Control of the operating parameters of heating elements

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for configuration and management of a heater element associated with a sensor component. A control component associated with the heater element obtains a number of inputs related to the operation of the vehicle, such as the location of the component, its operating state, etc. The control component can utilize a body of information independent of any particular temperature or state sensor on the sensor component to specify operating parameters for the heater element, such as a look-up table. The specified operating parameters can be selected with consideration to mitigating or inhibiting accumulation of frozen precipitation on portions of the vehicle proximate the sensor component. Additionally, the specified operating parameters can be further selected or specified with consideration to mitigating or inhibiting long-term operation of the heater element that would result in such damage.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] [CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 200,644, filed March 19, 2021, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally described, various vehicles, such as electric vehicles, combustion engine vehicles, and hybrid vehicles, can be configured with various sensors and components to facilitate operation. For example, a vehicle can be configured to operate autonomously or semi-autonomously, with user input being optional, reduced, or de-emphasized while in motion. In such applications, information about the vehicle's movement and surrounding driving environment captured by various sensors / components, such as radar detection systems, camera vision systems, and ultrasonic sensors, can be used to assist in the operation of the vehicle. However, the accuracy and consistency of the sensors / components can be affected by environmental factors that may present physical obstacles or interruptions to the operation of one or more sensors. For example, operation of a vehicle in certain colder environments can result in the accumulation of precipitation (e.g., ice or snow) at the vehicle's location that can interfere with sensor operation or otherwise cause the sensors to operate at reduced operational efficiency.

[0003] Various features are described with reference to the following drawings. Throughout the drawings, reference numerals may be reused to indicate correspondence between referenced elements. The drawings are provided to illustrate examples described herein and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0004] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a block diagram logically representing various components of the vehicle, including control components for managing the operation of the heat generating elements.

[0005] [Figure 2] 10 is a flow diagram illustrating a routine implemented by a control component to determine operating parameters of a heating element based on sensor inputs.

[0006] [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a vehicle configured with sensor components and heater elements corresponding to a forward-facing portion of the vehicle.

[0007] [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a heater element having individual prongs or wires oriented substantially vertically, according to one aspect of the present application.

[0008] [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a heater element having individual prongs or wires oriented substantially vertically, according to one aspect of the present application.

[0009] [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a logical configuration of a heater element and one or more components of a vehicle.

[0010] [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portion of a vehicle presenting a fascia having multiple bends associated with the attachment of heat generating elements, according to an aspect of the present application.

[0011] [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a block diagram with a representation of a slit in a heat generating element to facilitate adhesion to a flex portion of a vehicle fascia. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Generally described, one or more aspects of the present disclosure relate to the configuration and management of heater elements associated with sensor components. More specifically, one or more aspects of the present disclosure relate to the management of operational parameters of heater elements located in proximity to one or more sensors mounted on a vehicle. A control component associated with the heater element receives multiple inputs related to vehicle operation, such as location, component operational status (e.g., windshield wiper, speedometer setting, radar component operational status or accuracy, or other data from a radar sensor component), ambient temperature, vision system, etc. In some embodiments, a vehicle may not be configured with a particular temperature sensor on the sensor or heater element component, which may hinder operation of the sensor component or otherwise add additional cost / inefficiency to vehicle operation.

[0013] According to these embodiments, the control component may utilize a body of information independent of any particular temperature or condition sensor on the sensor component to specify the operating parameters of the heater element. More specifically, the control component may utilize a look-up table or other specification of the operating parameters of the heater element component, such as power level, operating time, or other operating parameters, based on a set of processed inputs. The specified operating parameters may be determined by a temperature sensor proximate to the sensor component. Fascia , a protective cover that shields the sensor components, etc., may be selected with consideration to mitigate or inhibit the accumulation of frozen precipitation on portions of the vehicle near the sensor components. Fascia Alternatively, other covers may be susceptible to damage or deformation based on prolonged exposure to additional heat from the heater element. Accordingly, the specified operating parameters may be further selected or specified to allow for mitigation or prevention of long-term operation of the heater element that results in such damage. For example, the specified operating parameters may incorporate data characterizing the operating parameters (e.g., tolerances, material properties, material geometries, etc.) and measured performance to incorporate potential failure points (e.g., overheating) based on heater element operation.

