Vehicle with rain sensor
The vehicle rain detection system addresses the issue of driver distraction by automating wiper activation using an external rain detector with infrared capabilities, ensuring improved safety and windshield clarity in varying rain conditions.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2020002512
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2020-03-13
- Publication Date
- 2025-04-11
- Estimated Expiration
- 2040-03-13
AI Technical Summary
Existing vehicle rain detection systems require manual intervention by drivers to activate wipers, which can distract them from other critical driving tasks, especially in shared traffic areas with pedestrians and other vehicles.
A vehicle rain detection system that includes a rain detector placed outside the vehicle, preferably on the roof, which uses an optical detector with infrared capabilities to automatically activate and control the wipers based on rain intensity, offering both automatic and manual operation modes.
The system enhances driver safety by automating the wiper activation process, allowing drivers to focus on the road while ensuring the windshield remains clear of rain, regardless of rain intensity.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Vehicle with rain detection
[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle, in particular a railway vehicle, of the type comprising a driver's cab, said cab comprising a windshield, the vehicle comprising windshield wipers fitted to the windshield, the vehicle further comprising a device for activating the windshield wipers.
[0002] The invention applies particularly to vehicles intended to circulate in areas shared with other types of vehicles and / or with pedestrians, such as trams or buses.
[0003] The attention of tram drivers is particularly required during driving, in particular by the presence of other vehicles and / or pedestrians, as well as by signaling. It is therefore desirable to automate certain vehicle functions.
[0004] It is known, in particular from document CN104401297, to automate the triggering of the windshield wipers of a vehicle by means of a rain detector.
[0005] The present invention aims to improve existing devices. To this end, the invention relates to a vehicle of the aforementioned type, in which the activation device comprises a rain detector arranged outside said vehicle.
[0006] According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the vehicle comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in all technically possible combinations:
[0007] - the rain detector is located on the roof of the vehicle;
[0008] - the vehicle is a railway vehicle comprising a power car, the detector rain being placed on the roof of said motor car;
[0009] - the rain detector is capable of detecting the presence of water drops on a external surface of said detector;
[0010] - the rain detector is an optical detector;
[0011] - the rain detector comprises a transmitter capable of emitting radiation infrared and a receiver housed in a convex lens;
[0012] - the rain detector is capable of detecting whether a quantity of water on its external surface is lower or higher than a specific threshold;
[0013] - the activation device comprises a member for selecting between: a mode automatic, in which the windshield wipers are activated if the detector detects the presence of rain; and at least one manual mode corresponding to continuous or intermittent operation of the windshield wipers.
[0014] The invention further relates to a method of operating a vehicle as described above, comprising the following steps: the activation device being in automatic mode, the windshield wipers start operating when the detector detects the presence of rain; then the windshield wipers stop operating when the detector no longer detects the presence of rain.
[0015] The invention further relates to a method of operating a vehicle as described above, such that, the activation device being in automatic mode, the windshield wipers are put into operation at a first speed when the detector detects a presence of rain lower than the determined threshold; and the windshield wipers are put into operation at a second speed, higher than the first speed, when the detector detects a presence of rain higher than the determined threshold.
[0016] The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the drawing in which:
[0017] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] is a schematic view of a railway vehicle according to a mode of realization of the invention.
[0018] [Fig. 1] represents a vehicle 10 according to one embodiment of the invention. The vehicle 10 is for example a railway vehicle, in particular a tram, intended to circulate in areas shared with other types of vehicles and / or with pedestrians. For example, said railway vehicle comprises a motor car. Optionally, the railway vehicle further comprises one or more non-motor cars, connected to said motor car.
[0019] Alternatively, the vehicle 10 is a road vehicle, in particular a bus.
[0020] The vehicle 10 comprises a driving cabin 12, located at the front of said vehicle. In the case where the vehicle 10 is a railway vehicle comprising a driving car, the driving cabin 12 is preferably located in said driving car.
[0021] The cabin 12 comprises a windshield 14, in order to allow a driver to view an environment of the vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 comprises windshield wipers 16 equipping the windshield 14 and capable of clearing said windshield in the event of rain.
[0022] The vehicle 10 further comprises a device 20 for activating the windshield wipers 16.
[0023] The activation device 20 comprises a rain detector 22 and a module 24 control electronics.
[0024] The detector 22 is arranged outside the vehicle 10, for example at the level of a roof 26 of said vehicle. In the case where the vehicle 10 is a railway vehicle comprising a motor car, the detector 22 is preferably arranged outside said motor car, for example near the traction box.
