Device for keeping and cleaning an underbody camera of a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for keeping and cleaning an underbody camera (3) of a motor vehicle, which has a number of active components (5, 7, 21) with the aid of which different cleaning and / or protective functions can be carried out. According to the invention, the device has a control unit (15) which, based on current driving operation and / or environmental parameters (P) and / or on the basis of a current degree of soiling (V), activates at least one of the active components (5, 7, 21) depending on the situation in order to maintain the functionality of the underbody camera (3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for keeping clean and cleaning an underbody camera of a motor vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Underbody cameras are installed in typical off-road vehicles, allowing the driver to see underneath the vehicle and at the wheels. This helps the driver navigate the vehicle around obstacles, rocks, etc., while driving off-road without damaging the underbody or tires. Although the vehicle is equipped with heavy-duty underbody protection along its entire length, the camera systems offer additional protection against damage. The camera system can consist of two wide-angle cameras, one facing forward and the other backward. Depending on the driving situation, the driver can therefore monitor either the front or rear wheels. Due to their exposed position in the underbody, and especially during off-road driving, such a camera system is extremely susceptible to dirt and grime. Existing cleaning systems are no longer sufficient in such conditions.

[0003] Underbody cameras are a valuable aid for drivers, especially when driving off-road, as they allow a view underneath the vehicle. Obstacles at the wheels, the risk of bottoming out, and other critical situations can thus be identified even without a guide – i.e., an external observer. Due to their installation location, these cameras are particularly susceptible to dirt accumulation. Conventional cleaning systems quickly reach their limits in these situations. For example, aerodynamic measures are ineffective due to the low speeds encountered off-road. Cleaning via spray nozzles only works as long as the dirt hasn't dried on the camera cover. In that case, manual cleaning is usually the only option, which is difficult to access due to the camera's location under the vehicle. Furthermore, relying solely on spray nozzles for cleaning quickly consumes large quantities of cleaning fluid.At higher speeds, such as when driving between obstacles on off-road trails, the risk of stone chips and thus permanent damage to the camera covers increases. Dirt accumulation can also increase significantly at higher speeds, further increasing the need for cleaning fluid.

[0004] Furthermore, many off-road tracks include water crossings where vehicles sometimes drive right up to the sill line through riverbeds or water holes. In this case, an underbody camera is usually useless because nothing is visible in the dark and often murky water. On the other hand, the risk of soiling or even damaging the underbody camera increases.

[0005] Current approaches to sensor cleaning do not yield satisfactory results when using underbody cameras for off-road driving. For example, DE 10 2020 107 394 A1 discloses a camera housed in a lens housing secured by a mounting device. A cleaning agent is provided in an area away from the lens. DE 10 2013 006 686 A1 discloses a motor vehicle with a sensor housed in a rotatable enclosure, to which a wiper is assigned that cleans the outside of the enclosure when the enclosure is rotated. DE 10 2020 131 873 A1 discloses a sensor lens cleaning system for a cylindrical sensor with a sensor lens surface. This system includes a compressed air nozzle that generates an airflow directed onto the surface of the sensor lens.WO 2022 / 177437 A1 discloses a cleaning device for the outer surface of an optical instrument of a motor vehicle, in which a cleaning fluid is supplied. DE 10 2018 116 822 A1 discloses a self-cleaning camera device, in which cleaning is also carried out using a cleaning fluid. DE 10 2018 006 529 A1 discloses a camera system for a vehicle, in which a camera housing is rotatably mounted and has a cleaning system with a wiper element, with which fluid can be wiped from the outside of the housing during a cleaning process. US 5 068 770 A discloses a vehicle headlight that is housed in a rotatable, spherical protective shield. Light-reducing road contaminants such as slush are deposited on the protective shield and therefore cannot adhere to the headlight.

[0006] The object of the invention is to provide a device for keeping and cleaning an underbody camera of a motor vehicle, by means of which resource-saving and / or needs-based cleaning of the underbody camera is made possible.

