Vehicle system for performing a service function via a vehicle cleaning device

Abstract

Title: Vehicle system for performing a service function by means of a vehicle cleaning device. A vehicle system for performing a service function by means of a cleaning device (10) of a vehicle comprising an operating unit (20), and the cleaning device (10), wherein the operating unit (20) is designed so that, in a vehicle ignition-off state, in response to the occurrence of a predefined event, a service function of the cleaning device (10) corresponding to the event is activated; the service function provides for cleaning a component (30) of the vehicle and / or setting a predefined position (40) of a cleaning element (15) of the cleaning device (10) that is different from a rest position (45) of the cleaning element; and the cleaning device (10) is designed to perform the service function actuated by the operating unit (20). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Vehicle system for performing a service function by means of a vehicle cleaning device. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle system for performing a service function with a vehicle cleaning device. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] According to the prior art, vehicle cleaning devices are known such as, for example, windshield wipers and / or cleaning nozzles for cleaning windows and headlights or other vehicle equipment.

[0003] Cleaning nozzles installed on a mobile telescopic arm, automatically retracted in the rest state, for example, into a part of the vehicle body to, among other things, reduce wind resistance of vehicle traffic and / or avoid damaging the cleaning nozzles when they are at rest.

[0004] Such cleaning devices are coupled according to the prior art to an operating state of the vehicle in which the ignition (also called terminal 15) or a corresponding state of the vehicle is activated.

[0005] DESCRIPTION AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention relates to a vehicle system for performing a service function by means of a vehicle cleaning device, for example, a road vehicle (motorcycle, passenger vehicle, transporter, truck) or a railway vehicle or an aircraft / plane and / or a water vehicle.

[0007] In other words, the invention relates to a vehicle system for performing a service function by means of a vehicle cleaning device comprising: an operating unit and the cleaning device, in which the operating unit is designed to activate, if the vehicle's ignition state is not activated, in response to the arrival of a predefined event, a service function of the cleaning device corresponding to the event, the service function provides for the cleaning of a vehicle component and / or the setting of a predefined position of a cleaning element of the cleaning device which is different from a rest position of the cleaning element and, the cleaning device performs the service function activated by the operating unit.

[0008] In other words, the vehicle system has an operating unit and a cleaning device; the operating unit is, for example, in the form of a system such as: ASIC, FPGA, processor, digital signal processor, microcontroller or other and forming part of an existing control unit and / or a vehicle-independent control unit. For example, the operating unit may be part of the cleaning device and / or be in the form of a main control unit. The functionality according to the invention, applied by the operating unit, is correspondingly a computer program product applied by the operating unit and / or an electronic circuit.

[0009] The scope of application of the cleaning device is not fundamentally limited to the cleaning of specific components of the vehicle; preferably, the cleaning device is suitable for cleaning vehicle components and the description will present advantageous developments of the invention.

[0010] In the vehicle's ignition-off state, the operating unit responds to a predefined event by activating a service function corresponding to the event for the cleaning device. This service function involves cleaning a vehicle component and / or setting a predefined position of a cleaning element of the cleaning device to a position different from the cleaning element's rest position. For this purpose, for example, a first predefined event is logically combined with the activation of the service function, while, for example, a second predefined event, different from the first predefined event, is logically combined with the activation of the cleaning function.Alternatively, or in addition, a single predefined event can activate both service functions (position adjustment and cleaning) and / or, for each service function, predefine a set of events that can activate different sub-functions within the respective service function.

[0011] The expression "ignition not activated" generally corresponds to two operating states of the vehicle in which the positive terminal of the battery supplying the vehicle's on-board network is cut off (this terminal is also called "terminal 15") and / or in which the vehicle's engine is not running and / or the vehicle is closed and / or the vehicle is parked.

[0012] To this end, the vehicle components according to the invention are advantageously permanently connected to the terminals of the battery supplying the vehicle's electrical system and / or are designed so that, when the vehicle's ignition is not activated, they can be powered, at least temporarily, by the battery's electrical energy. This latter case corresponds, for example, to a central vehicle control unit that is permanently powered and designed to connect the vehicle system according to the invention, based on events and preferably at regular intervals, to the battery. A permanent power supply to the vehicle system according to the invention is not essential under these conditions when the ignition is not activated.

[0013] It can also be envisaged that the vehicle driving system according to the invention or at least a part of the driving system (preferably at least the operating unit) is powered by a part of the on-board network designed to provide electrical energy, independently of the activated state of the vehicle's ignition.