[0014] Illustratively, the control component utilizes a collection of existing components, such as sensors, controllers, logic units, processors, etc., already installed in the vehicle and having one or more alternative functions. For example, the control component may utilize a combination of detected vehicle speed, exterior temperature measurements, windshield wiper operation status, vision systems (e.g., camera inputs), location systems (e.g., GPS systems), timing information, operational status of sensor components, and sensor feedback from sensors to determine whether water may be present during vehicle operation and whether water is in proximity to a relevant portion of the vehicle (e.g., a sensor component). Fascia It can be determined that the temperature of the object being cooled may have a tendency to begin to accumulate in frozen form on the surface (e.g., the surface or cover). In this example, the control component does not rely on any single sensor to determine the operating parameter, but utilizes a combination of sensor inputs to determine the operating parameter. Illustratively, the information provided by the component can include unprocessed or raw information generated by the component, such as a sensor transmitting state, value, or measurement information (e.g., a temperature reading).

[0015] In some embodiments, the information provided by the components may include processed information, in which a controller, logic unit, processor, etc. processes sensor information, utilizes input from one or more camera sensors, Fascia The generated additional information may include a vision system, such as a vision system, that can provide an output corresponding to identifying environmental conditions that promote the accumulation of objects / obstacles on the heater element (e.g., processing raw camera image data and generating an output corresponding to the processing of the raw camera image information). The camera sensor may be a sensor component associated with the heater element. In other embodiments, the camera sensor may be separate from the sensor component, such as a vehicle having a non-camera sensor component or multiple camera sensors. Additionally, the processed information may include characteristic data of the operation of the heater element that may be utilized in selecting or modifying operating parameters as described herein.

[0016] In yet another example, the control component may utilize additional information obtained from or otherwise associated with a positioning system, a calendar system, or a time-based system. According to this example, the control component may associate the current or predicted vehicle position with a tendency for certain types of precipitation to be more likely to accumulate in frozen form on relevant portions of the vehicle. In this approach, environmental characteristics such as the moisture content of precipitation (e.g., wet snow or dry snow), which may vary by geographic location, time of year, or time of day, may affect the tendency for frozen accumulation and further modify operating parameters.

[0017] In yet another example, historical information can be incorporated into the control component as a separate source of information or can be utilized to process at least a portion of a set of sources of information, such as detected vehicle speed, exterior temperature measurements, and windshield wiper operating status, vision system (e.g., camera input), location system (e.g., GPS system), timing information, radar component operating status, etc. In this example, the control component can incorporate previously processed information and specified operating parameters (e.g., time / distance traveled since the last object was detected by the radar sensor component, etc.) as part of determining current operating parameters. Historical information can be utilized as additional input to be considered with other information or as part of a feedback mechanism that can adjust operating parameters based on previously determined operating information.

[0018] Illustratively, the control component may utilize logic control in the form of a lookup table that can map information from an information source to an operating parameter. In some embodiments, the lookup table can map individual sensor values / operating states to determined operating parameters of the heater element, such as the determined sensor values / operating states controlling the selection of an operating state. In other embodiments, the lookup table can combine individual sensor values / operating states to determine an operating parameter. Sensor values ​​can be specified as absolute values, ranges of values, binary indications (e.g., on or off), or non-numeric categories (e.g., high, medium, or low) mapped to the lookup table. Additionally, the lookup table can incorporate weighting values ​​such that sensor values / operating states may have a greater influence or be ordered to influence the influence of particular input information on the determined operating parameter.