[0007] The problem is solved by the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

[0008] The invention relates to a device for keeping and cleaning an underbody camera of a motor vehicle clean. This device comprises a number of active components with which various cleaning and / or protective functions can be performed. According to the invention, the following measures have been taken to enable resource-efficient and needs-based cleaning or protection of the underbody camera: The device includes a control unit that activates at least one of the active components based on current driving and / or environmental parameters and / or the current degree of soiling in order to maintain the functionality of the underbody camera. The integration of such an intelligent control unit enables the situation-dependent activation of the cleaning and protective functions. This ensures consistently flawless visibility and functionality of the underbody camera.The cleaning and / or protection function according to the invention adapts optimally to the environmental conditions, enabling the camera to be cleaned or protected in a targeted manner, particularly during demanding off-road driving, which increases safety and reduces manual maintenance effort.

[0009] In a technical implementation, the device can have at least one of the following active components that can be controlled by the control unit: - a rotatable transparent protective roller, in particular in combination with a cleaning system operating with cleaning fluid that cleans the outside of the protective roller, wherein the underbody camera is arranged in the interior of the protective roller; - a compressed air nozzle unit that directs a stream of compressed air along the protective roller to protect its outer surface from contamination, such as dust, water droplets, or small stones; and / or - a protective hood by means of which the protective roller with integrated underbody camera can be covered in a water- and dirt-proof manner.

[0010] In addition to the protective roller, the cleaning system, and the compressed air nozzle unit, the device may include further active components not controlled by the control unit, namely a scraper wedge and / or a rubber lip. The scraper wedge removes larger dirt deposits as long as the protective roller is rotating. Ideally, the scraper wedge does not touch the protective roller but forms a small gap. This prevents abrasive wear on both components. The rubber lip acts like a windshield wiper. It removes any cleaning fluid remaining on the circumference of the protective roller. Any dirt that may remain on the protective roller after the scraper wedge is removed by the cleaning system. This system includes a rotating cleaning brush and a cleaning nozzle. The combination of a brush and a spray nozzle reduces the amount of cleaning fluid required.The amount of cleaning fluid applied can be dosed by the system depending on the situation.

[0011] The provision of various controllable components, such as the rotating protective roller, the compressed air nozzle, and the protective hood, enables the system to effectively handle a wide range of contaminants. This combination optimally protects the camera from both dry and wet contaminants and reduces cleaning fluid consumption. The components, especially the rotating roller, are designed for the unique challenges of fieldwork and ensure an extended service life and reliable operation of the camera in harsh environments.

[0012] With a view to reduced computational effort and effective cleaning in the control unit, the following design variant is preferred: The control unit can activate one or more of the active components depending on the speed and select specific operating modes for low, medium, and high driving speeds. Such speed-dependent control optimizes energy and fluid consumption by adapting the cleaning and protective measures to the respective driving conditions. Furthermore, unnecessary wear is minimized and operating costs are reduced, while ensuring optimal camera visibility at varying speeds. The targeted response to speed changes enables real-time adjustments to cleaning requirements and improves the efficiency and durability of the camera during high-speed off-road driving.

[0013] Alternatively and / or additionally, an image analysis module can be assigned to the control unit. Based on a camera image, this module can detect the degree and / or type of contamination on a roller segment and adjust the rotation frequency and cleaning fluid consumption accordingly. The image analysis module enables a precise assessment of the contamination and targeted cleaning based on the detected type and quantity of dirt. This targeted cleaning maintains camera visibility while simultaneously optimizing resource utilization. The system's ability to react individually to varying degrees of contamination improves efficiency and extends the service life of both the cleaning system and the camera itself.

[0014] For example, if the image analysis module detects contamination on a roller segment, the control unit can rotate the protective roller until a clean segment is in the camera's field of view. Simultaneously, the cleaning system can clean the contaminated roller segments located outside the camera's field of view. By rotating the roller until a clean segment is in front of the camera, the system provides an immediate, clear view, even in heavily soiled conditions. This function ensures uninterrupted camera use, which is essential for off-road navigation. The automatic roller cleaning improves the system's durability and reliability, allowing the driver to focus on driving without having to worry about cleaning the camera.

[0015] In another embodiment, the image analysis module can detect a recurring interference contour on the roller circumference and categorize it as damage. The damaged area can be rotated out of the camera's field of view. If the damage exceeds a certain dimension, the operator can receive a corresponding warning. Detecting and filtering out damaged areas outside the camera's field of view prevents interference in the camera image and maintains image quality. The warning system enables proactive maintenance, thus ensuring long-term functionality. This capability reduces costly repairs and downtime by informing the operator of necessary replacements only when needed, thereby increasing the system's efficiency and reliability.