[0014] For communication with a cleaning unit, the operating unit is preferably connected to the unit via the vehicle's on-board network by means of an information transmission link. The information transmission link or information technology can be implemented wirelessly and / or preferably wired, and even more preferably, based on a vehicle bus system (e.g., CAN, LIN, MOST, Ethernet, or other).

[0015] The events respectively predefined and whose arrival causes the operating unit to activate the respective service function of the cleaning device, are, in principle, not limited and can be events internal to the vehicle and / or external to the vehicle and which, in the following description, are described as advantageous developments of the present invention.

[0016] Finally, the cleaning device is designed to perform the service function activated by the operating unit.

[0017] The vehicle system according to the invention has, in particular, the advantage of being able to perform one or more service functions, even when the vehicle ignition is not activated, which guarantees, for example, the permanent availability of the vehicle or allows it to be restored more quickly by cleaning the dirt from the vehicle components to be cleaned even when the vehicle is stored (regular cleaning).

[0018] Furthermore, setting the predefined position, which differs from the rest position of the cleaning element, is possible when the ignition is not activated. This means that, for example, when using an event external to the vehicle, it is not necessary to open the vehicle or operate an internal vehicle control (e.g., unlocking the steering wheel or other) to reach the predefined position. The predefined position may, in particular, be a position in which servicing (e.g., checking and / or replacing and / or cleaning) of the cleaning element of the cleaning device is permitted or at least facilitated.

[0019] Furthermore, it is advantageously possible to perform repeated automatic cleaning of the surface to be cleaned even when the vehicle ignition is not activated, but the vehicle user is in the vehicle (for example, in the event of precipitation in an open-air cinema or other).

[0020] The advantages of the invention developed above also make it possible to improve the comfort of the vehicle user.

[0021] In particular, in a case where the supply of electrical energy to the vehicle system according to the invention is ensured when the vehicle ignition is switched off, by a purely software adaptation of the vehicle components, the functionality according to the invention can be applied in a particularly economical way by adapting the programs already equipping the vehicle.

[0022] According to an advantageous development of the invention, the cleaning device comprises a vehicle wiper system and, in particular, a wiper system for a window and / or headlight of the vehicle, the wiper system preferably having at least one wiper arm which is driven by an actuator (for example, a wiper motor) to pass over the window and / or headlight of the vehicle. The window is, for example, the windshield, the rear window, or a side window of the vehicle. The cleaning element is, in this case, a wiper blade of the wiper system fitted to the wiper arm.The preset position which is set with the service function is a wiper blade position which allows the wiper blade to be replaced and which is in particular a wiper blade position at an angle of 20° to 80°, preferably an angle of 30° to 70° and even more preferably an angle of 40° to 60° relative to the wiper blade's rest position.

[0023] The rest position preferably corresponds to the essentially horizontal orientation of the wiper blade in which the wiper blade is usually level with the lower edge of the vehicle surface to be cleaned (e.g., the windshield). The predefined position corresponds to a service function for the maintenance and / or repair and / or inspection of the cleaning element. Alternatively or in addition, the predefined position that is set with the service function is a wiper blade position in which precipitation falling on the vehicle component to be cleaned is not retained by the wiper blade; this position corresponds in particular to the wiper blade being at an angle of between 80° and 100° relative to the wiper blade's rest position.This position is advantageous, for example, if the vehicle is parked and exposed to snowfall, so that the almost vertical orientation of the wiper arm allows the snow that falls on the vehicle component to be cleaned to slide more easily downwards, making it easy to clean the surface before driving.

[0024] According to another advantageous development of the invention, the cleaning device has a windshield washer fluid distribution unit for the vehicle, in particular a windshield washer fluid distribution unit on the windshield and / or a headlight of the vehicle. The windshield to be cleaned with the windshield washer fluid distribution unit of the vehicle is, by For example, as already mentioned above, the windshield, rear window or a side window of the vehicle.

[0025] The windshield washer fluid (or washer water) distribution unit advantageously comprises at least one pump and at least one cleaning nozzle. The pump is designed to transfer windshield washer fluid from a pressurized reservoir to the cleaning nozzle in response to a command, thereby distributing the washer fluid onto the vehicle component to be cleaned. Furthermore, the cleaning device may include a telescopic arm designed to guide the cleaning nozzle, during a cleaning operation, into a predefined cleaning position (for example, in front of a headlight) and then retract the cleaning nozzle into a resting position, for example, under the vehicle surface. For cleaning and / or maintenance of the cleaning nozzle, the cleaning element can be moved to a predefined position corresponding to the extended position of the telescopic arm, in which the cleaning nozzle is accessible.Such a windshield washer fluid distribution unit can be used in combination with the vehicle wiper system described above.

