Environmental sensor with movable deflection device for motor vehicles

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a sensor system for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising a sensor housing and an active or passive sensor arranged therein with a sensor system based on radiation detection and a measuring device associated with the sensor. The sensor housing has, on its side located in the detection direction of the sensor, a cover that is signal-permeable to the sensor, and the detection range of the sensor in the region of the signal-permeable cover has a smaller extent than the signal-permeable cover. The invention further relates to a method for operating such a sensor system and to a motor vehicle equipped with such a sensor system.

[0002] Driver assistance systems are devices in motor vehicles that serve to increase driving comfort and safety. Advanced driver assistance systems even enable highly automated and autonomous driving. Such partially and fully autonomous vehicles place particularly high demands on the functionality of the environmental sensors. They are based, for example, on digital camera, radar, and lidar technology. Cameras are compact optical systems with photocells that capture high-resolution images of the surroundings. Radar (Radio Detection and Ranging) and lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) sensors, less commonly called ladar (Laser Detection and Ranging), together with the cameras and possibly other sensor types, form a digital sensor network based on data fusion and high signal redundancy.Through precise object detection, object classification, and the generation of digital environmental maps in real time, the sensor system enables safe autonomous driving in different driving, road, and weather conditions.

[0003] Functioning, fail-safe sensors are a basic prerequisite for partially and fully autonomous driving. A key technical challenge is maintaining the functionality of the sensor, which is located behind a protective sensor cover that has become dirty or damaged due to weather and wear.

[0004] Soiling is caused, for example, by stubborn dust stirred up from the road, insects, bird droppings, slush, dried-on dirty water, as well as any type of particle or liquid. Soiling can also be caused, for example, by dust, as well as any type of particle or liquid that settles on the inside of the sensor protective cover. Damage to the sensor protective cover includes, for example, abrasion, scratches, erosion, cracks, chipping, deformation, swelling, clouding and discoloration, either in the flat cover of the window body itself or in at least one of its components, e.g. paint layer, adhesive layer or decorative element. Soiling and damage lead to the electromagnetic waves detected by the sensor, as well as the emitted waves (depending on the type, infrared light, radio or microwaves) being attenuated or deflected by absorption, reflection or scattering.This can lead to various sensory malfunctions, in particular partial to complete signal failure, loss of sensor range, loss of spatial resolution, errors in object detection and velocity vectoring.

[0005] The prior art includes measures for cleaning contaminated sensor covers. For example, DE 10 2010 055 113 A1 describes a cleaning device with at least one spray nozzle that sprays a cleaning fluid at high pressure onto at least one of the sensor protective covers. In conjunction with a fluid heater, this device achieves high cleaning performance even at low temperatures.

[0006] US 2015 / 0090291 also describes wipers that can clean the windshield in front of the sensor.

[0007] DE 10 2013 207 482 A1 describes heatable surface elements specifically designed for heating radar covers. Heating the cover can melt and melt dirt and deposits of ice and snow, and reduce moisture, leading to improved radar wave penetration.

[0008] The state of the art includes software-based solutions for dealing with signal loss in so-called blind sensors, or with ambiguous sensor signals. US 2010 / 0235129 describes the correlation of signals from multiple sensors (sensor fusion), which can maintain the autonomous operation of a vehicle even when sensor signals are missing, unassignable, or ambiguous.

[0009] DE 199 45 268 A1 describes a similar method and device for detecting the sensor status with regard to contamination and blindness. These are cost-effective solutions because they are part of the electronic sensor intelligence.

[0010] DE 102012112987 B3 describes an optoelectronic sensor and a method for detecting and determining the distance of objects with the determination of a degree of visibility. The degree of visibility is not determined globally for the sensor's surroundings, but individually for the respective scanning direction.

[0011] DE 102016111615 B3 describes an image sensor which is aligned with the windscreen of a sensor arrangement and a computing unit which is designed to detect contamination of the windscreen from the signal of the image sensor.

[0012] The prior art does not contain any teachings regarding the internal sensor correction of faults resulting from normal wear and tear of the sensor's protective cover or other damage to the cover caused by external mechanical or weather-related influences. The examples cited regarding sensor intelligence and sensor fusion can only eliminate the effect of a signal loss in the sensor network, but not the cause of the signal failure, thus remaining associated with an increased safety risk in autonomous driving.