[0019] In some embodiments, the lookup tables utilized by the control component may be configured specifically for an individual vehicle. Alternatively, the lookup tables may be common to a set of vehicles by vehicle type, geographic location, user type, etc. For example, vehicles associated with the Northeast region may be configured with a common table, while vehicles associated with the South region may be configured with a different common table. Additionally, in other embodiments, vehicles may be configured with a set of tables that can be applied according to geographic location, user, calendar time, etc. For example, a vehicle may configure or select a different lookup table during the winter months than during the summer or spring months. The lookup tables may be statically configured in the control component that can be updated periodically. In other embodiments, the lookup tables may be more dynamic, with the frequency of updates being facilitated via communication capabilities associated with the vehicles.

[0020] In some embodiments, the lookup table may comprise a programmatic implementation. Such a programmatic implementation may be in the form of a series of decision trees or similar logic. In other embodiments, the control component may incorporate machine learning implementations requiring more sophisticated operation of the heater elements or taking into account the operating efficiency of the heater elements.

[0021] In addition to the above, one or more different aspects of the present disclosure relate to the configuration of heater elements in response to a radar sensor mounted on a vehicle to provide desired heating of an area of ​​the vehicle adjacent to the radar sensor component while mitigating operational disruption to the radar sensor component. Illustratively, the heater elements may be configured from a series of parallel (or substantially parallel) elements operating within the field of view of the radar sensor component. In one embodiment, the parallel lines may be vertical. In other embodiments, the parallel lines may be horizontal. Furthermore, the configuration of heater elements may be configured to accommodate vehicle regions that may not present a substantially flat surface proximate to the radar sensor component. Fascia More specifically, the radar sensor components may be mounted to facilitate attachment to a bend. Fascia In embodiments adjacent to the radar-based sensor, the heater element component is not mounted as a monolithic, solid component overlapping the radar-based sensor. One or more slits are introduced into the heater element extending through a bend in the mounting surface. The one or more slits may illustratively be vertically, horizontally, angularly, or a combination thereof. Furthermore, individual slits forming a group of slits may be either parallel or non-parallel to other slits in the group of slits. Furthermore, individual slits may be parallel or non-parallel to the heater element. Illustratively, the number of slits and the length of each slit are selected for compatibility and processing time.

[0022] One or more different aspects of the present disclosure relate to the configuration of heater elements in response to one or more camera-based sensors mounted on a vehicle to provide desired heating of an area of ​​the vehicle adjacent to the camera-based sensor component. Illustratively, the heater elements may be configured as a series of elements operating within an area proximate the visual coverage of the camera-based system. In this embodiment, the heater element lines are not configured as parallel lines with a particular orientation. Rather, the heater element configuration may be configured in any number of ways, including, but not limited to, angular patterns, circular patterns, parallel lines, etc., of the vehicle. Fascia / can be mounted to facilitate attachment to the cover. Further, in an embodiment, the heater element wire Fascia Or it may include bends, slits or other features that simplify adhesion to the cover or manufacturing.

[0023] While various aspects are described according to exemplary embodiments and combinations of features, those skilled in the art will understand that the examples and combinations of features are exemplary in nature and should not be construed as limiting. More specifically, aspects of the present application may be applicable to various types of sensors, including the sensor components identified in the illustrative examples. However, those skilled in the art will understand that aspects of the present application are not necessarily limited in application to any particular sensor component or combination of sensor components in a vehicle.

[0024] Referring first to the radar sensor component, vehicle-based radio detection and ranging (RADAR) systems can be used to actively estimate the distance, angle, or Doppler frequency shift relative to environmental features by emitting a radio signal and detecting the return of the reflected signal. The distance to the radio reflection feature can be determined according to the time delay between transmission and reception. Vehicle-based radar systems can emit signals whose frequency varies over time, such as signals with a time-varying frequency slope, and then relate the frequency difference between the emitted signal and the reflected signal to a distance estimate. Some systems can also estimate the relative motion of a reflecting object based on the Doppler frequency shift of the received reflected signal.

