Method for detecting fluid leaks from a motor vehicle, detection system and vehicle comprising such a system

Abstract

Method for detecting a fluid leak from a motor vehicle, detection system, and vehicle comprising such a system. The invention relates to a method for detecting a fluid leak from a motor vehicle (1). According to the invention, the method is implemented by a fluid leak detection system designed to perform the following successive steps aimed at: - detecting the presence of a fluid stain (11) under said vehicle, - sending a visual and / or audible alert to a dashboard of said vehicle or to a digital terminal present in said vehicle when a fluid stain is detected under said vehicle. The invention also relates to a system for detecting a fluid leak from a motor vehicle and a motor vehicle comprising such a system. Figure 4

Description

Title of the invention: Method for detecting a fluid leak in a motor vehicle, detection system and vehicle comprising such a system. Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of motor vehicles, and concerns a method for detecting a fluid leak from a motor vehicle.

[0002] The invention also relates to a fluid leak detection system for implementing the method and a motor vehicle comprising such a system. Prior art

[0003] A motor vehicle typically includes a set of gauges, including a gauge for measuring the level of a fluid, for example a fuel gauge, an oil gauge, etc.

[0004] When the measured fluid level is below a predetermined value, an audible and / or visual alert may be triggered on the vehicle's dashboard to inform the driver.

[0005] When such an alert is triggered, the driver is informed that the measured fluid level is relatively low.

[0006] However, no information is communicated to the driver in the event of an abnormal decrease in fluid level, which may occur, for example, in the event of a leak. Description of the invention

[0007] The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, and for this purpose relates to a method for detecting a fluid leak from a motor vehicle, remarkable in that it is implemented by a fluid leak detection system designed to perform the following successive steps aimed at: - detecting the presence of a fluid stain under said vehicle, - sending a visual and / or audible alert on a dashboard of said vehicle or on a digital terminal present in said vehicle when a fluid stain is detected under said vehicle.

[0008] Thus, in the event of a fluid leak from a motor vehicle, the fluid collects underneath the vehicle. By providing a method implemented by a detection system capable of detecting the presence of a fluid stain under the vehicle and then capable of sending a visual and / or audible alert to the driver when a fluid stain under the vehicle is detected, the driver of the vehicle is directly warned of the presence of a leak, which allows him to take the necessary measures to avoid problems that may arise while driving the vehicle.

[0009] According to optional features of the process according to the invention: - said system includes at least one camera and at least one computer, and said step for detecting the presence of a fluid stain from said vehicle includes the following successive steps for acquiring, by means of said at least one camera, at least one image of the ground under said vehicle, processing, by means of said computer, said at least one image in order to determine whether said at least one image contains at least one area containing a fluid stain; - the step aimed at processing said at least one image involves an algorithm adapted to determine whether said at least one image contains at least one area with a fluid stain; - said algorithm involves an artificial intelligence system based on a neural network trained to recognize the presence of a fluid stain; - said vehicle is initially parked in a parking space, and said step aimed at acquiring at least one image of the ground under said vehicle is carried out when said vehicle moves away from said parking space; - the fluid detected is oil or fuel.

[0010] The invention also relates to a system for detecting a fluid leak from a motor vehicle, remarkable in that it includes hardware and software means adapted to implement the method according to the invention.

[0011] According to optional features of the system according to the invention: - said hardware and software means include at least one camera and at least one computer; - said at least one camera is either mounted in said vehicle or is external to said vehicle.

[0012] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a fluid leak detection system, notable in that said system is according to the invention and in that said at least one camera is mounted in said vehicle. Brief description of the drawings

[0013] Other features, purposes and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, for the understanding of which reference should be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0014] [Fig-1] shows a motor vehicle according to the invention parked in a parking space parking.

[0015] [Fig.2] shows the steps of the method for detecting a fluid leak from the vehicle according to the invention.

[0016] [Fig.3] shows an example of implementation of one of the steps of the process according to the invention.

[0017] [Fig.4] schematically illustrates the vehicle moving away from its parking space parking. Description of the implementation methods

[0018] In the following description, elements having an identical structure or analogous functions are designated by the same reference.

[0019] In what follows, the terms "front" and "rear" are understood in relation to the general orientation of the vehicle as taken in its normal direction of travel.