[0025] The detector 22 is capable of detecting the presence of water drops on an external surface 28 of said detector.
[0026] Preferably, the detector 22 is an optical detector.
[0027] The detector 22 comprises, for example, an emitter and a receiver of an infrared ray, housed in a convex lens. By modifying the refractive index of the external medium, the presence of water drops on the lens induces a loss of radiation between the emitter and the receiver.
[0028] The electronic control module 24 is connected to the rain detector 22 and to the windshield wipers 16. The electronic module 24 stores a program 30 capable of triggering operation of the windshield wipers 16 when the detector 22 detects the presence of water drops on its external surface 28.
[0029] According to one embodiment of the invention, the activation device 20 comprises a member for selecting between several operating modes, for example an automatic mode 32 and one or more manual modes 34, 36, 38.
[0030] The selection member is for example a control box 40, connected to the electronic module 24. The box 40, shown schematically in [Fig.l], is preferably located in the driver's cab 12 so as to be actuated by the driver of the vehicle 10.
[0031] When the automatic mode 32 is selected by the driver, the program 30 triggers operation of the windshield wipers 16 if the detector 22 detects the presence of water drops on its external surface 28. A speed of the windshield wipers 16 is managed by the program 30, without intervention from the driver.
[0032] Preferably, the detector 22 is capable of detecting whether a quantity of water on its external surface 28 is less than or greater than a determined threshold. For example, for the detector 22 described above, such a threshold corresponds to a determined level of radiation loss between the transmitter and the receiver.
[0033] In this case, the program 30 associates a first low speed with a quantity of water lower than said threshold, and a second higher speed with a quantity of water higher than said threshold.
[0034] Similarly, the program 30 commands a stopping of the windshield wipers 16 if the detector 22 no longer detects the presence of water on its external surface 28.
[0035] The activation device 20 comprises for example a first 34 and a second 36 manual modes. Each of said modes corresponds to an operation of the windshield wipers 16, intermittent or continuous. For each of said first 34 and second 36 modes, a frequency and / or a speed of the windshield wipers 16 is managed by the program 30.
[0036] The activation device 20 comprises for example a third manual mode 38, corresponding to a deactivation of the windshield wipers 16.
[0037] According to an embodiment not shown, the activation device 20 comprises a greater number of operating modes, in particular manual modes 34, 36 associated with different frequencies and / or speeds of the windshield wipers 16.
[0038] When the driver of the vehicle 10 selects the automatic mode 32, the windshield wipers 16 are triggered automatically in the event of rain, that is to say as soon as the detector 22 detects the presence of water drops. The driver therefore does not have to worry about starting the windshield wipers, which allows him to concentrate on his driving.
Claims
Claims
1. Vehicle (10) comprising a driver's cab (12), said cab comprising a windshield (14), the vehicle comprising windshield wipers (16) fitted to the windshield, the vehicle further comprising a device (20) for activating the windshield wipers, the activation device comprising a rain detector (22) arranged outside the vehicle; the vehicle being a railway vehicle comprising a motor car, the rain detector (22) being arranged on the roof (26) of said motor car.
2. Vehicle according to claim 1, in which the rain detector (22) is capable of detecting a presence of water drops on an external surface (28) of said detector.
3. A vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rain detector (22) is an optical detector.
4. Vehicle according to claim 3, in which the rain detector (22) comprises an emitter capable of emitting infrared radiation and a receiver housed in a convex lens.
5. Vehicle according to one of claims 2 to 4, in which the rain detector (22) is capable of detecting whether a quantity of water on its external surface (28) is less than or greater than a determined threshold.
6. Vehicle according to one of the preceding claims, in which the activation device (20) comprises a member (40) for selecting between: an automatic mode, in which the windscreen wipers (16) are put into operation if the detector (22) detects the presence of rain; and at least one manual mode (34, 36) corresponding to continuous or intermittent operation of the windscreen wipers.
7. Method of operating a vehicle (10) according to claim 6, comprising the following steps: the activation device (20) being in automatic mode, starting the windshield wipers (16) when the detector (22) detects the presence of rain; then stopping the operation of the windshield wipers when the detector no longer detects the presence of rain.
8. A method of operating a vehicle (10) according to claim 6 taken in combination with claim 5, such that, the activation device (20) being in automatic mode, the windshield wipers (16) are operated at a first speed when the detector (22) detects a presence of rain below the determined threshold; and the windshield wipers are put into operation at a second speed, higher than the first speed, when the detector detects a presence of rain above the determined threshold.