[0026] Advantageously, the vehicle cleaning system according to the invention further has a user interface, the operating unit being designed to provide, via the user interface, information concerning the soiling status (which represents, for example, a degree or type of soiling) of the component to be cleaned and / or instructions for using the service function and / or the vehicle and / or the result obtained with the service function and / or a fault function for the service function for the vehicle user. Thus, the user, in particular the vehicle driver, will be able to ensure, if necessary, that the vehicle component to be cleaned is manually cleaned, and to do so sufficiently in advance of the planned trip for the vehicle and / or to apply measures corresponding to the recommendations.

[0027] Preferably, the user interface is a display and / or a loudspeaker and / or a lighting system in the vehicle. Particularly preferably, the user interface is a portable mobile device belonging to the user, such as a smartphone and / or a tablet and / or a smartwatch or similar device, so that the vehicle user has access to the above information even outside the vehicle. For this purpose, the vehicle is preferably connected to the mobile device (e.g., via an internet connection) by a wireless communication link (e.g., a mobile radio link, a WLAN link, or similar). Furthermore, preferably, the mobile device has a dedicated application (mobile application program) through which the information will be, for example, sent as a push notification. Alternatively, or in addition, the information can be provided via a cloud service.In addition, as an alternative or supplement, it is also possible to. provide information via the vehicle user's home automation system in that the information is provided, for example, on a wall display in the user's home or elsewhere.

[0028] The operating unit is designed to activate the service function via the user interface and / or to enable user configuration. This does not explicitly preclude activation and / or configuration from being performed alternatively or in addition to another user interface different from the one described above. Other user interfaces include the vehicle's touchscreen display, a vehicle voice input system, and / or another mobile or other terminal. During configuration, parameters such as the expected operating time of the vehicle, the desired maneuver, the desired cleaning type, and / or the desired cleaning characteristic can be adjusted. Furthermore, intervals between cleanings, cleaning start times, and / or automatic cleaning operation can be set, for example.This method is particularly advantageous when taking into account information from vehicle sensors, such as those that determine the degree or nature of soiling on the components to be cleaned. For this purpose, for example, vehicle rain sensors, known according to the prior art, can be used. These are generally installed behind the windshield and directed towards the vehicle's surroundings. In addition, cameras, humidity sensors, or other similar devices can also be used.

[0029] The predefined event to activate the cleaning device corresponds, preferably, to an exceedance of a predefined temperature threshold by the outside temperature (for example, the freezing temperature of water) and / or the existing history and / or predefined times of use of the vehicle and / or a user input (for example, by an app) and / or the user approaching the vehicle and / or the unlocking and / or opening of the vehicle by the user and / or ongoing precipitation (which is determined, for example, by sensors and / or an external meteorological statement) and / or existing soiling of the vehicle component and / or the predefined unfolding of cyclic time intervals.According to one example, the predefined temperature threshold will be exceeded downwards by the outside temperature and a rain sensor on the vehicle will be able to detect precipitation, allowing, based on this information, the automatic cleaning to be initiated, for example, of the windshield or rear window of the vehicle with the respective cleaning system activated by the operating unit; thus, based on the outside temperature, a snowfall is preemptively addressed by cleaning the windows at predefined intervals and / or according to the amount of repeated precipitation.

[0030] According to another advantageous development of the invention, the operating unit performs the service function only if the state of charge and / or the voltage of the vehicle battery supplying the vehicle system is above a predefined threshold and / or if a predetermined availability of the cleaning system does not encounter any characteristic deterioration (e.g., blockage by frost and / or dirt) and / or the vehicle is outside an area protected from the weather (e.g., outside a garage and / or parking lot). This latter case is determined, for example, by the operating unit using the vehicle's environmental sensors and / or the vehicle's GPS location.

[0031] Furthermore, the operating unit is designed so that, in response to the arrival of the predefined event, it activates or deactivates the portion of the vehicle's on-board network associated with the cleaning device. This allows only a portion of the cleaning device according to the invention (i.e., at least the operating unit) to be continuously powered from the battery terminals, ensuring that the operating unit is always powered and thus enabling the cleaning device and / or the user interface to be activated on demand. Alternatively, the vehicle system according to the invention can be powered by a main component of the vehicle at least occasionally when the vehicle's ignition is not activated.