[0025] In some examples, directional antennas can be used to transmit or receive signals, associating each distance estimate with a direction. More generally, directional antennas can be used to focus radiated energy on a given field of interest, such as surfaces facing forward, to the sides, and behind the vehicle, to detect objects / information. Combining measured distance and directional information allows for mapping of surrounding environmental features. In other examples, omnidirectional antennas can alternatively be used. In these examples, the receiving antenna can have a 90-degree field of view and be configured to utilize multiple channels with phase offsets to determine the angle of arrival of the received signal. Thus, radar sensors can be used, for example, by autonomous vehicle control systems to avoid obstacles indicated by sensor information.

[0026] Some exemplary automotive radar systems may be configured to operate in the 76-77 gigahertz (GHz) electromagnetic frequency range. These radar systems may use a transmitting antenna that can focus radiated energy into a tight beam, allowing a receiving antenna (e.g., with a wide beam) within the radar system to accurately measure the vehicle's environment. The operating condition and accuracy of a radar sensor can be affected by various environmental factors encountered during vehicle operation. For example, physical materials such as mud, snow, ice, and paint can affect the reception of transmitted or reflected radar signals. In snowy and icy conditions, introducing a heater element in close proximity to the radar sensor components can improve the operation of the radar sensor components by preventing, mitigating, or reducing the amount of precipitation that can accumulate on the vehicle surface in areas within the radar sensor components' operating range. Continuous or prolonged operation of the heater element can cause damage or deformation to portions of the vehicle surface directly adjacent to the heater element.

[0027] With reference now to camera-based systems, ultrasonic systems, the physical materials mentioned above, e.g., mud, snow, ice, paint, fog, etc., can affect the ability of such sensor components to function or otherwise cause the sensor components to function less efficiently. For example, blockages created by physical materials on covers associated with camera-based systems can degrade the quality of images collected by the sensor components and may require more complex or additional processing to mitigate the effects of the physical material blockage. In the same circumstances described above, continuous or prolonged operation of heater elements can cause damage or deformation to portions of the vehicle surface directly adjacent to the heater elements, such as covers associated with camera-based systems, ultrasonic sensors, etc.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a block diagram logically representing various components of a vehicle 100. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle includes one or more sensor components 102 for use in vehicle operation. By way of non-limiting example, the sensor components 102 may include radar sensor components, camera components, ultrasonic components, etc. Each sensor component 102 may be associated with one or more heater elements 104 mounted proximate the sensor component(s) to provide heat to surfaces of the vehicle 100 proximate the sensor component(s). Exemplary configurations and implementations of the heater elements 104 are described below. Illustratively, the heater elements 104 are not integrated as part of the sensor component(s) 102 but are positioned to provide heat to areas of the vehicle 100 proximate the operating area of ​​the sensor component(s) 102 while mitigating interference with the sensor component(s) 102. For purposes of this application, the number of sensor components 102 or their location / function within the vehicle may vary.

[0029] Individual heater elements 104 may be controlled by one or more control components 106. The control component 106 may correspond to any microcontroller-based controller, or system-on-chip (SoC)-based controller, or other controller. The control component 106 may include logic that facilitates selecting operating parameters for one or more heater elements 104 and transmitting the operating parameters via control signals or communication protocols. Illustratively, the logic on the control component 106 receives input from sources including, but not limited to, one or more sensors 108 associated with the vehicle 100 or other controllers 110. Additionally, operating status or other sensor feedback data from the sensor components 102 may be a source of information for the control component 106. While shown as a standalone component, the control component 106 may be implemented as a function of a multi-function controller.