[0016] In another version, the compressed air nozzle unit can be activated if the image analysis module detects dust or sand as a type of contamination. In this case, the targeted activation of the compressed air nozzle upon detection of dust or sand can reduce the accumulation of these specific contaminants without the use of cleaning fluid. This selective cleaning saves resources while still ensuring visibility. The compressed air function is particularly valuable on dusty surfaces and guarantees effective dirt removal with minimal energy and fluid consumption.

[0017] One scenario involves the vehicle driving through water. In this case, the control unit activates the protective cover to waterproof the underbody camera. The automatic activation of the cover during such water crossings ensures waterproof protection and reduces the risk of water damage to the camera. This feature provides crucial protection in extreme off-road conditions where the risk of water ingress is high, thus improving the camera's durability and longevity.

[0018] Ideally, the control unit should be a self-learning system that stores information about the terrain based on the current GPS position. This self-learning system enables predictive adjustments to the cleaning functions based on previous terrain data, thus improving cleaning efficiency. This adaptive function ensures that the system reacts to anticipated conditions, maximizes camera functionality, and reduces excessive fluid usage. Synchronization with GPS data allows for a tailored response in frequently used off-road areas.

[0019] In addition to AI-supported camera image analysis, the system can learn about the terrain based on GPS position and can predictively react to changing conditions. For example, the compressed air nozzle unit is activated predictively on trail sections learned to be particularly dusty, or the protective cover is closed before an upcoming water crossing. To avoid having to relearn this information for each vehicle, synchronization occurs via the backend.

[0020] Despite the use of AI intelligence, the system will not always meet the driver's wishes, especially since different drivers have different requirements for the system's behavior. For example, a particularly sensitive driver might prefer more frequent cleaning. Therefore, the driver can also control the individual system components manually, overriding the automatic function. The intelligent control system analyzes and stores these user interactions and gradually adapts its behavior to the customer's wishes. For this purpose, the control unit can be equipped with an input device that allows the driver to manually control individual components. The ability for the driver to manually control the cleaning and protection systems offers flexible adaptation to specific requirements.This input option gives the driver the freedom to adapt the cleaning to individual conditions and promotes a user-centric application, which increases the adaptability of the system in challenging terrain situations.

[0021] An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying figures.

[0022] They show: Fig. Figures 1 to 4 each show views illustrating the structure and function of an underbody camera for the maintenance and cleaning of a motor vehicle.

[0023] In the Fig. Figure 1 is an underbody camera 3 arranged on the underbody 1 of a vehicle, and a device for keeping and cleaning the underbody camera 3 is indicated to the extent necessary for understanding the invention. According to the Fig. The device comprises several differently functioning components, one of which is a rotatable, transparent protective roller 5. The underbody camera 3 is arranged within the protective roller 5. The underbody camera 3 is directed with a camera viewing direction B through the transparent protective roller 5 towards the underside of the vehicle, for example, towards the vehicle wheels. The device also includes a cleaning system 7 that operates with cleaning fluid, comprising a cleaning nozzle 9 and a brush roller 11. This brush roller 11 is in contact with the protective roller 5. The cleaning nozzle 9 is directed into the roller gap between the brush roller 11 and the protective roller 5.

[0024] Furthermore, the device is equipped with a compressed air nozzle unit 13, by means of which a compressed air stream (i.e., an air curtain) can be guided along the protective roller 5 to protect its outer surface from contamination, such as dust, water droplets, or small stones. The protective roller 5, the cleaning system 7, and the compressed air nozzle unit 13 can be controlled by an electronic control unit 15 based on current operating and environmental parameters P, as well as on the basis of a current degree or type of contamination V. To detect the current degree / type of contamination V, an image analysis module 17 is assigned to the control unit 15. This module uses a camera image to detect the degree or type of contamination V on a roller segment of the protective roller 5 through which the camera's viewing direction B passes.

[0025] The protective roller 5, the cleaning system 7, and the compressed air nozzle unit 13 are arranged in a module housing 19, which is open, for example, at the front or rear of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction. The opening of the module housing 19 can be closed by means of an adjustable protective hood 21, which can also be controlled by the control unit 15. In the Fig. Figure 1 shows the protective hood 21 with a solid line in the open state and with a dashed line in the closed state.