[0032] According to another advantageous development of the invention, the operating unit assists the cleaning of components depending on the nature and / or extent of the soiling and / or the anticipated time of vehicle use, by initiating and / or adapting and / or assisting the cleaning process with another vehicle component. The other component is, for example, a fixed heater and / or a window heater for the vehicle to at least partially remove frost and / or snow from the component to be cleaned. Brief description of the drawings

[0033] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0034] [Fig. 1] Diagram of a vehicle system according to the invention for performing a service function with a vehicle cleaning device, and

[0035] [Fig.2] Example of integration of the vehicle system according to the invention in the vehicle's embedded network architecture.

[0036] DESCRIPTION OF WAYS TO EMBODI THE INVENTION

[0037] Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a vehicle system according to the invention for performing a service function with a vehicle cleaning device 10.

[0038] The vehicle system includes an operating unit 20 in the form of an ASIC unit and which is connected by a computer link to the cleaning device 10, to an interface 50 in the form of a display, a wireless communication unit 90 based on mobile radio and a standby heater 120 of the vehicle.

[0039] The vehicle system according to the invention is electrically connected to a vehicle battery 100. This battery supplies the components of the vehicle system according to the invention via the vehicle's on-board network to provide electrical power. The operating unit 20 is further connected via a computer link to the battery management system (not shown) 110.

[0040] The cleaning device 10 here consists of a windshield wiper system 12 and a windshield washer fluid (or wash water) distribution unit 16 on the windshield 30 of the vehicle; the cleaning system 12 is driven by windshield wiper motors 14 and a windshield washer fluid distribution unit 16 with respective pumps (not shown).

[0041] In the vehicle's non-activated ignition state, the operating unit 20 enables the activation of a service function of the cleaning device 10 in response to the arrival of a predefined event; the service function is the cleaning of the vehicle's windshield 30 and / or the setting of a predefined service position 40 of the wiper blade 15 of the cleaning device 10, a position which is different from the rest position 45 of the wiper blade 15.

[0042] The predefined event is triggered here by the actuation of the active surface in an app on a Smartphone 100 belonging to the vehicle user, in that the Smartphone 100 transmits the actuation in the form of an activation signal via a mobile radio link to the vehicle's wireless communication unit 90. The wireless communication unit 90 transmits the activation signal to the operating unit 20.

[0043] To perform a cleaning, the cleaning unit 10 is designed to execute the service function activated by the operating unit 20 to clean the windshield 30 and transmit to the user, status information corresponding to the successful execution of the cleaning and / or information concerning a fault function that occurred during the cleaning, to the user's Smartphone 100. During the cleaning, the windshield wiper motors 14 of the wiper system 12 and the pumps of the windshield washer fluid distribution unit 16 are activated to wet the windshield 30 with the respective cleaning nozzles 18 of the windshield washer fluid distribution unit 16 that supply the fluid.

[0044] The operating unit 20 receives, via the wireless communication unit 90, the cleaning start time transmitted by the Smartphone 100 and / or receives the service function setting and automatically applies the service function when the start time is reached. In addition, the operating unit 20 is designed to receive Smartphone 100 and adjust the execution of the configuration parameters of the respective service functions of the cleaning device 10.

[0045] In addition, the operating unit 20 starts and / or adapts the cleaning of the windshield 30 according to the type and / or extent of soiling determined with sensors and / or the time planned for the use of the vehicle and / or to assist the cleaning by activating the standby heater 120 and / or a window heater not shown.

[0046] The operating unit further enables the service function to be executed only if the state of charge and voltage of the vehicle battery 110 supplying the vehicle system are above predefined thresholds and if the predetermined availability of the cleaning device 10 does not encounter any significant obstacle. Information concerning the state of charge and voltage is advantageously transmitted to the operating unit 20 via a computer link from the battery management system 110 connected to the operating unit 20.

[0047] Figure 2 shows an example of integrating the vehicle system according to the invention into the vehicle's on-board network architecture (not shown).

[0048] The central computer 60 of the vehicle which provides centralized control of the vehicle is connected by a wireless communication unit 90 of the vehicle, by a computer link to receive in the non-activation state of the vehicle ignition, by a wireless communication unit 90 of a signal generated outside the vehicle and which represents a predefined event to execute a service function by the cleaning device 10 ([Fig.1]) of the vehicle.

[0049] The operating unit 20 according to the invention is here part of the vehicle computer 60 and the operating unit 20 is designed so that in response to receiving the signal, it activates a zone control device 70 of the vehicle; the latter is itself designed to activate a pilot control device 90 intended to control a windshield wiper motor 14 of the vehicle's cleaning device 10.