[0013] The object of the present invention was therefore to provide a sensor system for a motor vehicle which, in the event of contamination impairing the functioning of the sensor or localized damage to the sensor protective cover, is automatically able to restore the functioning of the sensor without the sensor having to be replaced or repaired.

[0014] This object is achieved according to the invention with a movable deflection device for the signals emitted and received by the sensor. This deflection device can be specifically realigned in the event of a defect interfering with the incoming and / or outgoing signals, so that the corresponding signal is redirected past the defect. The movement of the deflection device can be achieved, for example, by a targeted lateral displacement and / or rotation.

[0015] The invention thus relates to a sensor system for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising a sensor housing and an active or passive sensor arranged therein with a sensor system based on radiation detection and a measuring device assigned to the sensor, wherein the sensor housing has a cover that is permeable to the sensor on its side located in the detection direction of the sensor, and wherein the detection range of the sensor in the region of the cover that is permeable to the signal has a smaller extent than the cover that is permeable to the signal, wherein the sensor system is characterized in that a movable deflection device coupled to a control device is assigned to the sensor for deflecting the radiation of the sensor, wherein the measuring device is designed such that it is suitable for checking in the detection range of the sensor,whether and in which section the signal-permeable cover has an area with reduced signal permeability, wherein the measuring device interacts with the control device of the deflection device in such a way that the control device can change the position of the deflection device in such a way that the area with reduced signal permeability lies outside the detection range of the sensor, wherein the deflection device is constructed from at least two deflection elements coupled to one another and the deflection device or at least one of the deflection elements can be moved from a passive position outside the detection range of the sensor to an active position within the detection range of the sensor.

[0016] The basic idea of ​​the invention is, among other things, that with the aid of the deflection device, a beam replacement path for the sensor system, for example one that is laterally offset, is set, with which the sensor beams can be guided past the area with reduced signal permeability.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the sensor system according to the invention, the sensor is selected from radar sensors, light sensors, in particular lidar sensors based on lasers or light-emitting diodes and image capture sensors, such as those used in reversing, front or surrounding cameras.

[0018] The sensor may have a transmitting device and a separate receiving device.

[0019] The deflection device is preferably designed to be movable in all spatial directions and to be rotatable and / or tiltable about all axes. This allows the system to be adjusted very flexibly to bypass areas with reduced signal permeability and maintain the functionality of the sensor. For this purpose, the deflection device can be attached, for example, to a suitable mount or to a carriage. The movement of the deflection device can be achieved, for example, by at least one electric motor assigned to the deflection device, a piezoelectric element, or a hydraulic element.

[0020] The deflection device can also be fixed to the sensor housing, in particular between the signal-permeable cover and the sensor. The fixation does not hold the deflection device in place, but is designed to allow the aforementioned adjustability. In particular, the movement of the deflection device can be achieved via a belt drive, in particular a V-belt drive, a sliding carriage, a rotating device, such as a turntable, or even in a cardan suspension using suitable drives.

[0021] The deflection device may comprise at least one mirror, a prism, a compensation plate, a wedge window, a step lens, a blazed grating, a diffractive optical element, a holographic optical element or combinations thereof.

[0022] According to the invention, the deflection device is constructed from at least two deflection elements coupled to one another, wherein preferably the at least two deflection elements coupled to one another can be designed to be movable jointly or separately via the control device or at least one of the deflection elements is arranged in a stationary manner in the sensor system, wherein the stationary deflection element is preferably fastened on the inside of the signal-permeable cover.

[0023] According to the invention, the deflection device or at least one of the deflection elements is designed to be movable from a passive position outside the detection range of the sensor to an active position within the detection range of the sensor (102). As a result, the deflection device does not interfere with the operation of the sensor in the normal state, but can be moved in the beam path of the sensor if the signal-permeable cover has a section with reduced signal permeability, thereby guiding the sensor signal past the section with reduced signal permeability.

[0024] The deflection device can be designed to be controllable in such a way that preselected beam offset paths for the radiation wave detection or beam offset paths determined by self-calibration of the sensor (102) can be set.

[0025] The test to determine whether and in which section the signal-permeable cover has an area with reduced signal permeability can, in principle, be carried out in any manner known to a person skilled in the art for this purpose, preferably by means of a computing unit assigned to the measuring device. For this purpose, the computing unit can be configured to be operable with a data processing program by means of which the test to determine whether and in which section the signal-permeable cover has an area with reduced signal permeability can be carried out via differential image recognition using the same sensor or different sensors, wherein, when different sensors are used, sensor fusion is used in particular. A suitable method for sensor fusion is disclosed, for example, in US 2010 / 0235129 A.

