Device for assisting the operation of a sunroof.

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for assisting in the control of a sunroof of a motor vehicle, the device (1) comprising collection means designed to obtain at least a first piece of information relating to the external environment of the vehicle equipped with the device (1) and at least a second piece of information relating to the environment of the passenger compartment of the vehicle, the device (1) further comprising calculation means designed to determine, from each first and second piece of information, a recommended configuration, from among a plurality of possible configurations, for the configuration of a sunroof equipping the vehicle, the recommended configuration making it possible to maintain at least one predetermined parameter of the air in the passenger compartment within a chosen interval, the device having a display interface (2) designed to display the recommended configuration.The invention also relates to a method for determining a recommended configuration implementing the device (1). (Figure 1).

Description

Title of the invention: Device for assisting the operation of a sunroof.

[0001] The technical field relates to devices for assisting a vehicle passenger in operating a sunroof, methods implementing such a device and motor vehicles equipped with such a device and implementing such a method.

[0002] Car manufacturers take great care to improve the comfort of their vehicles' passengers. In addition, for car manufacturers, the quality of the finish of their vehicles, their aesthetic aspects and the features offered are essential to stand out from other brands. Among the comfort elements, the sunroof is particularly popular with customers. Indeed, opening the sunroof generally provides additional comfort to the vehicle's occupants. However, depending on the conditions outside the vehicle and particularly in hot climates, there are cases where opening the sunroof can have the opposite effect, i.e. be unpleasant by causing a change in the temperature and / or humidity of the air in the passenger compartment.

[0003] The conditions likely to cause discomfort when opening the sunroof are difficult for a vehicle passenger to determine. Furthermore, even when the vehicle driver is able to determine whether the external conditions are suitable for opening the sunroof, this generally requires increased attention from the driver, who must actually calculate at least the temperature difference between the inside and the outside of the passenger compartment. Thus, there is a risk of distracting the vehicle driver, especially when the external conditions change frequently during a journey.

[0004] Thus, there is a need for a solution to assist the driver in deciding to open a sunroof.

[0005] The present invention aims to overcome the problems set out above. In this technical context, one aim of the present invention is to provide an assistance device enabling the implementation of an assistance method enabling the driver to decide whether or not to open a sunroof.

[0006] To this end, the present invention relates to a device for assisting in the operation of a sunroof of a motor vehicle, the device comprising collection means designed to obtain at least a first piece of information relating to the external environment of the vehicle equipped with the device and at least a second piece of information relating to the environment of the passenger compartment of the vehicle, the device further comprising calculation means designed to determine, from each first and second information, a recommended configuration, from a plurality of possible configurations, for the configuration of a sunroof fitted to the vehicle, the recommended configuration making it possible to maintain at least one predetermined parameter of the air in the passenger compartment within a chosen interval, the device having a display interface designed to display the recommended configuration.

[0007] The invention also relates to a method for determining a recommended configuration for a configuration of a sunroof, the method implementing a device according to the invention, the method comprising a first step consisting of implementing the collection means to obtain at least one first piece of information relating to the external environment of the vehicle equipped with the device and at least one second piece of information relating to the environment in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, the method comprising a second step consisting of implementing the calculation means to determine, from each first and second piece of information, at least one recommended configuration for the configuration of a sunroof equipping the vehicle, the method comprising a third step consisting of implementing the display interface to display the recommended configuration determined in the second step.

[0008] The invention finally relates to a motor vehicle equipped with a sunroof having at least two possible configurations, chosen between at least one open configuration, in which the sunroof is at least partly open, and a closed configuration, in which the sunroof is closed, the vehicle further comprising an assistance device according to the invention designed to implement a determination method according to the invention in order to determine and display a recommended configuration for the configuration of the sunroof.

[0009] Thus, the device according to the invention makes it possible to implement the method according to the invention in order to formulate a recommended configuration for the sunroof and display it, to assist the driver in his decision whether or not to open the sunroof. Indeed, the device and the method analyze the environment outside the vehicle and the air inside the vehicle to determine the consequences of opening the sunroof on at least one predetermined parameter, each predetermined parameter being chosen to be decisive for the feeling of comfort of the driver and passengers. Indeed, maintaining each predetermined parameter within the chosen interval ensures that the feeling of comfort is maintained. When the recommended configuration is determined, the display interface makes it possible to indicate this recommendation to the driver and passengers.This makes it easier for the driver or passenger to open the sunroof, as they are informed of the possible consequences for the vehicle. comfort in the cabin.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, a predetermined parameter of the cabin air is the temperature of the cabin air and / or the humidity of the cabin air.

[0011] According to one possibility, the device further comprises at least one control designed to modify the configuration of the sunroof.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the collection means are designed to obtain at least a first and / or a second piece of information using an internet connection.

[0013] According to one possibility of the device, a first piece of information is the temperature of the air outside the vehicle and a second piece of information is the temperature of the air inside the vehicle, the calculation means comparing these first and second pieces of information.

[0014] Advantageously, the collection means are designed to determine or obtain a cloud cover index of the environment outside the vehicle.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the display interface comprises at least one light-emitting diode, preferably a diode capable of displaying at least two colors.