[0030] As described above, the sensors 106 may include hardware and software components that can acquire, generate, or process various operational or environmental information sources configured within the vehicle 100 for different purposes other than measuring temperature or ice formation associated with the operation of the heater element 104. In some embodiments, the sensors 108 may provide collected raw data to the control component 106 as well as other controls for different functions. In other embodiments, the controller 110 may be associated with the sensors 108, process the raw sensor data, and provide the processed data as input to the control component 106. By way of example, information provided to the control component 106 by the sensors 108, controller component 110, or other processing unit may be related to the operation of the vehicle, such as detected vehicle speed, exterior temperature measurements, and the operational status of windshield wipers, a vision system (e.g., a camera input), a location system (e.g., a GPS system), timing information, and the operational status of radar components. Also, as previously mentioned, in some embodiments, the vehicle 110 is not configured with a temperature sensor on the heater element 104 or the sensor component 102, which may interfere with the operation of the sensor component 102 or otherwise add additional cost / inefficiency to the operation of the vehicle.

[0031] The control component 106 utilizes a collection of information sources that may correspond to existing sensors or components already installed on the vehicle 100 and that have one or more alternative functions. For example, the control component 106 may utilize a combination of detected vehicle speed, exterior temperature measurements, time of day, processed vision system information, and a weather forecast (e.g., a 60% chance of snow) to determine that water may be present during vehicle operation and may have a tendency to begin accumulating in frozen form on relevant portions of the vehicle. In this example, the control component 106 does not rely on any single sensor to determine operating parameters, but utilizes a combination of sensor inputs and processed information (e.g., vision system and weather forecast) to determine operating parameters. Other examples and applications may apply as well.

[0032] In another example, the control component 106 can utilize a combination of any of the above-referenced information and operational parameters associated with the sensor component 102 to determine that water may be present during operation of the vehicle and that the water may have a tendency to begin accumulating in frozen form on relevant portions of the vehicle. In this example, the operational parameters of the sensor component 102 can indicate whether the sensor component 102 has begun to experience any performance degradation, which in combination with other sensor parameters can further indicate an accumulation of frozen precipitation levels. Such operational parameters can include operational error rates, rate of change of parameters, resource consumption (e.g., processing, power, memory, etc.), etc. Accordingly, the selected operational parameters of the sensor component 102 may differ based on the combination of input information.

[0033] Illustratively, the control component 106 may utilize a lookup table that can map information from the identified sensors to operating parameters of the heater element 104. In some embodiments, the lookup table can map individual sensor values / operating states to determine operating parameters of the heater element 104. In other embodiments, the lookup table can combine individual sensor values / operating states to determine operating parameters. Sensor values ​​can be specified as absolute values, ranges of values, binary indications (e.g., on or off), or non-numeric categories (e.g., high, medium, or low) mapped to the lookup table. Additionally, the lookup table can incorporate weighting values ​​such that sensor values / operating states can have a greater influence.

[0034] 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a routine 200 implemented by the control component 106 to determine operating parameters of the heater elements 104. The routine 200 can be implemented for each individual radar sensor component 102 / heater element combination, such as by the control component 106 configured to determine the operating parameters of the heater elements 104 and generate control signals corresponding to the determined operating parameters. Alternatively, the routine 200 may be implemented for a set of heater elements 104 disposed on a vehicle or set of vehicles. In block 202, the control component 106 obtains a set of information sources from multiple sensors 108, controllers 110, sensor components 102, etc. The information sources may be provided to the control component 106 continuously by individual sensors / controllers 110 or on a synchronous, asynchronous, or random schedule, and individual information sources may have different information transmission timing schedules. Additionally, data transmission can be performed in batches, such that one or more sources can collect data and transmit it to the control component 106 in batches or bursts of data. Alternatively, the control component 106 can periodically poll the sensor / controller for input based on deterministic criteria such as satisfaction of a threshold (e.g., a minimum temperature setting). In some embodiments, the sensor 108 can provide collected raw data to the control component 106, as well as other controls for different functions. In other embodiments, the controller 110 can be associated with the sensor 108B, process the raw sensor data, and provide the processed data as input to the control component 106.

