Cleaning device for a motor vehicle's surround view camera

Abstract

A cleaning device (2) for a surround-view camera (3) of a motor vehicle is provided. The cleaning device (2) comprises an ambient air guide (5) with an ambient air inlet (6) and an ambient air outlet (7), wherein the ambient air guide (5) is configured to draw in ambient air (8) via the ambient air inlet (6) when the motor vehicle is in motion and to expel the drawn-in ambient air (8) via the ambient air outlet (7) towards the surround-view camera (3), and a compressed air guide (10) configured to expel compressed air towards the surround-view camera (3).

Description

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cleaning device for a surround-view camera of a motor vehicle, a camera system comprising the cleaning device, and a motor vehicle comprising the camera system. The disclosure further relates to a method for operating the cleaning device.

[0002] DE 10 2017 221 505 A1 relates to a device designed for sensing the environment of a vehicle. The device comprises a sensor with a cover for a transmitting window and / or a receiving window of the sensor. Additionally, the device has at least one air nozzle with an air inlet and an air outlet, the air nozzle being configured to draw in air through the air inlet and expel the drawn-in air through the air outlet. The at least one air nozzle is arranged relative to the cover of the transmitting window and / or the receiving window of the sensor such that the air expelled from the air outlet of the air nozzle is directed along an outer surface of the cover of the transmitting window and / or the receiving window of the sensor.The air inlet of the air nozzle is directed in a horizontal direction of movement of the vehicle and arranged such that the air drawn in is drawn from the vehicle's surrounding atmosphere when the vehicle is in motion. The device may additionally include at least one detection unit and at least one cleaning agent. The at least one detection unit serves to detect contamination of the outer surface of the cover of the transmitting window and / or the receiving window of the sensor. The device is designed to spray a liquid onto the outer surface of the cover if contamination is detected by the detection unit.

[0003] Against the background of this prior art, the purpose of the present disclosure is to specify a device that is suitable to enrich the prior art.

[0004] The problem is solved by the features of the independent claim. The dependent and subordinate claims each contain optional further developments of the disclosure.

[0005] The task is then solved by a cleaning device for a vehicle's surround-view camera. The cleaning device comprises an ambient air duct with an ambient air inlet and an ambient air outlet. The ambient air duct is designed to draw in ambient air through the ambient air inlet while the vehicle is in motion and to expel the drawn-in ambient air through the ambient air outlet towards the surround-view camera. The cleaning device also includes a compressed air duct designed to expel compressed air towards the surround-view camera.

[0006] This means that a cleaning device is proposed which allows the cleaning of an environmental camera with both ambient air and compressed air. In other words, cleaning the environmental camera with ambient air is supplemented by compressed air.

[0007] The term ambient air refers to the air that flows around the motor vehicle. This air has an ambient pressure.

[0008] The ambient air intake can be located at the front of the vehicle or at another exposed location. The ambient air outlet can be located away from the ambient air intake, particularly near the surround-view camera.

[0009] Compressed air can be understood as air that has a pressure higher than ambient pressure (e.g., from machinery). The compressed air system can include a compressed air tank, which, like the compressed air lines themselves, is located on the vehicle.

[0010] A device is proposed that can be attached to a motor vehicle. In operation, the device serves to clean a surround-view camera, i.e., a camera mounted on the vehicle whose field of view lies within the vehicle's surroundings. The vehicle's surroundings can be understood as an area of ​​predetermined size located at a predetermined distance from the vehicle. Output data, or image data captured by the surround-view camera, can be processed by a driver assistance system of the vehicle. It is conceivable that the driver assistance system is designed to control automated driving based on the image data and / or to create a model of the vehicle's surroundings based on the image data, and optionally, sensor data from other sensors within the framework of sensor data fusion. The cleaning device is provided to ensure that the surround-view camera can reliably capture image data of sufficient quality.

[0011] The cleaning device has at least two options for cleaning the surrounding camera, for example, a lens of the surrounding camera and / or a cover arranged in front of the surrounding camera.

[0012] The first option is cleaning with ambient air. This can be advantageous when the vehicle is in motion, as the ambient air has a high relative velocity due to the wind. The ambient air then flows through the ambient air inlet into the cleaning device, is guided by the ambient air duct to the ambient air outlet, and after exiting the ambient air outlet, strikes the surround-view camera, allowing any dirt or debris to be removed from the camera by the airflow. The ambient air outlet can be shaped or designed in such a way that the exiting ambient air is expelled, optionally in a jet, towards the surround-view camera.