[0016] According to a possibility of the device, the chosen interval can be modified by a user of the vehicle.

[0017] The invention will be better understood on reading the detailed description which follows, given solely as a non-limiting example and made with reference to the appended drawing in which:

[0018] [Fig-1] [Fig.l] represents a perspective view of an assistance device according to the invention.

[0019] A driving assistance device 1 according to the invention, partially shown diagrammatically in [Fig.l], is designed to provide the passenger of a vehicle with assistance in driving a sunroof, not shown, of a motor vehicle. The sunroof of the vehicle according to the invention comprises at least two possible configurations, chosen between at least one open configuration, in which the sunroof is at least partly open, and a closed configuration, in which the sunroof is closed. The device 1 equipping the vehicle implements a method according to the invention to provide a recommended configuration to the driver or passengers.

[0020] The device 1 comprises collection means, not illustrated, designed to obtain at least a first piece of information relating to the external environment of the vehicle equipped with the device 1. The collection means are designed to collect information and / or receive information from a system of the vehicle. Each first piece of information is, for example, a temperature of the air outside the vehicle, a relative humidity of the air outside the vehicle, sunshine, measured by for example, by light intensity, or a cloud cover index. The cloud cover index is, for example, expressed in okta, one okta corresponding to a sky in which 1 / 8 of the visible surface is occupied by clouds. Thus, a perfectly clear sky is indicated by the value of 0 okta, while a completely overcast sky is estimated at 8 oktas. By definition, the sky is said to be "clear" if the cloud cover index is 0 okta. The sky is said to be "slightly cloudy" if the cloud cover index is 1 or 2 oktas. The sky is said to be "partly cloudy" if the cloud cover index is 3 or 4 oktas. The sky is said to be "cloudy" if the cloud cover index is between 5 and 7 oktas. Finally, the sky is said to be "overcast" if the cloud cover index is 8 oktas. Other initial information is possible, such as, for example, the presence of precipitation.

[0021] The collection means are also designed to obtain at least a second piece of information relating to the environment of the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Each second piece of information is, for example, the temperature of the air inside the vehicle, the relative humidity of the air inside the vehicle. Other second pieces of information are also conceivable, such as the operating level of the air conditioning system or the power of the ventilation blower.

[0022] The collecting means comprise, for example, a plurality of sensors designed to be installed outside and / or inside the vehicle.

[0023] In particular, the collection means are designed to obtain at least a first and / or a second piece of information using an internet connection. Thus, first pieces of information of a meteorological nature can be obtained in real time.

[0024] The device 1 further comprises calculation means, not illustrated, designed to determine, from each first and second information, a recommended configuration, from among the plurality of possible configurations, for the configuration of the sunroof equipping the vehicle, the recommended configuration making it possible to maintain at least one predetermined parameter of the air in the passenger compartment within a chosen interval. Advantageously, a predetermined parameter of the air in the passenger compartment is the temperature of the air in the passenger compartment and / or the humidity of the air in the passenger compartment. When the predetermined parameter is the temperature of the air inside the vehicle, the chosen interval is, for example, an interval of plus or minus 3°C. Advantageously, the chosen interval can be modified by a user of the vehicle.

[0025] Finally, the device 1 has a display interface 2 designed to display the recommended configuration.

[0026] In a particular embodiment of the assistance device 1 according to the invention, a first piece of information is the temperature of the air outside the vehicle, a second piece of information is the temperature of the air inside the vehicle, the calculation means then being configured to compare these first and second pieces of information.

[0027] In the embodiment illustrated in the figure, the device 1 further comprises at least one control 3 designed to modify the configuration of the sunroof. Such a control 3 has, in a conventional manner, two control buttons 4 allowing, for example, the opening of the sunroof to be controlled by sliding and another by tilting the latter.

[0028] Advantageously, the display interface 2 is placed next to the control 3.

[0029] Advantageously, the calculation means determine a recommended configuration chosen from three possible recommended configurations. A first recommended configuration corresponds, for example, to an indication that it is possible to place the sunroof in an open configuration and that the predetermined parameter will be maintained within the chosen interval. A second recommended configuration is, for example, an indication that it is possible to place the sunroof in an open configuration but that such an open configuration will impact the predetermined parameter, which will be likely to be modified beyond the chosen interval. Finally, a third recommended configuration corresponds to a closed configuration, any opening of the sunroof causing a change in the predetermined parameter outside the chosen interval.

[0030] In order to display the recommendation, the display interface 2 advantageously comprises at least one light-emitting diode 5, preferably a diode 5 capable of displaying at least two colors. For example, such a display interface 2 presents the recommended configuration in three colors: a green color for the first recommended configuration, an orange color for the second recommended configuration and finally a red color for the third recommended configuration.

[0031] The assistance device 1 allows the implementation of the method according to the invention. The method comprises a first step consisting of implementing the collection means to obtain at least a first piece of information relating to the external environment of the vehicle equipped with the device 1 and at least a second piece of information relating to the environment in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. In this case, the first pieces of information collected are the cloud cover index and the air temperature outside the vehicle. The second piece of information collected is the air temperature inside the vehicle.