[0026] Preferably, the control device is configured such that, following a position change of the deflection device, it transmits this new position to the vehicle's electrical system, so that the data supplied by the sensor can be converted there in such a way that the new beam path is included as a correction value compared to the original beam path. However, the conversion can also be performed in the sensor system's processing unit, so that already position-corrected signals can be sent from the sensor system to the vehicle's electrical system.

[0027] The measuring device and the control device can be positioned independently of each other inside or outside the sensor housing. In some cases, it may be preferable to arrange the measuring device and the control device inside the sensor housing because this creates a single unit, eliminating the need for additional cables to be routed through the sensor housing other than the power supply and the connection to the vehicle's data network, which could potentially lead to leakage problems.

[0028] According to a preferred embodiment of the sensor system according to the invention, the measuring device is designed such that it can output an error signal in the event that the position of the deflection device cannot be changed such that the area with reduced signal permeability lies outside the detection range of the sensor. This error signal can be forwarded to the vehicle's on-board electronics, where it triggers an error code indicating the need to replace the sensor and / or its improper functioning, so that the vehicle user does not rely on a defective sensor, which could result in vehicle damage or the like.

[0029] The sensor system is further preferably configured such that the check to determine whether and in which section of the signal-permeable cover has an area with reduced signal permeability can be performed when the sensor system is switched on and / or at freely selectable time intervals. This ensures that the sensor is checked at regular intervals and its functionality is assured.

[0030] The sensor system according to the invention can further be designed such that a signal-permeable inner protective cover is provided between the sensor and the signal-permeable cover, which preferably extends to the lateral inner walls of the housing cover. In this way, the internal sensor can remain protected from damaging influences even if the signal-permeable cover has, for example, a crack or a hole.

[0031] The signal-permeable cover and / or the signal-permeable inner protective cover can be constructed from a transparent plastic or glass, with the transparent plastic being selected in particular from polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, polyethylene terephthalate, cellulose triacetate, amorphous polyamide, cycloolefin polymer, cycloolefin copolymer, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl alcohol, or mixtures or copolymers thereof. Polycarbonate and polymethyl methacrylate are particularly preferred due to their optical and mechanical properties, and polycarbonate is especially preferred due to its extremely tough properties.

[0032] A further subject of the present invention relates to a method for operating a sensor system for a motor vehicle comprising a sensor housing and an active or passive sensor arranged therein with a sensor system based on radiation detection and a measuring device assigned to the sensor, wherein the sensor housing has a cover that is permeable to the sensor on its side located in the detection direction of the sensor, and wherein the detection area of ​​the sensor in the area of ​​the cover that is permeable to the signal has a smaller extent than the cover that is permeable to the signal, wherein the method is characterized in that a movable deflection device coupled to a control device is assigned to the sensor for deflecting the radiation of the sensor, wherein the measuring device is used to testwhether and in which section of the detection range of the sensor the signal-permeable cover has a region with reduced signal permeability, and if a region with reduced signal permeability is detected, the position of the deflection device is changed by means of the control device in such a way that the region with reduced signal permeability lies outside the detection range of the sensor, wherein the deflection device is constructed from at least two deflection elements coupled to one another and the deflection device or at least one of the deflection elements is movable from a passive position outside the detection range of the sensor to an active position within the detection range of the sensor.

[0033] According to a preferred development of the method according to the invention, a region with reduced signal permeability is defined in that in a contiguous area of ​​at least 1% of the detection range of the sensor on the signal-permeable cover, an attenuation of the signal to be detected by the sensor of at least 5% occurs compared to the remaining area of ​​the signal-permeable cover in the detection range of the sensor.

[0034] The invention further relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, which is equipped with at least one sensor system according to the invention. The sensor system can be used, for example, in the front, rear, or side area of ​​a vehicle, e.g. in the bumper, radiator grille, headlights, front panel, rear panel, taillight, roof pillar, window, or attachment such as an exterior mirror. The sensor system can be installed in an opening in an exterior body part. Preferably, the sensor system is seamlessly integrated into the surface of the vehicle part. Particularly preferably, the exterior body part also serves as the sensor protective cover. Positioning the sensors behind body components has several advantages over free-standing sensors, in particular aesthetic, aerodynamic, and repair-related advantages. Suitable sensor systems are primarily those with so-called ADAS functionality (= Advanced Driver Assistance Systems).These include lidar sensors, scanning lidar sensors, flash lidar sensors, GHz and THz radars for near-field to far-field detection, and cameras for the visible or infrared wavelength spectrum. A possible preferred application area is 360° environment detection for highly automated and autonomous driving. Another area of ​​application: When stationary, these ADAS sensors can provide relevant comfort functions for the end customer, e.g., mechatronic comfort functions such as systems for contactless opening and closing of doors and tailgates, or light- and display-based comfort functions.