[0035] In block 204, the control component 106 determines the appropriate lookup table. In some embodiments, one or more lookup tables utilized by the control component 106 can be specifically configured for an individual vehicle. Alternatively, the lookup tables may be common to or shared by a set of vehicles, such as by vehicle type, geographic location, user type, etc. For example, vehicles associated with the Northeast region may be configured with a common table, while vehicles associated with the South region may be configured with a different common table. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the vehicle 100 may be configured with a set of tables that can be applied according to geographic location, user, calendar time, etc. For example, the vehicle may configure or select a different lookup table during the winter months than during the summer or spring months. The lookup tables may be statically configured in the control component, which can be updated periodically. In other embodiments, the lookup tables may be more dynamic, with the frequency of updates being facilitated via communication capabilities associated with the vehicle. If multiple lookup tables are not provided or the control component is not configured to process selection criteria, a single lookup table can be automatically retrieved as part of block 204.

[0036] In block 206, the control component 106 evaluates the sensor inputs to identify one or more operating parameters that may be candidate operating parameters. In some embodiments, the lookup table evaluation may be deterministic, such that only a single operating parameter can result from the lookup table evaluation. In other embodiments, the lookup table evaluation may be non-deterministic, such that two or more different operating parameters (e.g., competing times, competing power levels, etc.) can result from the lookup table evaluation.

[0037] In block 208, the control component 106 may optionally process the identified operating parameters to perform error checking, threshold comparisons, conflict resolution, normalization, etc. For example, the control component 106 may choose to select the lowest operating parameter when multiple operating parameters result from a lookup table evaluation. In another example, the control component 106 may choose to average the operating values ​​or other statistical processing of the operating parameters. In some embodiments, the resulting operating parameters may include instructions to not operate the heater element 104 or determine not to implement the operating parameters. For example, the control component logic may include historical information that can track the operation of the heater element 104 over a certain period of time. A lookup table evaluation based on ambient temperature and windshield wiper operation may indicate that the heater element 104 should typically operate for a certain amount of time. However, in this embodiment, further processing of the operating parameters may be considered to occur only if the heater element 104 has not previously been operated for a certain time frame or total time. As mentioned above, the control component 106 may also receive processed information regarding the characteristics or operational characteristics of the heater elements 104. The characteristic data of the heater element's operation may be utilized in selecting or modifying operational parameters, such as to mitigate potential overheating, based on known tolerances of the heater element 104 type, the particular shape, material and location from the heater element 104, the current operational parameters of the heater element 104, etc. Thus, in some embodiments, the operational parameters selected by the control component 106 may potentially differ based on the same (or substantially similar) input parameters.

[0038] In block 210, the control component 106 transmits information or control signals that cause operation of the heater element 104 according to the selected and processed operating parameters, including omitting the transmission of a control signal. In embodiments for continuous monitoring, the routine 200 can return to block 202 or wait for the start of the routine 200.

[0039] 3, a block diagram of one embodiment of a vehicle 100 configured with sensor components 102 and heater elements 104 corresponding to a forward-facing portion of the vehicle is shown. The sensor components 102 may illustratively be radar sensor components. In other embodiments, such as sensor components 102 corresponding to camera sensors corresponding to a stereoscopic vision system, the vehicle 100 may include a separate heater element 104 for each camera sensor component. The heater elements 104 may be controlled independently or in unison.

[0040] As previously mentioned, one or more different aspects of the present disclosure relate to the configuration of a heater element 104 according to a radar sensor component 102 mounted on a vehicle to provide desired heat generation while mitigating operational disruptions to the radar-based sensor. FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a heater element 104 having individual prongs or lines arranged in a substantially vertical direction, such as via foil imprint or trace print. As shown in FIG. 4, the gaps between the individual lines 402 are relatively narrow. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating an alternative heater element 104 having individual prongs or lines arranged in a substantially vertical direction, such as via foil imprint or trace print. However, as shown in FIG. 5, the gaps between the individual lines 402 are relatively large, particularly compared to the gaps in the heater element illustrated in FIG. 4. The depictions of the heater elements in FIGS. 4 and 5 are exemplary in nature and should not be construed to indicate any required dimensions or configuration of the heater element 104, such as the number or orientation of heater element lines. More specifically, in embodiments not corresponding to a radar sensor component, the configuration and orientation of the heater element need not correspond to substantially parallel lines or a vertical / horizontal configuration.