[0020] Reference is made to [Fig.1] showing a motor vehicle 1 parked in a parking space 3.

[0021] Vehicle 1 is initially parked in parking space 3, typically consisting of a parking space in a car park or garage.

[0022] Vehicle 1 conventionally comprises a central computer and a set of cameras.

[0023] The vehicle 1 includes in particular a front camera 5, a camera which can for example be mounted at the level of the front windscreen of the vehicle 1 and used to implement a driver assistance system frequently referred to by the English acronym "AD AS" for "Advanced Driver Assistance System".

[0024] For example, the front camera 5 can in particular be used to acquire images in front of the vehicle 1 in order to implement a system for managing the speed of the vehicle in relation to a front target, a system frequently referred to by the acronym ACC (“Adaptive Cruise Control” in English for “adaptive speed regulator”).

[0025] For example, the front camera 5 can in particular be used to implement an emergency frequency system which can be designated by the acronym "AEB" ("Automated Emergency Braking" in English for "automated emergency braking").

[0026] The vehicle also includes a rear camera 7 which can also be used to implement a driver assistance system.

[0027] For example, the rear camera 7 can be a reversing camera which can, for example, be used to implement a parking assistance system.

[0028] Reference is made to [Fig.2] showing the steps of the method for detecting a fluid leak from vehicle 1, according to the invention.

[0029] The method according to the invention is implemented by a system for detecting a fluid leak from the vehicle 1 comprising hardware and software means adapted to implement the method.

[0030] The fluid detected within the framework of the invention is oil or fuel from vehicle 1.

[0031] According to the invention, the method implemented by the fluid leak detection system performs a first step E1 aimed at detecting the presence of a fluid stain under the vehicle 1 and then, when a fluid stain is detected under the vehicle 1, performs a second step E2 aimed at sending a visual and / or audible alert on a dashboard of the vehicle or on a digital terminal, for example a smartphone, present in the vehicle 1.

[0032] Thus, by providing a method implemented by a detection system capable of detecting the presence of a fluid stain under the vehicle 1 and then sending a visual and / or audible alert to the driver when a fluid stain under the vehicle 1 is detected, the driver can quickly take the necessary measures on the vehicle 1.

[0033] Reference is made to [Fig.3] giving an example of implementation of step El aimed at detecting the presence of a fluid stain under vehicle 1.

[0034] In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the hardware and software means of the fluid leak detection system include at least one camera and at least one computer.

[0035] In the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.3], the step El aimed at detecting the presence of a fluid stain from the vehicle includes a first substep E10 aimed at acquiring, by means of at least one of the cameras of the detection system, at least one image of the ground under the vehicle 1.

[0036] Step El includes a second sub-step El 1 subsequent to step E10 aimed at processing, using the computer, said at least one acquired image in order to determine if it contains at least one area with a fluid stain.

[0037] Reference is made to [Fig.4] schematically showing vehicle 1 moving away from parking space 3.

[0038] The cameras of the detection system of the invention may be at least one of the cameras 5, 7 of the vehicle 1.

[0039] When the cameras of the detection system of the invention are at least one of the cameras 5, 7 of the vehicle 1, the computer of the detection system can be the central computer of the vehicle.

[0040] In one embodiment, the cameras of the detection system may include one or more camera(s) 9 external to the vehicle 1, i.e. that the cameras are no longer mounted in the vehicle 1.

[0041] The cameras 9 outside the vehicle 1 can for example equip an infrastructure such as a garage or a parking lot.

[0042] Also, in the context of the development of autonomous driving, more and more cities are equipping themselves with cameras installed in the streets. The 9 exterior cameras at Vehicle 1 used within the framework of the invention may be cameras installed in the streets, initially intended to implement autonomous driving.

[0043] When the cameras of the detection system of the invention consist of cameras 9 external to the vehicle, the cameras 9 can each be equipped with their own computer, which allows image processing to be carried out autonomously and the information to be sent to the vehicle subsequently.

[0044] Communication between the external camera control unit or the central control unit of vehicle 1 and the vehicle dashboard or the digital terminal on board the vehicle can be achieved by a communication system which may be: - an all-vehicle communication system, known as "V2X", "V2v" for "Vehicle to vehicle", "I2V" for "Infrastructure to vehicle", - a cellular network type communication system, for example 4G or 5G, - a Wifi type communication system, - a Bluetooth type communication system.