[0035] The invention relates in particular to the following embodiments: According to a first embodiment, the invention relates to a sensor system 200, 300 for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising a sensor housing and an active or passive sensor 102 arranged therein with a sensor system based on radiation detection and a measuring device assigned to the sensor 102, wherein the sensor housing has, on its side located in the detection direction of the sensor 102, a cover 106 that is permeable to the sensor 102 and wherein the detection range of the sensor 102 in the region of the cover 106 that is permeable to the signal has a smaller extent than the cover 106 that is permeable to the signal, wherein the sensor system 200, 300 is characterized in that the sensor 102 is assigned a movable deflection device 201 that is coupled to a control device for deflecting the radiation of the sensor 102, wherein the measuring device is designed such thatthat it is suitable for checking in the detection range of the sensor 102 whether and in which section the signal-permeable cover 106 has an area with reduced signal permeability 202, 302, wherein the measuring device interacts with the control device of the deflection device 201 in such a way that the control device can change the position of the deflection device 201 in such a way that the area with reduced signal permeability 202, 302 lies outside the detection range of the sensor 102, wherein the deflection device (201) is constructed from at least two deflection elements (201a, 201b, 301a, 301b) coupled to one another and the deflection device (201) or at least one of the deflection elements (201a, 201b, 301a, 301b) can be moved from a passive position outside the detection range of the sensor (102) into an active position in the detection range of the Sensor (102) is movable.,

[0036] According to a second embodiment, the invention relates to a sensor system according to embodiment 1, characterized in that the sensor 102 is selected from radar sensors, light sensors, in particular lidar sensors based on lasers or light-emitting diodes and image capture sensors.

[0037] According to a third embodiment, the invention relates to a sensor system according to embodiment 1 or 2, characterized in that the sensor 102 has a transmitting device and a receiving device separate therefrom.

[0038] According to a fourth embodiment, the invention relates to a sensor system according to one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that the deflection device 201 is designed to be movable in all spatial directions, rotatable about all axes and / or tiltable.

[0039] According to a fifth embodiment, the invention relates to a sensor system according to one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that at least one electric motor, a piezoelectric element, or a hydraulic element is assigned to the deflection device 201 for its movement.

[0040] According to a sixth embodiment, the invention relates to a sensor system according to one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that the deflection device 201 is fixed to the sensor housing, in particular between the signal-permeable cover 106 and the sensor 102.

[0041] According to a seventh embodiment, the invention relates to a sensor system according to one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that the deflection device 201 comprises at least one mirror, a prism, a compensation plate, a wedge window, a step lens, a blaze grating, a diffractive optical element, a holographic-optical element or combinations thereof.

[0042] According to an eighth embodiment, the invention relates to a sensor system according to one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that the at least two deflection elements 201a, 201b, 301a, 301b coupled to one another are designed to be movable jointly or separately via the control device or at least one of the deflection elements 201a, 201b, 301a, 301b is arranged in a stationary manner in the sensor system.

[0043] According to a ninth embodiment, the invention relates to a sensor system according to the eighth embodiment, characterized in that the at least two deflection elements (201a, 201b, 301a, 301b) coupled to one another are designed to be movable only together via the control device and at least one of the deflection elements (201a, 201b, 301a, 301b) is arranged in a stationary manner in the sensor system, wherein the stationary deflection element (301b) is fastened on the inside of the signal-permeable cover (106).

[0044] According to a tenth embodiment, the invention relates to a sensor system according to one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that the deflection device 201 can be controlled in such a way that preselected beam offset paths for the radiation detection or beam offset paths determined by self-calibration of the sensor 102 can be set.