[0041] Figure 6 is a block diagram illustrating a theoretical configuration of the heater element 104 and the radar sensor component 102. As shown in Figure 6, the field of view 602 of the radar sensor component 102 directly overlaps the substantially parallel lines of the heater element 104. Such overlap does not interfere with the operation of the radar sensor component 102.

[0042] Additionally, the heater element configuration may be different for vehicles that may not present a substantially flat surface in proximity to the sensor component 102. Fascia More specifically, the sensor component 102 may be implemented to facilitate attachment to a flexible substrate. Fascia Alternatively, in embodiments adjacent to the cover, the heater element component is not mounted as a unitary solid component overlapping the radar-based sensor. One or more slits are introduced into the heater element extending from the bend in the mounting surface. Illustratively, the number of slits and the length of each slit are selected for compatibility and processing time.

[0043] Figure 7 shows Fascia 7 shows a block diagram of a portion of a vehicle 100, where a first portion 750 is a Fascia represents the first bend, and the second portion 752 represents Fascia The heater element 104 represents the second bend of the vehicle. Fascia The adhesive sheet includes four slits 702A, 702B, 702C, 702D configured to facilitate bonding to the first and second bending portions.

[0044] Figure 8 shows Fascia 7 and 8 are block diagrams with representations of slits 702 that facilitate bonding to the two bends 752, 754. Illustratively, the length of the slit is selected to be long enough to overlap the first and second bends. In some embodiments, the slit need not extend the entire length of the heater element. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the heater element may be FasciaThe set of slits includes four slits to facilitate bonding to the heater element. Those skilled in the art will understand that the number of slits can include 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or any additional number of slits is considered within the scope of the present application. While shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 as vertically oriented, substantially parallel slits, the set of slits may illustratively be vertically oriented, horizontally oriented, angularly oriented, or a combination thereof. As previously mentioned, the individual slits forming the group of slits may be either parallel or non-parallel to the other slits in the group of slits. Additionally, the individual slits may be parallel or non-parallel to the heater element.

[0045] The foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit the disclosure to the precise form or particular field of use disclosed. Accordingly, various alternative embodiments and / or modifications to the disclosure, whether expressly described or implied herein, are contemplated in light of the present disclosure. While embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in this manner, those skilled in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure is limited only by the claims.

[0046] In the foregoing specification, the present disclosure has been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, as those skilled in the art will understand, the various embodiments disclosed herein can be modified or implemented in various other ways without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, this description should be considered illustrative and is for the purpose of teaching those skilled in the art how to make and use various embodiments of the disclosed vent assembly. It should be understood that the forms of the disclosure shown and described herein should be construed as representative embodiments. Equivalent elements, materials, processes, or steps may be substituted for those typically shown and described herein. Furthermore, certain features of the present disclosure can be utilized independently of the use of other features, as will become apparent to those skilled in the art after having the benefit of this description of the present disclosure. The terms "including," "comprising," "incorporating," "consisting of," "have," "is," and the like, used to describe and claim the present disclosure, are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, i.e., allowing for the presence of items, components, or elements not expressly recited. References to the singular are also to be construed as relating to the plural.

[0047] Furthermore, the various embodiments disclosed herein should be construed in an illustrative and explanatory sense and should not be construed as limiting the present disclosure in any way. Any joint references (e.g., attached, fastened, coupled, connected, etc.) are used solely to aid the reader in understanding the present disclosure and do not create limitations with respect to the position, orientation, or use of the systems and / or methods disclosed herein in particular. Accordingly, any joint references should be interpreted broadly. Furthermore, such joint references do not necessarily imply that two elements are directly connected to each other.

