Motor vehicle and method for adjusting and / or regulating the internal pressure in a vehicle cabin of the motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for adjusting and / or regulating the internal pressure in a vehicle cabin (102) of a motor vehicle (100) comprising a navigation system (110), wherein the vehicle cabin (102) contains a pressure sensor (104), a vent valve (106) for releasing air from the vehicle cabin (102) to the environment, and a pump (108) for supplying air from the environment into the vehicle cabin (102), comprising the steps: - providing a topographic map (112) comprising several route segments (114), - determining the altitude of an upcoming route segment (114), - determining or calculating an ambient pressure (116) for the upcoming route segment (114) based on the determined altitude, and - adjusting an internal pressure in the vehicle cabin (102) for the upcoming route segment (114) adapted to an upcoming ambient pressure (116).The invention also relates to a motor vehicle (100) with a control unit (126) which is equipped to carry out the method.

Description

A motor vehicle and a method for adjusting and / or regulating the internal pressure in a vehicle cabin of a motor vehicle comprising a navigation system, wherein the vehicle cabin contains a pressure sensor, a vent valve for releasing air from the vehicle cabin to the environment and a pump for supplying air from the environment into the vehicle cabin. A device and a method for eliminating sudden pressure fluctuations in vehicles, particularly in land vehicles, are described, for example, in DE 693 05 117 T2. DE 10 2011 081 070 A1 describes a device and a method for active pressure control in rail vehicles. In the concepts described in the preceding publications, a pressure change is always measured and only then is a pressure adjustment made within the cabin. It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a method and a motor vehicle in which a pressure adjustment can be initiated predictively, i.e., even before the pressure change occurs. This problem is solved by a method having the features of claim 1 and by a motor vehicle having the features of claim 10. Advantageous embodiments with expedient further developments are specified in the dependent claims. The method according to the invention starts with a motor vehicle comprising a vehicle cabin and equipped with a navigation system. The pressure sensor is located in the vehicle cabin, which also includes a vent valve for releasing air from the cabin. Furthermore, a pump is provided for supplying air from the environment into the vehicle cabin, for example, to increase the pressure inside the cabin. The method according to the invention comprises in particular the following steps: - Providing a topographic map that includes several route sections, - Determining the altitude of an upcoming route section, - Determining or calculating an ambient pressure for the upcoming route section based on the determined altitude, and - Setting an internal pressure in the vehicle cabin adapted to an upcoming ambient pressure for the upcoming route section. In this way, the system can react to the pressure conditions present at the upcoming section of the route even before reaching that section, adjusting the interior pressure of the vehicle cabin to the approaching outside or ambient pressure. This eliminates the need for occupants to equalize the pressure themselves. Furthermore, it prevents uncomfortable pressure for the occupants. It has proven advantageous to maintain the pressure at ambient level along a planned route, ensuring a comfortable ride for the occupants. Therefore, after obtaining a topographic map, it is beneficial to determine a route from a starting position to a destination, comprised of one or more segments, with the elevation determined for each segment and the ambient pressure calculated for each segment based on that elevation. To ensure that the occupants do not experience excessive pressure spikes, it has proven advantageous to equalize the interior pressure of the vehicle cabin with the upcoming ambient pressure before the next section of the route is reached. In this context, it is advantageous if the interior pressure of the vehicle cabin is adjusted to the approaching ambient pressure over a predetermined or predefinable minimum period. This prevents pressure spikes that could affect the occupants when adjusting the interior pressure. Instead, the pressure is gradually adjusted to the approaching ambient pressure. This allows for a smooth increase or decrease in cabin pressure. The advantageous possibility exists that the route from the starting position to the destination position is automatically determined from the vehicle's operating history. In this way, it is not even necessary for a user to actively select a route, as the vehicle can predictively determine the upcoming route, the upcoming road segments, and thus the upcoming ambient pressure conditions. It is advantageous to additionally check the route for the presence of underpasses and / or tunnels, and to supplement the determined or calculated ambient pressure for the corresponding section of the route with the pressure effect caused by the underpass and / or tunnel. This takes into account not only the altitude, but also the passage through tunnels or underpasses, which lead to a change in the ambient pressure around the vehicle. A pressure map for enclosed spaces can be used for this purpose. Furthermore, it has proven advantageous to have an additional external pressure sensor on the vehicle to detect the actual ambient pressure along the route. This is because the measured or calculated ambient pressure might not correspond to the actual pressure due to prevailing weather conditions, allowing for a corresponding adjustment when the pressure changes in the vehicle cabin. It is also advantageous to request weather data, particularly air pressure, for individual route segments from a data service, which can then be taken into account when determining or calculating the upcoming ambient pressure. In this context, it is advisable to correct the ambient pressure determined or calculated along the route sections based on the actual ambient pressure for upcoming sections. This allows for a corresponding pressure adjustment in the cabin, particularly in the event of a deviation (a so-called "pressure shift") between the determined or calculated ambient pressure and the actual ambient pressure. In this context, it is also possible to validate the determined or calculated ambient pressure using the pressure value measured by the external pressure sensor. The determined pressure values ​​can then be transmitted to a vehicle backend, where they can be correlated with map data from a topographic map. This pressure data can then be made available to other vehicles, for example, via an over-the-air update. It has proven advantageous to recalibrate the determined or calculated ambient pressure based on the pressure value measured