[0050] The pilot control device 90 is also able, in response to a request by the operating unit 20, to perform a service function and to transmit information concerning the performance of the service function to the operating unit 20.

[0051] NOMENCLATURE OF MAIN ELEMENTS

[0052] 10 Cleaning device

[0053] 12 Windshield wiper system

[0054] 14 Windshield wiper motor

[0055] 15 Windshield wiper blade

[0056] 16 Windshield washer fluid distribution unit

[0057] 18 Cleaning nozzle

[0058]

[0059]

[0060]

[0061]

[0062]

[0063]

[0064]

[0065]

[0066]

[0067] 20 Operating Unit 30 Windscreen 40 Service Position 45 Wiper Blade Rest Position 50 User Interface 60 Vehicle Computer 90 Pilot Control Unit 100 Vehicle Battery / Smartphone 110 Vehicle Battery 120 Standby Heater

Claims

Claims

1. Vehicle system for performing a service function by a cleaning device (10) of a vehicle comprising: * an operating unit (20), and * the cleaning device (10), wherein * the operating unit (20) is designed to activate if the ignition state is not activated of the vehicle, in response to the occurrence of a predefined event, a service function of the cleaning device (10) corresponding to the event, - the service function provides for cleaning a component (30) of the vehicle and / or setting a predefined position (40) of a cleaning element (15) of the cleaning device (10) which is different from a rest position (45) of the cleaning element, and * the cleaning device (10) performs the service function activated by the operating unit (20).

2. Vehicle system according to claim 1, wherein * the cleaning device (10) comprises a wiping system (12) of the vehicle and in particular a wiping system (12) of a window (30), * the cleaning element is a wiper blade (15) of the wiping system (12), * the predefined position (40) adjustable by the service function is a position (40) of the wiper blade (15), ** which is suitable for replacing the wiper blade of the wiper blade (15) and which is in particular a position (40) in which the wiper blade (15) makes an angle of between 20° to 80°, preferably between 30° to 70° and even more preferably an angle of between 40° and 60° relative to the rest position (45) of the blade windshield wiper (15),** in which precipitation which arrives on the vehicle component (30) to be cleaned is not retained by the wiper blade (15) and which corresponds in particular to a position (40) in which the wiper blade (15) is at an angle of between 80° and 100° relative to the rest position (45) of the wiper blade (15).,

3. Vehicle system according to one of the preceding claims, in which the cleaning device (10) is a windshield washer fluid distribution unit (16) of the vehicle, in particular a windshield washer fluid distribution unit (16) for a window (30) and / or a headlight of the vehicle.

4. Vehicle system according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising: a user interface (50) by which the operating unit (20) indicates to the user of the vehicle: * information concerning the state of fouling of the component (30) to be cleaned, and / or * a handling recommendation for using the service function and / or the vehicle, and / or * the result of the applied service function, and / or * the fault function of the service function.

5. Vehicle system according to claim 4, wherein the user interface (50) is: * a display, and / or * a loudspeaker, and / or * a lighting system of the vehicle, and / or * a maneuvering element of the vehicle, and / or * a portable mobile terminal of the user (100), and / or * a cloud service, and / or * a home automation system.

6. Vehicle system according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the operating unit (20) is adapted to enable activation and / or configuration of the service function by the user with the user interface (50).

7. Vehicle system according to one of the preceding claims, in which the predefined event for activating the cleaning device (10) represents: * the outside temperature falling below a predefined temperature threshold, and / or * the times of use of the vehicle, determined, according to the previous and / or predefined history, and / or * a user input, and / or * the user approaching the vehicle, and / or * the lock being opened, and / or * the vehicle being opened by the user, and / or * precipitation in progress, and / or * soiling of the vehicle component (30), and / or * the respective end of the predefined cyclic time interval.

8. Vehicle system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating unit (20) is designed to perform the service function only if: * the state of charge and / or the voltage of the battery (110) of the vehicle for powering the vehicle system are above a predefined threshold, and / or * a previously determined availability of the cleaning system (10) not showing significant deterioration, and / or * the vehicle is outside a weather-protected area.

9. Vehicle system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in response to the occurrence of the predefined event, the operating unit (20) is designed to activate and deactivate at least one characteristic part of the cleaning device (10) of the on-board network of the vehicle.

10. Vehicle system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating unit (20) is designed to start and / or adapt and / or assist with another component (120) of the vehicle, the cleaning of the component (30) depending on the nature and / or extent of the soiling and / or a foreseeable time of use of the vehicle.

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