[0026] In addition to the active components 7, 13, 21, which can be controlled by the control unit 15, the device also has a scraper wedge 23 and a rubber lip 25. The scraper wedge 23 is arranged without contact with the outer circumference of the protective roller, while the rubber lip 25 is in contact with the outer circumference of the protective roller in the manner of a windshield wiper.

[0027] The invention is based on the fact that dirt ingress and the risk of stone chips increase with increasing driving speed. Against this background, the control unit 15 controls the active components 5, 7, 13, 21 depending on the speed, as shown in the schematic representation of the Fig. As indicated in Figure 2, at low driving speeds, a low level of dirt ingress and a low risk of stone impact can be expected. Therefore, at low driving speeds, the control unit 15 activates the protective roller 5 with the cleaning system 7, depending on the situation, while the compressed air nozzle unit 13 remains deactivated, provided the protective hood 21 is open. At medium speeds, the control unit 15 activates either the compressed air nozzle unit 13 and / or the protective roller 5 in combination with the cleaning system 7, depending on the situation. At high driving speeds, however, the underbody camera 3 is no longer required for off-road use, so the control unit 15 moves the protective hood 21 into its closed position, in which the interior of the module housing 19 is completely protected from water and / or stone impact.

[0028] A rigid definition of speed thresholds is not practical due to varying boundary conditions. Depending on weather conditions, surface properties, terrain topography, or even driving style, different levels of dirt accumulation can occur at the same speed. Therefore, the control system must select the speed thresholds intelligently. This is illustrated by the following examples: Driving on muddy surfaces quickly leads to the accumulation of droplets, even at low speeds. The cleaning requirement depends on the number of droplets and their particle content. The more droplets there are on the guard roller 5 and the more particles they contain, the more disruptive they are to the camera image. AI pattern recognition in image analysis module 17 determines the degree of soiling V, which the control unit 15 uses to select the frequency of guard roller rotation and cleaning. The amount of cleaning agent used is also controlled based on the particle content. Additionally, the AI ​​image analysis performed in image analysis module 17 evaluates recurring interference contours in the individual roller segments, thus detecting damage to the guard roller 5.

[0029] If significant damage is detected on a roller in a segment, the roller's rotation will skip over this segment so that it no longer comes into view of the camera. If the degree of damage to the roller exceeds a predefined value, the driver may be advised to replace the roller.

[0030] When driving on dusty surfaces, it is not the raindrops, but loose dust and sand on the guard roller that obstruct visibility. In such cases, the compressed air nozzle unit 13 (i.e., the air curtain) is particularly effective, as dust can be reliably kept away via this system component. The intelligent control system uses AI pattern recognition to identify the type of contamination, activates the compressed air unit 13 (i.e., the air curtain), and initiates a one-time cleaning cycle of the guard roller 5.

[0031] Modern off-road vehicles feature a "Wade Mode," a special driving mode for water crossings. Once this mode is activated, various systems are prepared for water crossings, for example, by switching off speakers, increasing ground clearance, or protecting the battery in BEVs. In the presented system, camera 3 is protected by the waterproof cover 21.

[0032] To further illustrate the functionality of the device, reference is made to the sketches of the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 referred. In the Fig. Figure 3 shows a rough schematic sketch of the device for cleaning / maintaining the underbody camera 3. Accordingly, the casing of the protective roller 5 is divided circumferentially into a total of five roller segments S1 to S5. As an example, the Fig. 3 the viewing direction B of the underbody camera 3 through the roller segment S1. The active components of the device, namely the scraper wedge 23, the cleaning system 7 and the rubber lip 25, are all grouped in a sector 28 which is radially opposite the roller segment S3.