[0048] Furthermore, without limitation, all numerical terms such as "first," "second," "third," "primary," "secondary," "main," or any other conventional and / or numerical terminology should also be construed as identifiers only to aid the reader in understanding the various elements, embodiments, variations and / or modifications of the present disclosure, and in particular do not create any limitations regarding the order or priority of any element, embodiment, variation and / or modification relative to or over another element, embodiment, variation and / or modification.

[0049] It will also be understood that one or more of the elements shown in the drawings / figures may be implemented in a more separate or integrated manner, or may be removed or rendered as inoperative in certain cases, as may be useful depending on the particular application.

Claims

1. 1. A system for managing the operation of a heat generating element in a vehicle, comprising: one or more computing devices associated with a processor and memory for executing computer-executable instructions to implement the control component; The control component comprises: obtaining a set of inputs from an information source including at least one of a plurality of sensors, a plurality of controllers, or a plurality of sensor components associated with the vehicle; identifying an operational parameter lookup table for processing the set of inputs, the lookup table corresponding to a mapping of at least one of individual values ​​for the set of inputs or combinations of the sets of inputs to operational parameters of the heating element, the operational parameters corresponding to at least one of energy level and duration; evaluating the set of inputs to identify one or more operating parameters of the heat generating element; transmitting a control signal to cause said operation of said heating element in accordance with said selected and processed operating parameters; The system, wherein the heating element includes a set of slits to facilitate adhesion of the heating element to a first bend of the dashboard of the vehicle and a second bend of the dashboard of the vehicle, each of the sets of slits extending from the first bend to the second bend.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the control component is further configured to process the identified operating parameters to perform at least one of error checking, threshold comparison, conflict resolution, or normalization.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein evaluation of the lookup table is deterministic such that only a single operating parameter can result from evaluation of the lookup table.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein evaluation of the lookup table is non-deterministic such that two or more different operating parameters may result from evaluation of the lookup table.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the set of inputs includes at least one operational parameter corresponding to an operational error rate, a rate of change of a parameter, or a resource consumption.

6. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the set of inputs includes a detected vehicle speed, an exterior temperature measurement, and at least one operating condition of the vehicle including an operating condition of the windshield wipers and an operating condition of the radar component.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the set of inputs includes inputs from a vision system or a position system.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the heat generating element comprises a series of substantially parallel elements operating within a field of view of a radar sensor component.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the parallel lines may be vertical.

10. 1. A method for managing the operation of heat generating elements in physical proximity to one or more components of a vehicle, each heat generating element comprising a series of substantially parallel elements operating in proximity to one or more components associated with the vehicle; The method comprises: obtaining a set of inputs from an information source including at least one of a plurality of sensors, a plurality of controllers, or a plurality of sensor components associated with the vehicle; identifying an operational parameter lookup table for processing the set of inputs, the lookup table corresponding to a mapping of at least one input from the set of inputs to an operational parameter of the heat generating element; evaluating the set of inputs to identify one or more operating parameters of the heat generating element; transmitting a control signal to cause said operation of said heating element in accordance with said selected and processed operating parameters; The method, wherein the heat generating element includes a set of slits to facilitate adhesion of the heat generating element to a first bend of the dashboard of the vehicle and a second bend of the dashboard of the vehicle, each of the sets of slits extending from the first bend to the second bend.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of selecting a lookup table from a plurality of lookup tables.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the operating parameters correspond to at least one of an energy level and a duration.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein evaluating the set of inputs to identify one or more operating parameters of the heat generating element comprises evaluating two or more inputs of the set of inputs to identify the one or more operating parameters of the heat generating element.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the selected and processed operating parameters are selected to mitigate damage to the dashboard caused by operation of the heat generating element.

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