to that of a device (or arrangement with a vehicle sensor) without a cleaning device. In one embodiment, the flow resistance coefficient in the inactive position is improved compared to a device without a cleaning device by generating a resulting flow that is less resistant than a direct flow over the vehicle sensor in question.For example, a laminar and / or turbulence-free flow is generated from the currently flowing air (for example, past the vehicle sensor).

[0011] It is proposed here that a flow pressure mechanism be provided, by means of which the guide device can be switched back and forth between positions. This ensures that the guide device is only moved into the active position when the airflow (velocity or volume) is sufficient to generate an effective cleaning action. The flow pressure mechanism is positioned in the airflow (for example, directly adjacent to the guide device) and is thus exposed to the same or a similar airflow as the guide device. In one embodiment, such a flow pressure mechanism is a piston that is moved along its axis of motion by the (for example, dynamic pressure) of the oncoming airflow, thereby indirectly moving the guide device via a hydraulic and / or pneumatic system.In one embodiment, the flow pressure mechanism is solely designed to detect an airflow (i.e., the oncoming wind) and to output a corresponding signal. Such a flow sensor is, for example, designed as a so-called Prandtl probe. In another embodiment, the flow pressure mechanism is a baffle plate, which is preferably directly mechanically connected to the guide device and / or the joint arrangement, such that a displacement of the baffle plate caused by an oncoming airflow leads to a displacement of the guide device, specifically from the inactive position to the active position.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment of the cleaning nozzle, it is further proposed that the guide device is held in the inactive position by means of a spring device up to a predetermined air force resulting from the flow pressure applied to the flow pressure mechanism.

[0013] The spring mechanism is provided here to ensure that the active position is only assumed when the oncoming air exceeds a certain velocity threshold. Only above this velocity threshold is there a sufficient resulting air force to trigger a mechanical or electronic transition of the guide device from the inactive to the active position. For example, the spring mechanism can be designed as a helical spring, coil spring, and / or solid-state hinge. In one embodiment, the guide device itself is designed to be (elastically) deformable by the oncoming airflow, and thus assumes the active position in the deformed state.Alternatively or additionally, the flow pressure mechanics are elastically deformed, and a transition of the guide device from the inactive position to the active position is triggered by this elastically deformed flow pressure mechanics. Alternatively or additionally, the guide device is elastically deformed by means of the flow pressure mechanics deflected by the air force (resulting from a corresponding flow velocity).

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment of the cleaning nozzle, it is proposed that the flow pressure mechanics are integrated into the guide device. preferably as a flow profile.

[0015] In this embodiment, an attached or integrally integrated element is provided on the guide device, which forms a baffle surface for oncoming air.

[0016] In an advantageous embodiment, the flow pressure mechanics are integrated into a flow profile of the guide device in such a way that the guide device is moved from the inactive position to the active position by the oncoming airflow (guided by the joint arrangement). For example, a pressure distribution profile is built up above the guide device under the oncoming airflow such that the guide device is lifted against a spring force and / or gravity.

[0017] In an advantageous embodiment of the cleaning nozzle, it is further proposed that the flow pressure mechanism be designed as a baffle plate, preferably with the baffle plate being connected to the joint arrangement via a lever.

[0018] A baffle plate enables a rapid response from the cleaning nozzle because the baffle plate is strongly influenced by the oncoming airflow and therefore must absorb a high proportion of the airflow impulse. In one embodiment, the baffle plate is designed as a switch (e.g., an electrical one).

[0019] For a design of high robustness and / or with a particularly simple construction, it is advantageous if the impact plate is directly mechanically connected to the joint assembly. Alternatively or additionally, the impact plate is connected to the guide device, whereby the joint assembly, for example, forms a guide for the triggered movement, but the guide device is not moved by the joint assembly itself.

[0020] It is proposed here that the joint arrangement comprises two axes of rotation that are indirectly dependent or independent of each other via the guide device, wherein the first axis of rotation is arranged on the upstream side and the second axis of rotation is arranged on the outstream side. where the first axis of rotation is connected to the guide device over a larger radius than the second axis of rotation.