by the external pressure sensor. The advantages, advantageous embodiments, and technical effects described in connection with the method according to the invention apply equally to the motor vehicle according to the invention. This vehicle comprises a cabin in which a pressure sensor is arranged. Furthermore, the cabin has a vent valve for releasing air from the cabin to the environment. A pump is also provided for supplying air from the environment into the cabin. The motor vehicle also includes a navigation system implemented in a control unit configured to carry out the method as described above in its various embodiments. The features and combinations of features mentioned above in the description, as well as those subsequently mentioned in the figure description and / or shown in the figures alone, can be used not only in the combinations specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, embodiments that are not explicitly shown or explained in the figures, but which can be derived and generated from the explained embodiments by separate combinations of features, are also to be considered as encompassed and disclosed by the invention. Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the following description of preferred embodiments, and the drawings. Figure 1 shows a schematic illustration of a vehicle for carrying out the method according to the invention, with communication links represented by dotted lines; and Figure 2 shows a view of a topographic map. Figure 1 schematically shows a motor vehicle 100, which includes a passenger compartment 102. The passenger compartment 102 can, for example, be hermetically sealed from the environment. A pressure sensor 104 is located inside the passenger compartment 102 to measure the interior pressure of the motor vehicle 100. A vent valve 106 is also schematically shown to release air from the passenger compartment 102 to the environment, as illustrated by an arrow. Releasing air from the passenger compartment 102 reduces the pressure inside the passenger compartment 102. The pressure in the passenger compartment 102 can also be increased, for which a pump 108, also shown schematically, is provided. The pump 180 supplies air from the environment to the passenger compartment 102, where the occupants are located; this is also illustrated by an arrow. The motor vehicle 100 includes a control unit 126, which is equipped with a navigation system 110. The control unit 126 communicates with the pressure sensor 104, so that the sensor values ​​are transmitted to the control unit 126. Furthermore, the control unit 126 communicates with the vent valve 106 and the pump 108. An ambient pressure sensor 124 is also present, which provides the pressure values ​​outside the vehicle cabin 102 to the control unit 126; however, this sensor is optional. With this motor vehicle 100, it is possible for the pressure in the vehicle cabin 102 to be predictively adjusted to an upcoming ambient pressure 116, so that the occupants have a comfortable driving experience and do not have to equalize the pressure themselves, for example, especially when high altitudes are overcome with the vehicle. The control unit 126 is configured to perform a procedure for setting and / or regulating the internal pressure in the vehicle cabin 102. Figure 2 shows a topographic map 112 from the navigation system 110, which is provided as the first step of the process. In this case, it includes several route segments 114. The elevation of an upcoming route segment 114 is then determined, and the ambient pressure 116 for that segment is calculated based on this elevation. The interior pressure in the vehicle cabin 102 is then adjusted to the ambient pressure 116 of the upcoming route segment 114, in this case, completely equalized. When the vehicle 100 reaches the upcoming route segment 114, the pressure conditions in the vehicle cabin 102 are the same as those outside the vehicle, so the occupants do not need to equalize the pressure.It has therefore proven advantageous for the internal pressure of the vehicle cabin 102 to be equalized to the approaching ambient pressure 116 before the next upcoming track section 114 is reached. Preferably, the internal pressure of the vehicle cabin 102 is equalized to the approaching ambient pressure 116 over a predetermined or predeterminable minimum period; in particular by means of a linear pressure gradient. This allows for a smooth, painless equalization of the pressure conditions in the vehicle cabin 102. In addition to the predictive operation of a merely upcoming route segment 114, it is also possible to investigate a corresponding route 122 from a starting position 118 to a destination position 120. In this case, the elevation is determined for each of the route segments 114 along the route 122 from one or more of the route segments 114. Additionally, the ambient pressure 114 for each of the route segments 114 along the route 122 is determined or calculated based on the determined elevation. Alternatively or additionally, it is possible that the topological map 112 already contains values ​​for the ambient pressure 116 for the route segments 114, so that the elevation does not first have to be read and the ambient pressure 116 calculated or determined from it.This is the case, for example, when a motor vehicle 100 with an external pressure sensor 124 has already wirelessly provided its data for this section of the route 114 via a server device. Alternatively or additionally, it is possible to check the route 122 for the presence of underpasses and / or tunnels, and to supplement the determined or calculated ambient pressure 116 for the associated section 114 with the pressure value due to the underpass and / or tunnel. If the ambient pressure conditions 114 for the upcoming route sections 114 are known, the pressure values ​​can be validated using the external pressure sensor 124. Should the determined or calculated ambient pressure 116 and the measured pressure of the external pressure sensor 124 differ significantly, the pressure value for the calculated or determined ambient pressure 116 can be recalibrated, thereby allowing for a corresponding adjustment of the pressure values ​​along the route 122. This leads to improved control of the pressure conditions within the vehicle cabin 102. As a result, the present invention offers the advantage that occupants experience an even more comfortable ride and no longer need to equalize pressure themselves. Pressure peaks are reduced evenly and comfortably for the passenger, or even completely avoided. REFERENCE MARK LIST: 100 Vehicle 102 Vehicle cabin (pressurized cabin) 104 Pressure sensor 106 Vent valve 108 Pump 110 Navigation system 112 Topographic map 114 Route segment 116 Ambient pressure (determined / calculated) 118 Starting position 120 Destination position 122 Route 124 External pressure sensor 126 Control unit QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION 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 DE 693 05 117 T2