[0033] In the event of contamination of roller segment S1, the protective roller 5 is rotated counterclockwise by 144°, i.e., by two roller segments. In this way, the contaminated roller segment S1 passes through the scraper wedge 23, the cleaning system 7, and the rubber lip 25, coming to rest after the rubber lip 25, as shown in the Fig.Figure 4 indicates this. In this position, roller segment S2 is positioned in the camera's viewing direction B, while roller segment S4 rotates into a position opposite sector 28 with the active components 23, 7, and 25, without requiring cleaning. It should be noted that the exact number of roller segments S1 to S5 can be selected for each vehicle depending on the available installation space, camera size, and cost. Generally, more segments are advantageous to reduce the risk of damage. REFERENCE MARK LIST: 1 Vehicle floor 3 Underbody camera 5 Protective roller 7 Cleaning system 9 Cleaning nozzle 11 Brush roller 13 Compressed air nozzle unit 15 Control unit 17 Image analysis module 19 module housings 21 Protective cover 23 scraper wedge 25 rubber lip 28 Sector B Camera viewing direction P Parameter S1 to S5 roller segments V Pollution degree / type 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 2020 107 394 A1

[0005] DE 10 2013 006 686 A1

[0005] DE 10 2020 131 873 A1

[0005] WO 2022 / 177437 A1

[0005] DE 10 2018 116 822 A1

[0005] DE 10 2018 006 529 A1

[0005] US 5 068 770 A

[0005]

Claims

Device for keeping clean and cleaning an underbody camera (3) of a motor vehicle, which has a number of active components (5, 7, 21) with which different cleaning and / or protective functions can be carried out, characterized in that the device has a control unit (15) which, based on current driving operation and / or environmental parameters (P) and / or on the basis of a current degree of soiling (V), activates at least one of the active components (5, 7, 21) depending on the situation in order to maintain the functionality of the underbody camera (3). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the device comprises at least one of the following active components controllable by the control unit (15): - a rotatable transparent protective roller (5), in particular in combination with a cleaning system (7) operating with cleaning fluid, which cleans the outside of the protective roller, wherein the underbody camera (3) is arranged in the interior of the protective roller; - a compressed air nozzle unit (13), by means of which a compressed air flow can be directed along the protective roller (5) to protect its outer surface from contamination, such as dust, water droplets or small stones; and / or - a protective hood (21), by means of which the protective roller (5) with integrated underbody camera (3) can be covered in a watertight and dirt-proof manner. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the control unit (15) controls one or more of the active components depending on the speed, and in particular: - at low driving speed, the control unit (15) activates the protective roller (5) together with the cleaning system (7) depending on the situation, while the compressed air nozzle unit (3) remains deactivated and the protective hood (21) remains in its open position; - at medium driving speed, the control unit (15) activates the compressed air nozzle unit (13) or the protective roller (5) together with the cleaning system (7) depending on the situation, while the protective hood (21) remains in its open position; - at high driving speed, the control unit (15) adjusts the protective hood (21) to its closed position in order to cover the protective roller (5). Device according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the control unit (15) is assigned an image analysis module (17) with which, on the basis of a camera image, a degree of contamination and / or a type of contamination (V) on a roller segment (S1 to S5) of the protective roller (5) can be detected through which the camera viewing direction (B) passes, and in particular that the control unit (15) determines, on the basis of the degree of contamination and / or the type of contamination (V), the frequency or number of protective roller rotations and / or the amount of cleaning fluid required when the protective roller (5) together with the cleaning system (7) is activated. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that, in the event of contamination of the roller segment (S1 to S5) through which the camera viewing direction (B) passes, the control unit (15) rotates the protective roller (5) until a clean roller segment (S2) lies in the camera viewing direction (B), while preferably the contaminated roller segment (S1) can be cleaned by means of the cleaning system (7). Device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that by means of the image analysis module (17) a recurring interference contour on the roller circumference during a protective roller rotation can be categorized as permanent damage, and that the control unit (15) rotates the protective roller (5) until the damage is outside the camera's viewing direction (B), and that in particular the image analysis module (17) transmits a warning message to the driver in order to replace the protective roller (5) if there is damage to the protective roller that exceeds a predetermined dimension. Device according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that, in the event that the image analysis module (17) detects dust or sand as the type of contamination, the control unit (15) activates the compressed air nozzle unit (13) to keep the protective roller (5) dust-free. Device according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that when passing through water the control unit (15) activates the protective hood (21) so that the protective roller (21) with integrated underbody camera (3) is protected against water. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (15) is a self-learning system in which the surface condition can be stored depending on the respective GPS position of the motor vehicle. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (15) is assigned an input means by which individual active components (5, 7, 21) of the device can be controlled by the driver in order to start a cleaning process or to set up camera protection.

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