[0021] The joint arrangement is designed such that the guide device does not perform a simple rotational or pivoting movement about an axis of rotation when it switches from the inactive to the active position. Instead, it performs a movement both on the upstream side, i.e., at the nozzle inlet of the formed air nozzle, and on the outstream side, i.e., at the corresponding nozzle outlet. In an embodiment with two axes of rotation indirectly dependent on the guide device, pivoting about one of the two axes causes the other axis of rotation to be driven along by the movement of the guide device. However, this does not preclude each axis of rotation from having its own drive in an embodiment. Furthermore, the movement about the other axis of rotation is not necessarily purely geometrically predetermined, but may be guided by the developing flow profile (i.e., the pressure distribution) above the guide device.In an embodiment with two independent axes of rotation, pivoting about one of the two axes does not necessarily affect the other axis. For example, each pivoting movement about the respective axis must be driven or enabled separately. However, this does not preclude the possibility that the forces on the guide device influence the position of the joint arrangement at the respective axis of rotation. Thus, despite separate movement about the respective axes of rotation, the resulting angular position about each axis of rotation may be influenced by the angular position of the other axis, for example, due to elasticities in the system.

[0022] It should be noted that for a simple and cost-effective embodiment exactly two axes of rotation are advantageous, but more than two axes of rotation can also be used, preferably together with an (elastically) deformable guide device.

[0023] It should be noted that in an advantageous embodiment, the two (or more) separate pivot axes described here are arranged on the vehicle side, while on the guide device side, there is either no pivot axis or only one purely dependent pivot axis and / or rail. Such a vehicle-side pivot axis is then connected via a articulated lever with a fixed radius. It should be noted that in one embodiment, a pivot axis is located on both the vehicle and guide device sides, meaning the theoretical radius is (technically) zero.

[0024] In the embodiment with a larger radius (for example, a larger lever arm) at the first, i.e., upstream-side, axis of rotation, a large inflow volume is forced into a smaller outflow volume, thus accelerating the directed airflow. In one embodiment, a fixed proportional ratio is established between the upstream-side radius and the outflow-side radius; in another embodiment, a variable ratio is established (for example, via a separately controllable angular position at the axes of rotation).

[0025] In a further advantageous embodiment of the cleaning nozzle, it is proposed that the cleaning nozzle be electronically lockable. preferably lockable in the inactive position, and / or preferably via the joint arrangement.

[0026] In this embodiment, the cleaning nozzle is only moved into the active position when necessary, i.e., when the relevant vehicle sensor needs cleaning. In one embodiment, this can be done passively, i.e., by holding the nozzle in and releasing it from the inactive position. The transition from the active position to the inactive position is achieved solely through the flow pressure mechanism, for example, by a decrease in the airflow onto the baffle plate. In another embodiment, an active change from the active to the inactive position can be achieved against the control signal from the flow pressure mechanism, or by switching the action of the flow pressure mechanism, for example, by means of a motor.

[0027] It should be noted that in one embodiment the guide device itself is fixed and / or the joint arrangement, preferably the guide device is fixed exclusively by means of the joint arrangement.

[0028] In an advantageous embodiment of the cleaning nozzle, it is further proposed that in a blocked state of the cleaning nozzle, the flow pressure mechanism is at least partially obscured from the air flowing towards it when the motor vehicle is in motion.

[0029] In this embodiment, the flow pressure mechanism is short-circuited, i.e., removed from the airflow or concealed. In a preferred embodiment, the guide device returns from the active position to the inactive position due to the absence of airflow over the flow pressure mechanism. In one embodiment, the flow resistance coefficient is simultaneously reduced locally at the cleaning nozzle by guiding the incoming air past the cleaning nozzle in an optimized flow pattern (e.g., with minimal deflection, turbulence-free, and / or laminar flow) when the mechanism is blocked.

[0030] According to another aspect, a vehicle sensor device for a motor vehicle is proposed, comprising at least the following components: - a vehicle sensor for capturing environmental data; - an external surface which is exposed to potential contamination from environmental influences during operation; and - a cleaning nozzle according to an embodiment as described above, which is associated with the vehicle sensor, wherein the cleaning nozzle is designed to clean the outer surface by means of an airflow directed in the active position resulting from air flowing towards it when the motor vehicle is in motion.