[0045] According to an eleventh embodiment, the invention relates to a sensor system according to one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that the check as to whether and in which section the signal-permeable cover 106 has an area with reduced signal permeability 202, 302 can be carried out by means of a computing unit assigned to the measuring device, wherein the computing unit can be operated in particular with a data processing program by means of which the check as to whether and in which section the signal-permeable cover 106 has an area with reduced signal permeability 202, 302 is carried out via differential image recognition using the same sensor 102 or different sensors, wherein when using different sensors, sensor fusion is preferably used.

[0046] According to a twelfth embodiment, the invention relates to a sensor system according to one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that the measuring device and the control device are positioned independently of one another inside or outside the sensor housing.

[0047] According to a thirteenth embodiment, the invention relates to a sensor system according to one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that the measuring device is designed such that it can output an error signal in the event that the position of the deflection device 201 cannot be changed in such a way that the region with reduced signal permeability 202, 302 lies outside the detection range of the sensor 102.

[0048] According to a fourteenth embodiment, the invention relates to a sensor system according to one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that the sensor system 200, 300 is designed such that the check as to whether and in which section the signal-permeable cover 106 has an area with reduced signal permeability 202, 302 can be carried out when the sensor system 200, 300 is switched on and / or at freely selectable time intervals.

[0049] According to a fifteenth embodiment, the invention relates to a sensor system according to one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that a signal-permeable inner protective cover is provided between the sensor 102 and the signal-permeable cover 106, which preferably extends to the lateral inner walls of the housing cover, wherein the deflection device is particularly preferably located between the inner protective cover and the sensor 102.

[0050] According to a sixteenth embodiment, the invention relates to a sensor system according to one of the preceding embodiments, characterized in that the signal-permeable cover 106 and / or the signal-permeable inner protective cover 302 are constructed from a transparent plastic or glass, wherein the transparent plastic is in particular selected from polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, polyethylene terephthalate, cellulose triacetate, amorphous polyamide, cycloolefin polymer, cycloolefin copolymer, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl alcohol or from mixtures or copolymers of these, wherein the transparent plastic is preferably polycarbonate or polymethyl methacrylate.

[0051] According to a seventeenth embodiment, the invention relates to a method for operating a sensor system 200, 300 for a motor vehicle comprising a sensor housing and an active or passive sensor 102 arranged therein with a sensor system based on radiation detection and a measuring device assigned to the sensor 102, wherein the sensor housing has, on its side located in the detection direction of the sensor 102, a cover 106 that is permeable to the sensor 102 and wherein the detection range of the sensor 102 in the region of the cover 106 that is permeable to the signal has a smaller extent than the cover 106 that is permeable to the signal, wherein the method is characterized in that the sensor 102 is assigned a movable deflection device 201 that is coupled to a control device for deflecting the radiation of the sensor 102, wherein the measuring device is used to checkwhether and in which section of the detection range of the sensor 102 the signal-permeable cover 106 has a region with reduced signal permeability 202, 302, and if a region with reduced signal permeability 202, 302 is detected, the position of the deflection device 201 is changed by means of the control device in such a way that the region with reduced signal permeability 202, 302 lies outside the detection range of the sensor 102, wherein the deflection device (201) is constructed from at least two deflection elements (201a, 201b, 301a, 301b) coupled to one another and the deflection device (201) or at least one of the deflection elements (201a, 201b, 301a, 301b) from a passive position outside the detection range of the sensor (102) to an active position in the detection range of the sensor (102) is movable.,

[0052] According to an eighteenth embodiment, the invention relates to a method according to embodiment 17, characterized in that a region with reduced signal permeability 202, 302 is defined in that in a contiguous area of ​​at least 1% of the detection range of the sensor 102 on the signal-permeable cover 106, an attenuation of the signal to be detected by the sensor of at least 5% occurs compared to the remaining area of ​​the signal-permeable cover 106 in the detection range of the sensor 102.

[0053] According to a nineteenth embodiment, the invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, which is equipped with at least one sensor system 200, 300 according to one of the embodiments 1 to 16.

[0054] The invention is described below with reference to Fign. 1 bis 3b explained in more detail. Fig. 1 a schematic sensor structure according to the state of the art; Fig. 2a / b a sensor according to the invention with a displaceable deflection device in two positions, (2a) disturbed sensor signal, (2b) undisturbed sensor signal after deflection of the signal by the deflection device and Fig. 3a / b a further embodiment according to the invention with spatially separated deflection units in two positions, (3a) disturbed sensor signal, (3b) undisturbed sensor signal after deflection of the signal by the deflection device.