[0002] DE 10 2011 081 070 A1

[0002]

Claims

Method for setting and / or regulating the internal pressure in a vehicle cabin (102) of a motor vehicle (100) comprising a navigation system (110), wherein the vehicle cabin (102) contains a pressure sensor (104), a vent valve (106) for releasing air from the vehicle cabin (102) to the environment, and a pump (108) for supplying air from the environment into the vehicle cabin (102), comprising the steps of: - providing a topographic map (112) covering several route segments (114), - determining the elevation of an upcoming route segment (114), - determining or calculating an ambient pressure (116) for the upcoming route segment (114) based on the determined elevation, and - setting an internal pressure in the vehicle cabin (102) for the upcoming route segment (114) adapted to an upcoming ambient pressure (116). Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, after providing the topographic map (112), a route (122) is determined from a starting position (118) to a destination position (120), which is composed of one or more of the route segments (114), that the altitude for each of the route segments (114) along the route (122) is determined, and that the ambient pressure (116) for each of the route segments (114) along the route (122) is determined or calculated on the basis of the determined altitude. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the internal pressure of the vehicle cabin (102) is adjusted to the approaching ambient pressure (116) before the next upcoming section of track (114) is reached. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the internal pressure of the vehicle cabin (102) is equalized to the impending ambient pressure (116) for a predetermined or predeterminable minimum duration. Method according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the route (122) from the starting position (118) to the destination position (120) is automatically determined from an operating history of the motor vehicle (100). Method according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the route (122) is additionally checked for the presence of underpasses and / or tunnels, and that for the associated section of the route (114) the determined or calculated ambient pressure (116) is supplemented by the pressure value caused by the underpass and / or tunnel. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that an additional external pressure sensor (124) is provided on the motor vehicle (100) to detect the actual ambient pressure along the route sections (114). Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the ambient pressure (116) determined or calculated along the route sections (114) is corrected on the basis of the actual ambient pressure for upcoming route sections (114). Method according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the determined or calculated ambient pressure (116) is recalibrated on the basis of the pressure value measured by the external pressure sensor (124). Motor vehicle (100) with a vehicle cabin (102), with a pressure sensor (104) arranged in the vehicle cabin (102), with a vent valve (106) for releasing air from the vehicle cabin (102) to the environment, with a pump (108) for supplying air from the environment into the vehicle cabin (102), and with a control unit (126) comprising a navigation system (110) which is configured to carry out the method according to one of claims 1 to 9.

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