[0031] In one embodiment, a vehicle sensor for capturing environmental data is provided, which is designed as a camera. The camera is configured, for example, to detect traffic signs and lane markings and, optionally, to enable computer-aided automatic recognition of traffic information. In another embodiment, such a vehicle sensor is designed as a radar. This radar is configured, for example, to detect obstacles (and, optionally, to enable computer-aided detection and / or classification) and / or to measure the distance to vehicles ahead. In another embodiment, a vehicle sensor is designed as an ultrasonic sensor, which, alternatively or redundantly to a radar, is configured, or whose measured values ​​are used computer-aided, to assist with parking and to identify objects in the blind spot.In one embodiment, a vehicle sensor is configured as a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) system, which is designed for the precise detection of the surrounding topography and other vehicles. In another embodiment, a vehicle sensor is configured as an infrared sensor, which enables the detection of pedestrians and animals in poor visibility conditions. It should be noted that in one embodiment, multiple sensor types and / or multiple versions of one sensor type are used in a partially redundant and / or complementary manner.

[0032] The outer surface is, for example, a lens and / or a cover exposed to the environment. A cleaning nozzle is preferably provided only for vehicle sensors where the sensor data is severely affected by contamination of the respective outer surface, for example, an optical lens for visible and near-visible frequencies, such as conventional (low-energy) laser sensors and infrared sensors.

[0033] By using the airflow generated during driving to clean the outer surface of a vehicle sensor, increased reliability and, for (partially or fully) autonomous driving, enhanced safety can be achieved. At the same time, the control engineering and energy requirements for cleaning are minimal.

[0034] According to a further aspect, a motor vehicle is proposed comprising a transport cabin, a propulsion device and at least one vehicle sensor device according to an embodiment as described above. wherein preferably in a cleaning nozzle according to an embodiment as described above, cleaning of at least one of the Vehicle sensor devices can be electronically disabled or enabled via human input in the transport cabin.

[0035] Preferably, the motor vehicle has four wheels, of which four or two are particularly preferably designed as drive wheels. The at least one drive wheel is in torque-transmitting connection with a (for example, electric) drive motor designed to provide drive torque. Based on this drive torque, the drive wheels can thus provide propulsion for the motor vehicle. For example, the motor vehicle has a plurality of drive motors, such as one drive motor per axle and / or one drive motor per drive wheel. For example, the torque-transmitting connection includes a transmission and / or a differential.

[0036] An input is, for example, a pre-defined general rule that can preferably be changed by a (possibly current) driver. Alternatively or additionally, an input is one in which, in an acute situation, a cleaning requirement is detected by the system and must be approved by a current driver or can be prevented within a specified time period. An input can be, for example, voice input or input via a GUI (Graphical User Interface).

[0037] The invention described above is explained in detail below against the relevant technical background with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show preferred embodiments. The invention is in no way limited by the purely schematic drawings, although it should be noted that the drawings are not dimensionally accurate and are not suitable for defining size relationships. It is illustrated in Fig. 1: a cleaning nozzle with a joint arrangement in an active position; Fig. 2: the cleaning nozzle according to Fig. 1 in an inactive position in a perspective view; Fig. 3: the cleaning nozzle after Fig. 2 in a top view; Fig. 4: a cleaning nozzle in an alternative embodiment in the inactive position; Fig. 5: the cleaning nozzle according to Fig. 4 in the active position; Fig. 6: a cleaning nozzle in a further alternative embodiment; Fig. 7: a cleaning nozzle in a further alternative embodiment; Fig. 8: a cleaning nozzle in a further alternative embodiment; and Fig. 9: Motor vehicle in a schematic top view.

[0038] In Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a cleaning nozzle 1 with a joint arrangement 7 in an active position, shown in a perspective view at an outer surface 15 of a vehicle sensor 2. It should be noted that the following reference is made to a coordinate system comprising an x-direction 19, shown from (obliquely) left to right, a y-direction 20 running orthogonally (obliquely) backward, and a z-direction 21 from bottom to top. The axis designations are not necessarily identical to the designations commonly used in vehicle construction, but depend on the application.