[0013] When the vehicle is stationary or traveling at low speed, the ambient air has a low relative velocity to the vehicle. In other words, there is little to no airflow. To ensure reliable cleaning of the surround-view camera even in this condition, i.e., when the vehicle is stationary and / or traveling at low speed, the cleaning device incorporates compressed air as a secondary cleaning option.

[0014] Therefore, cleaning with compressed air is possible in parallel with cleaning with ambient air. As mentioned above, this compressed air can come from a separate compressed air reservoir.

[0015] This offers the advantage of removing heavier soiling that could not be removed by ambient air alone. Furthermore, it allows the camera's surround-view camera to be cleaned with compressed air even when the vehicle is stationary or moving slowly.

[0016] The following section explains in detail optional further training measures for the cleaning device as disclosed.

[0017] The compressed air line can be connected to the ambient air outlet, so that both the ambient air and the compressed air are expelled via the ambient air outlet towards the surrounding camera.

[0018] In other words, a single ambient air outlet can be provided through which both ambient air and compressed air flow towards the ambient camera. The ambient air and compressed air lines can be combined before this outlet. This offers the advantage that only a single ambient air outlet is required, which in turn is beneficial in terms of the installation space needed for the cleaning device.

[0019] The cleaning device may include a water guide designed to expel water towards the surrounding camera.

[0020] This means that, in addition to the air cleaning described above, cleaning with water, optionally with a cleaning solution, can also be provided. This can be advantageous if dirt on the surround-view camera cannot be removed (solely) with air.

[0021] The water line can be connected to the ambient air outlet, so that both the ambient air and the water are expelled via the ambient air outlet towards the surrounding camera.

[0022] It is conceivable that, in addition to the water supply, the compressed air supply is also connected to the ambient air outlet, meaning that optionally all three cleaning fluids can be expelled through a single outlet.

[0023] This offers the advantage, as described above, that only a single ambient air outlet is required, which in turn is advantageous with regard to the installation space required for the cleaning device.

[0024] The ambient air guidance system can be designed to increase the flow velocity of the ambient air from the ambient air inlet to the ambient air outlet.

[0025] This can be achieved, for example, by narrowing the ambient air duct from the ambient air inlet to the ambient air outlet. Additionally or alternatively, this can be achieved by appropriately designing the ambient air outlet, e.g., as a nozzle.

[0026] The ambient air outlet can therefore be a nozzle.

[0027] The ambient air guidance system can include at least one further ambient air outlet, wherein the ambient air guidance system is designed to expel the drawn-in ambient air towards a further ambient camera via the further ambient air outlet.

[0028] Modern vehicles can be equipped with multiple sensors, in this case multiple cameras, installed at various locations around the vehicle. The sensor data from these sensors can be fused to enable (highly) automated driving. The cleaning device can also be used in such vehicles. It is conceivable that only a single ambient air inlet is provided, which is connected to the ambient air outlets via the ambient air duct.

[0029] The ambient air routing can be designed to selectively expel the drawn-in ambient air through only one or simultaneously through both of the ambient air outlets.

[0030] A mechanical or mechatronic control system may be provided. The control system may include a control device configured to control, i.e., to open and close, at least one valve located in the ambient air duct (or optionally also in the compressed air duct and / or the water duct). By opening or closing the at least one valve, the flow of ambient air (or water and / or compressed air) can be directed to or interrupted at one, several, or all of the ambient air outlets.

[0031] Furthermore, the disclosure relates to a camera system for a motor vehicle, wherein the camera system comprises the cleaning device described above and a surround-view camera. The surround-view camera can be mounted on the motor vehicle relative to the cleaning system, in particular the ambient air outlet, in such a way that the ambient air and the compressed air are expelled towards the surround-view camera during operation of the cleaning device.

[0032] Furthermore, the disclosure relates to a motor vehicle, the motor vehicle comprising the camera system described above.

[0033] The motor vehicle can be a passenger car, such as an automobile, and / or a commercial vehicle, such as a truck and / or a bus.

[0034] What is described herein with reference to the cleaning device also applies analogously to the camera system and the motor vehicle (and vice versa).

[0035] Furthermore, the disclosure relates to a method for operating a cleaning device described above. The method comprises controlling the cleaning device so that, depending on the situation, it emits ambient air and / or compressed air and / or water towards the surrounding camera.

[0036] Situational awareness can mean that the steering is dependent on the speed of the vehicle, weather conditions in the vicinity of the vehicle and / or the type of contamination of the surround-view camera.