[0032] The method comprises a second step consisting of implementing the calculation means to determine, from each first and second information, at least one recommended configuration for the configuration of the sunroof equipping the vehicle in order to maintain at least one predetermined parameter of the air in the passenger compartment, in this case the temperature of the air inside the vehicle, within a chosen interval, in this case plus or minus 3°C.

[0033] In the example described, the calculation means compare the air temperature inside the vehicle and the air temperature outside the vehicle. If the difference between these two temperatures is less than 3°C, that is to say that the predetermined parameter is in the chosen interval, then the recommended configuration corresponds to the first recommended configuration. If the difference between the two temperatures is greater than the chosen interval, then the calculation means use another first piece of information corresponding to the cloud cover index of the environment of the vehicle.

[0034] In a first case, the air temperature inside the vehicle is more than 3°C higher than the air outside the vehicle. In the first case, if the cloud cover index is between 0 and 2 oktas, the recommended configuration corresponds to the first configuration. In the first case, if the cloud cover index is between 3 and 7 oktas, the recommended configuration corresponds to the second configuration. In the first case, if the cloud cover index is 8 oktas, the recommended configuration corresponds to the third configuration.

[0035] In a second case, the air temperature inside the vehicle is more than 3°C lower than the air outside the vehicle. In the second case, if the cloud cover index is between 0 and 2 oktas, the recommended configuration corresponds to the third configuration. In the second case, if the cloud cover index is between 3 and 7 oktas, the recommended configuration corresponds to the second configuration. In the second case, if the cloud cover index is 8 oktas, the recommended configuration corresponds to the first configuration.

[0036] The method comprises a third step of implementing the display interface 2 to display the recommended configuration determined in the second step. In this case, the diode 5 is lit with the corresponding color defined previously.

[0037] Thus, the device 1 makes it possible to implement the method according to the invention in order to formulate a recommended configuration for the sunroof and display it to assist the driver in his decision whether or not to open the sunroof. Indeed, the device 1 and the method analyze the environment outside the vehicle and the air inside the vehicle to determine the consequences of opening the sunroof on at least one predetermined parameter, each predetermined parameter being chosen to be decisive for the feeling of comfort of the driver and passengers. When the recommended configuration is determined, the display interface 2 makes it possible to indicate this recommendation to the driver and passengers. Thus, the decision by the driver or a passenger to open the sunroof is facilitated by the device 1 since the latter is informed of the possible consequences on the comfort in the passenger compartment.

[0038] The invention is not limited to the embodiment of the assistance device described above, only by way of example, but other embodiments can be designed by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and scope of the present invention.

Claims

Claims

1. Device (1) for assisting in the control of a sunroof of a motor vehicle, the device (1) comprising collection means designed to obtain at least a first piece of information relating to the external environment of the vehicle equipped with the device (1) and at least a second piece of information relating to the environment of the passenger compartment of the vehicle, the device (1) further comprising calculation means designed to determine, from each first and second piece of information, a recommended configuration, from among a plurality of possible configurations, for the configuration of a sunroof equipping the vehicle, the recommended configuration making it possible to maintain at least one predetermined parameter of the air in the passenger compartment within a chosen interval, the device having a display interface (2) designed to display the recommended configuration.

2. Assistance device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a predetermined parameter of the passenger compartment air is the temperature of the passenger compartment air and / or the humidity of the passenger compartment air.

3. Assistance device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it further comprises at least one control (3) designed to modify the configuration of the sunroof.

4. Assistance device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the collection means are designed to obtain at least a first and / or a second piece of information using an internet connection.

5. Assistance device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a first piece of information is the temperature of the air outside the vehicle and a second piece of information is the temperature of the air inside the vehicle, the calculation means comparing these first and second pieces of information.

6. Assistance device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the collection means are designed to determine or obtain a cloud cover index of the environment outside the vehicle.

7. Assistance device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the display interface (2) comprises at least one light-emitting diode (5), preferably a diode (5) capable of displaying at least two colors.

8. Assistance device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the chosen interval can be modified by a user of the vehicle.

9. Method for determining a recommended configuration for a configuration of a sunroof, the method implementing a device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, the method comprising a first step consisting of implementing the collection means to obtain at least one first piece of information relating to the external environment of the vehicle equipped with the device (1) and at least one second piece of information relating to the environment in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, the method comprising a second step consisting of implementing the calculation means to determine, from each first and second piece of information, at least one recommended configuration for the configuration of a sunroof equipping the vehicle, the method comprising a third step consisting of implementing the display interface (2) to display the recommended configuration determined in the second step.

10. A motor vehicle equipped with a sunroof having at least two possible configurations, chosen between at least one open configuration, in which the sunroof is at least partly open, and a closed configuration, in which the sunroof is closed, the vehicle further comprising an assistance device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8 designed to implement a determination method according to claim 9 in order to determine and display a recommended configuration for the configuration of the sunroof.

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