[0039] The cleaning nozzle 1 is designed for a vehicle sensor 2 of a motor vehicle 3 (compare Fig. 9) and comprises, in addition to the joint assembly 7 with a flow pressure mechanism 8, a guide device 4. The guide device 4 serves to direct the air 5 flowing towards the vehicle in the x-direction 19 as a directed airflow 6 over the associated vehicle sensor 2. The joint assembly 7 allows the guide device 4 to be moved between an inactive position and an active position, the active position being shown here. Additionally, flow lines of the airflow 6 in the x-direction 19 over the guide device 4 are shown. In this embodiment, the guide device 4 is designed with a symmetrical flow profile.

[0040] When a predetermined aerodynamic force 5 is reached due to the oncoming airflow, the baffle plate 10 moves and tilts the upstream-side joint lever 22 of the joint assembly 7 about the (vehicle-side) upstream (first) axis of rotation 12. As a result of the aerodynamic force on the baffle plate 10, the guide device 4 is thus moved from the inactive position to the active position shown, whereby the upstream-side joint lever 22 has a larger radius than the outstream-side joint lever 23 about the outflow-side (second) axis of rotation 13. Thus, the nozzle outlet 25 is narrowed relative to the nozzle inlet 24 of the cleaning nozzle 1, and the oncoming air 5 is accelerated and directed towards cleaning over the downstream outer surface 15 of the vehicle sensor 2.

[0041] In Fig. 2 is the cleaning nozzle 1 according to Fig. Figure 1 shows a vehicle sensor 2 in an inactive position in a perspective view. In this position, no alignment and / or acceleration of the oncoming air 5 is achieved. This inactive position is assumed by the guide device 4 when the resulting air force on the flow pressure mechanism 8 (here the baffle plate 10) is insufficient to cause a displacement of the guide device 4 via the joint arrangement 7. In one embodiment, a spring device 9 is provided to secure the inactive position (see Figure 1). Fig. 7 or Fig. 8).

[0042] In Fig. 3 is the cleaning nozzle 1 after Fig. Figure 2 shows a top view. This view illustrates the spatial extent of the guide device 4 in the xy-plane. Here, the ratio between the (larger) radius of the upstream-side joint lever 22 and the (smaller) radius of the outstream-side joint lever 23 is clearly (schematically) visible, as is the relative position of the baffle plate 10 to the guide device 4, which thus does not, or only negligibly, affect the developing flow profile above the guide device 4.

[0043] In Fig. Figure 4 shows the cleaning nozzle 1 in an alternative embodiment in the inactive position in a schematic side view. In contrast to the previously shown embodiment, the flow pressure mechanism 8 is also designed as a baffle plate 10, but is directly connected to the guide device 4 as a lever 11.

[0044] In Fig. 5 is the cleaning nozzle 1 according to Fig. 4 in the active position shown in a schematic side view, where it can be clearly seen that the articulated levers 22,23 are moved into the active position by the air force resulting from the oncoming air 5 on the baffle plate 10.

[0045] In Fig. Figure 6 shows a cleaning nozzle 1 in a further alternative embodiment in the inactive position in a schematic side view. Here, the guide device 4 is equipped with a flow profile which, as a result of an oncoming airflow 5, aerodynamically guides the guide device 4 into the active position by means of the joint arrangement 7 (comparable to the alignment as in Figure 6). Fig. 1 or Fig. 5 shown) transferred.

[0046] In Fig. Figure 7 shows a cleaning nozzle 1 in a further alternative embodiment in a schematic side view. Here, in contrast to the previously shown embodiments, a spring device 9 is shown schematically (as a helical tension spring). This defines an air force that must be overcome to move the guide device 4 from its inactive position to its active position.

[0047] In Fig. Figure 8 shows a cleaning nozzle 1 in a further alternative embodiment in a schematic side view. For the sake of clarity, the representation is as shown in Figure 8. Fig. 7 selected. In contrast, a spring device 9 is designed as a coil spring or torsion bar with spring axis around the first axis of rotation 12.