[0045] In one embodiment of the invention, step El 1, which aims to process the acquired image, may involve an algorithm adapted to determine whether the image contains at least one area with a fluid stain.

[0046] The algorithm may, for example, involve an artificial intelligence system which may, for example, be based on a neural network trained to recognize the presence of a fluid stain.

[0047] When the fluid to be detected is oil or fuel, the neural network is trained to distinguish between an oil or fuel stain and another type of stain that may be present on the ground, wet ground, etc.

[0048] In one embodiment of the invention, vehicle 1 is initially parked in parking space 3, and step E10, aimed at acquiring at least one image of the ground under vehicle 1, is performed when vehicle 1 moves away from parking space 3.

[0049] As shown in [Fig.3], when vehicle 1 moves away from parking space 3 in forward motion, the rear camera 7 of vehicle 1 acquires (step E10) at least one image of the ground that was under the vehicle when the vehicle was parked in parking space 3.

[0050] The ground image is then processed (step El 1) using the vehicle's central computer to determine if a fluid patch is present in the image.

[0051] In the event that a spot 11 is present in the image, the central computer of the vehicle sends a signal generating a visual and / or audible alert (step E2) on the dashboard of the vehicle 1 or on a mobile digital terminal present in the vehicle 1.

[0052] In an alternative embodiment not shown in the figures, when the vehicle 1 moves away from the parking space 3 in reverse, the front camera 5 of the vehicle 1 acquires at least one image of the ground that was under the vehicle when the vehicle was parked in the parking space 3.

[0053] Alternatively, the camera 9 outside the vehicle 1 acquires (step E10) at least one image of the ground that was under the vehicle when the vehicle was parked in parking space 3. The image of the ground is then processed (step Eli) by the computer integrated into the camera 9 to determine if a fluid stain is present in the image.

[0054] In one embodiment, the method according to the invention can be implemented at each engine start of vehicle 1 in order to detect as early as possible the presence of a leak, if any.

[0055] As will be understood, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments of this method for detecting a fluid leak, of this system for detecting a fluid leak and of this vehicle comprising such a system, described above only by way of illustrative examples, but on the contrary it encompasses all variants involving the technical equivalents of the means described as well as their combinations if these fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

Demands

1. Method for detecting a fluid leak from a motor vehicle (1), characterized in that it is implemented by a fluid leak detection system designed to perform the following successive steps aimed at: - detecting (step E1) the presence of a fluid stain (11) under said vehicle (1), - sending (step E2) a visual and / or audible alert on a dashboard of said vehicle (1) or on a digital terminal present in said vehicle (1) when a fluid stain (11) is detected under said vehicle (1).

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said system comprises at least one camera (5, 7, 9) and at least one computer, characterized in that said step (E1) for detecting the presence of a stain (11) of fluid of said vehicle (1) comprises the following successive steps for: - acquiring (step E10), by means of said at least one camera (5, 7, 9), at least one image of the ground under said vehicle (1), - processing (step E10), by means of said computer, said at least one image in order to determine whether said at least one image contains at least one area containing a stain (11) of fluid.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the step (Eli) aimed at processing said at least one image involves an algorithm adapted to determine whether said at least one image contains at least one area comprising a stain (11) of fluid.

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that said algorithm involves an artificial intelligence system based on a neural network trained to recognize the presence of a fluid stain (11).

5. A method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said vehicle (1) is initially parked in a parking space (3), characterized in that said step (E10) aimed at acquiring at least one image of the ground under said vehicle (1) is performed when said vehicle (1) moves away from said parking space (3).

6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said detected fluid is oil or fuel.

7. System for detecting a fluid leak from a motor vehicle (1), characterized in that it comprises hardware and software means adapted to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

8. System according to claim 7, characterized in that said hardware and software means comprise at least one camera (5, 7, 9) and at least one computer.

9. System according to claim 8, characterized in that said at least one camera (5, 7) is mounted in said vehicle (1) or is external to said vehicle (1).

10. Motor vehicle (1) comprising a fluid leak detection system, characterized in that said system is according to claim 9 and in that said at least one camera (5, 7) is mounted in said vehicle (1).

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