[0055] In Fig. 1 A sensor system 101 for a motor vehicle is depicted schematically in a side sectional view. The sensor system 101 is a lidar sensor. The sensor system 101 comprises a sensor housing 110 and a sensor 102 arranged therein, comprising a transmitter 103 and a receiver 104 with a detection angle 107 defined by the detection range 108, 109. The sensor 102 is configured here as a laser sensor with time-of-flight measurement. A measuring device 105 for processing the sensor signals is assigned to the sensor 102. The sensor housing 110 has, on its side located in the detection direction of the sensor, a cover 106 that is permeable to the signals of the sensor 102.

[0056] In Fig. 2a 1 shows a sensor system 200 according to the invention. This system includes a horizontally movable deflection device 201 with two deflection devices 201a and 201b, with which the signal path of the sensor 102 can be changed as soon as signal-impairing damage 202 is detected on the signal-permeable polycarbonate cover 106, which impairs a first section 203a of the detection range of the sensor 102, so that the sensor 102 can only send or receive signals in a second section. The deflection device 201 is located in a passive position here, i.e., outside the radiation and reception range of the sensor 102.

[0057] In Fig. 2b the sensor system 200 is made of Fig. 2a shown after the deflection device 201 has been moved horizontally into such an area that the signal path 203b of the sensor 102 is guided past the damage 202, so that the sensor 102 is again functional over its entire detection angle.

[0058] Fign. 3a und 3b show a further embodiment of a sensor system 300 according to the invention. The essential difference is that the sensor system 300 shown here is equipped with a spatially separated deflection device, which has a movable first deflection element 301a and a stationary second deflection element 301b attached to the inside of the signal-permeable cover 106. The first 301a and second deflection element 301b thus jointly form the deflection device. Fig. 3a the first deflection element 301a is in a passive position, ie outside the radiation and reception range of the sensor 102. The signal path 303a of the sensor 102 is disturbed here by a signal-impairing damage 302.

[0059] In Fig. 3b the movable first deflection element 301a was moved from its passive into an active position, i.e. into the signal path of the sensor 102. This sets up a new signal path 303b so that the signal is guided past the signal-impairing damage 302 via the movable first deflection element 301a and the stationary second deflection element 301b. Bezugszeichenliste:

[0060] 101Sensor system (state of the art) 102Sensor 103Transmitter 104Receiver 105Measuring device 106Signal-permeable cover 107Detection angle 108Detection range 109Detection range 110Sensor housing 200Sensor system (invention) 201Horizontally movable deflection device 201aFirst deflection element 201bSecond deflection element 202Signal-impairing damage 203aDisturbed signal path 203bDisturbed signal path 300Sensor system (invention) 301aFirst, movable deflection element 301bSecond, stationary deflection element 302Signal-impairing damage 303aDisturbed signal path 303bDisturbed signal path

Claims

1. Sensor system (200, 300) for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising a sensor housing and an active or passive sensor (102) arranged therein with sensor technology based on radiation detection and a measuring device assigned to the sensor (102), wherein the sensor housing has a cover (106), which is signal-transmissive for the sensor (102), on its side located in the detection direction of the sensor (102) and wherein the detection area of the sensor (102) in the area of the signal-transmissive cover (106) has a smaller extent than the signal-transmissive cover (106), wherein the sensor (102) is assigned a movable deflection device (201) coupled to a control device for deflection of the radiation of the sensor (102), wherein the measuring device is designed in such a way that it is suitable to check in the detection area of the sensor (102) whether and in which section the signal-transmissive cover (106) has an area with reduced signal transmissivity (202, 302), wherein the measuring device cooperates with the control device of the deflection device (201) in such a way that the control device can change the position of the deflection device (201) in such a way that the area with reduced signal transmissivity (202, 302) is outside the detection area of the sensor (102), wherein the deflection device (201) is composed of at least two coupled deflection elements (201a, 201b, 301a, 301b), characterized in that the deflection device (201) or at least one of the deflection elements (201a, 201b, 301a, 301b) can be moved from a passive position outside the detection area of the sensor (102) to an active position within the detection area of the sensor (102).

2. Sensor system according to Claim 1, characterized in that the sensor (102) is selected from radar sensors, light sensors, in particular lidar sensors based on lasers or light-emitting diodes and image acquisition sensors.

3. Sensor system according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sensor (102) has a transmitting device and a separate receiving device.