[0048] In Fig.Figure 9 shows a schematic top view of a motor vehicle 3. The motor vehicle 3 comprises a transport cabin 16, a propulsion system 17, and at least one vehicle sensor device 14. The vehicle sensor device 14 is configured to acquire environmental data and has an outer surface 15 which is exposed to potential contamination from environmental influences during operation. A cleaning nozzle 1 is associated with the outer surface 15, which is capable of cleaning the outer surface 15 by means of a directed airflow 6 resulting from the air 5 flowing onto it when the motor vehicle 3 is in motion. In one embodiment, the cleaning nozzle 1 can be electronically locked in the inactive position to prevent unintentional activation.Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, it is possible to electronically prevent or enable the cleaning of at least one of the vehicle sensor devices 14 via human input using an input unit 18 in the transport cabin 16.

[0049] The cleaning nozzle proposed here makes it possible to utilize the airflow while driving, while at the same time ensuring a simple and robust design. Reference symbol list 1 cleaning nozzle 2 Vehicle sensor 3 Motor vehicle 4 Guide device 5 incoming air 6 directed airflow 7 Joint arrangement 8 Fluid Pressure Mechanics 9 Spring mechanism 10 Impact plate 11 levers 12 first axis of rotation 13 second axis of rotation 14 Vehicle sensor equipment 15 Exterior surface 16 Transport cabin 17. Tunneling equipment 18 Input unit 19 x-direction 20 y-direction 21 z-direction 22 flow-side joint lever 23 outflow-side joint lever 24 nozzle inlet 25 Nozzle outlet

Claims

[1] Cleaning nozzle (1) for a vehicle sensor (2) of a motor vehicle (3), comprising at least the following components: - a guiding device (4) for directing air (5) flowing towards a motor vehicle (3) as a directed airflow (6) over an associated vehicle sensor (2); and - a joint arrangement (7) for moving the guide device (4) between an inactive position and an active position, wherein in the active position the guide device (4) is aligned by means of the joint arrangement (7) such that the directed airflow (6) is accelerated compared to the oncoming air (5), wherein the guide device (4) can be moved from the inactive position to the active position by means of a flow pressure mechanism (8) via the joint arrangement (7) by means of the air flowing on it during travel (5), characterized by , that the joint arrangement (7) comprises two axes of rotation (12, 13) which are indirectly dependent or independent of each other via the guide device (4), wherein the first axis of rotation (12) is arranged on the upstream side and the second axis of rotation (13) is arranged on the outstream side, wherein the first axis of rotation (12) is connected to the guide device (4) over a larger radius than the second axis of rotation (13). [2] Cleaning nozzle (1) according to claim 1, wherein the guide device (4) is held in the inactive position by means of a spring device (9) up to a predetermined air force resulting from the flow pressure applied to the flow pressure mechanism (8). [3] Cleaning nozzle (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the flow pressure mechanism (8) is integrated into the guide device (4). [4] Cleaning nozzle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the flow pressure mechanism (8) is designed as a baffle plate (10). [5] Cleaning nozzle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning nozzle (1) is electronically lockable. [6] Cleaning nozzle (1) according to claim 5, wherein the cleaning nozzle (1) can be blocked via the joint arrangement (7). [7] Cleaning nozzle (1) according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein in a blocked state of the cleaning nozzle (1) the flow pressure mechanism (8) is at least partially obscured from the air (5) flowing towards it when the motor vehicle (3) is in motion. [8] Vehicle sensor device (14) for a motor vehicle (3), comprising at least the following components: - a vehicle sensor (2) for recording environmental data; - an external surface (15) which is exposed to potential contamination from environmental influences during operation; and - a cleaning nozzle (1) according to one of the preceding claims, which is associated with the vehicle sensor (2), wherein the cleaning nozzle (1) is designed to clean the outer surface (15) by means of an airflow (6) directed in the active position resulting from air (5) flowing towards it when the motor vehicle (3) is in motion. [9] Motor vehicle (3) comprising a transport cabin (16), a propulsion device (17) and at least one vehicle sensor device (14) according to claim 8. [10] Motor vehicle (3) according to claim 9, wherein in a cleaning nozzle (1) according to one of claims 5 to 7, cleaning of at least one of the vehicle sensor devices (14) can be electronically prevented or enabled via a human input in the transport cabin (16).

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