[0037] In other words, a (optionally computer-implemented) method for controlling the device is proposed, whereby it is possible to switch between wet and dry cleaning, as well as between cleaning with compressed air and / or ambient air, depending on the situation (e.g., speed, weather, or contamination). This offers the advantage that cleaning fluid and / or compressed air can be used only in predetermined situations, thus enabling savings in cleaning fluid or water and compressed air. For example, at higher speeds, cleaning can be done exclusively with ambient air, or cleaning with ambient air can be attempted first, with compressed air and / or water only being used if this is insufficient.

[0038] Two optional embodiments are described below with reference to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 described. Fig. Figure 1 shows schematically and by way of example a camera system with a cleaning device according to a first embodiment, and Fig. Figure 2 shows schematically and by way of example a cleaning device according to a second embodiment.

[0039] Reference symbols in the figures point to the same objects or components.

[0040] The in Fig. 1 Schematically represented camera system 1 for a (not shown) motor vehicle comprises a cleaning device 2 and an environment camera 3, both for installation on or in the motor vehicle.

[0041] The surround view camera 3 is installed or attached to the motor vehicle in such a way that a field of view 4 of the surround view camera 3 lies in the area or surroundings of the motor vehicle.

[0042] The cleaning device 2 comprises an ambient air duct 5 with an ambient air inlet 6 and an ambient air outlet 7. The ambient air inlet 6 is arranged on the vehicle such that ambient air 8 flows into the ambient air inlet 6 due to the airflow during vehicle travel and is directed through the ambient air duct 5 towards the ambient air outlet 7. The ambient air duct 5 includes a check valve 9 located between the ambient air inlet 6 and the ambient air outlet 8, which is opened by the ambient air 8 flowing through the ambient air duct 5. The drawn-in ambient air 8 is expelled through the ambient air outlet 7 towards the surround-view camera 3 or strikes the surround-view camera 3 in the form of a jet directed towards it to clean the camera.

[0043] More precisely, the ambient air outlet 7 of the ambient air duct 5 is designed as a nozzle, such that the ambient air duct 5 is configured to increase the flow velocity of the ambient air 8 from the ambient air inlet 6 to the ambient air outlet 8. In other words, the flow velocity of the ambient air 8 is higher after passing through the ambient air outlet 7 than before entering the ambient air inlet 6.

[0044] The cleaning device 2 further comprises a compressed air line 10, which is designed to direct compressed air from a compressed air tank 11 into the compressed air line 5, so that the compressed air is expelled via the ambient air outlet 7 as well as the ambient air 8 in the direction of the ambient camera 3 for cleaning the surrounding camera 3.

[0045] The cleaning device 2 comprises a water channel 12, which is designed to direct washer fluid from a washer fluid reservoir 13 of the vehicle into the compressed air channel 5, so that the washer fluid, along with the ambient air 8 and the compressed air for cleaning the surround-view camera 3, is expelled via the ambient air outlet 7 towards the surround-view camera 3. Like the ambient air channel 5, the water channel 12 includes a check valve 14, which is opened by the washer fluid flowing through the water channel 12 towards the ambient air channel 5. The two check valves 9 and 14 prevent compressed air from entering the respective downstream parts of the ambient air channel 5 and the water channel 12, thus preventing a loss of compressed air through the ambient air inlet 6 and damage to the washer fluid reservoir 13. The water channel 12 also includes a filter 15 for the washer fluid.

[0046] The cleaning device 2 comprises a control device 16, which is provided for a controllable compressed air valve 17 of the compressed air line 10 and a controllable water valve 18 of the water line 12. The control device 16 is configured to open or close the compressed air valve 17, either to allow or to block a flow of compressed air through the ambient air line 5 towards the ambient air outlet 7. The control device 16 is configured to open or close the water or flow valve 18, either to allow or to block a flow of cleaning fluid through the ambient air line 5 towards the ambient air outlet 7. This allows the surrounding camera 3 to be cleaned selectively with ambient air (depending on the wind direction) and additionally with compressed air and / or cleaning fluid.

[0047] Below, another embodiment of the camera system 1 is described with reference to Fig. 2 described, where only the differences to the above with reference to Fig. The embodiment described in section 1 will be explained in more detail. Everything else described above applies analogously to the second embodiment.

[0048] The camera system 2 comprises a further surrounding camera 19 with a field of view 20 arranged in the vicinity of the motor vehicle. The cleaning device 2 comprises a further ambient air outlet 21. The cleaning device 2 is designed to expel the drawn-in ambient air 8, the compressed air and the cleaning water by means of the further ambient air outlet 21 in the direction of the further surrounding camera 19 in the manner described above.