4. Sensor system according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the deflection device (201) is designed to be movable in all spatial directions.

5. Sensor system according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the deflection device (201) is assigned at least one electric motor, a piezoelectric element, or a hydraulic element for the movement thereof.

6. Sensor system according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the deflection device (201) is fixed to the sensor housing, in particular between the signal-transmissive cover (106) and the sensor (102).

7. Sensor system according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the deflection device (201) comprises at least one mirror, a prism, a compensation plate, a wedge window, a step lens, a blaze grating, a diffractive optical element, a holographic-optical element, or combinations thereof.

8. Sensor system according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the at least two coupled deflection elements (201a, 201b, 301a, 301b) are designed to be jointly or separately movable by the control device or at least one of the deflection elements (201a, 201b, 301a, 301b) is fixedly arranged in the sensor system.

9. Sensor system according to Claim 8, characterized in that the at least two coupled deflection elements (201a, 201b, 301a, 301b) can only be moved jointly by the control device and at least one of the deflection elements (201a, 201b, 301a, 301b) is fixedly arranged in the sensor system, wherein the fixed deflection element (301b) is attached to the inside of the signal-transmissive cover (106).

10. Sensor system according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the check of whether and in which section the signal-transmissive cover (106) has an area with reduced signal transmissivity (202, 302) can be carried out by means of a computing unit assigned to the measuring device, wherein the computing unit can in particular be operated with a data processing program, by means of which the check of whether and in which section the signal-transmissive cover (106) has an area with reduced signal transmissivity (202, 302) is carried out by differential image detection using the same sensor (102) or different sensors, wherein sensor fusion is preferably used when using different sensors.

11. Sensor system according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the measuring device and the control device are positioned independently of each other inside or outside the sensor housing.

12. Sensor system according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the measuring device is designed in such a way that it can output an error signal in the event that the position of the deflection device (201) cannot be changed in such a way that the area with reduced signal transmissivity (202, 302) is outside the detection area of the sensor (102).

13. Sensor system according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the sensor system (200, 300) is designed in such a way that the check of whether and in which section the signal-transmissive cover (106) has an area with reduced signal transmissivity (202, 302) can be carried out when switching on the sensor system (200, 300) and / or at freely selectable time intervals.

14. Sensor system according to any one of the above claims, characterized in that the signal-transmissive cover (106) is constructed of a transparent plastic or glass, wherein the transparent plastic is in particular selected from polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate, polyethylene terephthalate, cellulose triacetate, amorphous polyamide, cycloolefin polymer, cycloolefin copolymer, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl alcohol or from mixtures or copolymers of these, wherein the transparent plastic is preferably polycarbonate or polymethyl methacrylate.

15. Method for operating a sensor system (200, 300) for a motor vehicle comprising a sensor housing and an active or passive sensor (102) arranged therein with sensor technology based on radiation detection and a measuring device assigned to the sensor (102), wherein the sensor housing has a cover (106), which is signal-transmissive for the sensor (102), on its side located in the detection direction of the sensor (102) and wherein the detection area of the sensor (102) in the area of the signal-transmissive cover (106) has a smaller extent than the signal-transmissive cover (106) , wherein a movable deflection device (201) coupled to a control device is assigned to the sensor (102) for deflection of the radiation of the sensor (102), wherein the measuring device is used to check whether and in which section of the detection area of the sensor (102) the signal-transmissive cover (106) has an area with reduced signal transmissivity (202, 302), and if an area with reduced signal transmissivity (202, 302) is detected, the position of the deflection device (201) is changed by means of the control device in such a way that the area with reduced signal transmissivity (202, 302) is outside the detection area of the sensor (102), wherein the deflection device (201) is composed of at least two coupled deflection elements (201a, 201b, 301a, 301b), characterized in that the deflection device (201) or at least one of the deflection elements (201a, 201b, 301a, 301b) can be moved from a passive position outside the detection area of the sensor (102) to an active position within the detection area of the sensor (102).

16. Method according to Claim 15, characterized in that an area with reduced signal transmissivity (202, 302) is defined in that attenuation of the signal to be detected by the sensor system of at least 5% occurs in a contiguous area of at least 1% of the detection area of the sensor (102) on the signal-transmissive cover (106) compared to the remaining area of the signal-transmissive cover (106) in the detection area of the sensor (102).

17. Vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, which is equipped with at least one sensor system (200, 300) according to any one of Claims 1 to 14.