[0049] Furthermore, the cleaning device 2 comprises two additional valves 22, 23, which can be controlled by the control device 16 and are each assigned to one of the two ambient air outlets 7, 21. If the first of the two valves 22 is opened by the control device 16, the drawn-in ambient air 8, the compressed air, and the cleaning fluid can be expelled via the ambient air outlet 7 towards the surround-view camera 3. If the second of the two valves 23 is opened by the control device 16, the drawn-in ambient air 8, the compressed air, and the cleaning fluid can be expelled via the other ambient air outlet 21 towards the other surround-view camera 19. If the first of the two valves 22 is closed by the control device 16, neither the drawn-in ambient air 8, the compressed air, nor the cleaning fluid can be expelled via the ambient air outlet 7 towards the surround-view camera 3.If the second of the two valves 23 is closed by the control device 16, neither the drawn-in ambient air 8, the compressed air, nor the cleaning fluid can be expelled via the further ambient air outlet 21 towards the further ambient camera 19. The cleaning device 2 is therefore designed to selectively expel the drawn-in ambient air, the cleaning fluid, and the compressed air through none, only one, or simultaneously through both of the ambient air outlets 7, 21. More than two cameras 3, 19 with corresponding ambient air outlets and valves 22, 23 can also be provided. The number of two cameras 3, 19 is therefore only to be understood as an example. Reference symbol (part of the description) 1 camera system 2 Cleaning device 3 Surround camera 4. Field of view of the surround view camera 5 Ambient air distribution 6 Ambient air intake 7 Ambient air outlet 8 Ambient air 9 Check valve 10 Compressed air routing 11 Compressed air tank 12 Water supply 13 Windscreen washer fluid reservoir or washer fluid tank 14 Check valve 15 filters 16 Control device 17 controllable valve of the compressed air system 18 controllable valves for water supply 19 additional surround-view cameras 20 Field of view of the additional surrounding camera 21 additional ambient air outlets 22 controllable valve for ambient camera 23 controllable valve for additional ambient camera 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] DE 10 2017 221 505 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Cleaning device (2) for an environment camera (3) of a motor vehicle, wherein the cleaning device (2) comprises: - an ambient air guide (5) with an ambient air inlet (6) and an ambient air outlet (7), wherein the ambient air guide (5) is designed to draw in ambient air (8) by means of the ambient air inlet (6) when the motor vehicle is in motion and to expel the drawn-in ambient air (8) by means of the ambient air outlet (7) in the direction of the surround view camera (3), characterized by , that the cleaning device (2) comprises: - a compressed air line (10) designed to expel compressed air towards the surrounding camera (3). [2] Cleaning device (2) according to claim 1, characterized by, that the compressed air line (10) is connected to the ambient air outlet (7), so that both the ambient air (8) and the compressed air are expelled via the ambient air outlet (7) in the direction of the surrounding camera (3). [3] Cleaning device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the cleaning device (2) includes a water guide (12) designed to expel water towards the surrounding camera (3). [4] Cleaning device (2) according to claim 3, characterized by , that the water guide (12) is connected to the ambient air outlet (7) so that both the ambient air (8) and the water are expelled via the ambient air outlet (7) in the direction of the surrounding camera (3). [5] Cleaning device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by, that the ambient air guidance (5) is designed to increase the flow velocity of the ambient air (8) from the ambient air inlet (6) to the ambient air outlet (7). [6] Cleaning device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by , that the ambient air outlet (7) is a nozzle. [7] Cleaning device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by , that the ambient air guide (5) includes at least one further ambient air outlet (21), wherein the ambient air guide (5) is designed to expel the drawn-in ambient air (8) by means of the further ambient air outlet (21) in the direction of a further ambient camera (19). [8] Cleaning device (2) according to claim 7, characterized by , that the ambient air guide (5) is designed to selectively expel the drawn-in ambient air (8) only through one or simultaneously through both of the ambient air outlets (7, 21). [9] Method for operating a cleaning device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized by , that the procedure includes: - Controlling the cleaning device (2) so that, depending on the situation, optionally depending on the speed of the motor vehicle, weather conditions in the vicinity of the motor vehicle and / or a type of contamination of the surrounding camera (3), it expels the ambient air and / or the compressed air and / or, as far as related to claim 3, the water in the direction of the surrounding camera (3). [10] Camera system (1) for a motor vehicle, characterized by , that the camera system (1) comprises the cleaning device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 8 and an environment camera (3) which can be attached to the motor vehicle relative to the cleaning system (2) in such a way that the ambient air (8) and the compressed air are expelled in the direction of the environment camera during operation of the cleaning device (2). [11] motor vehicle, characterized by , that the motor vehicle comprises the camera system (1) according to claim 10.

Images