Method for operating a vehicle glass cleaning device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for operating a windshield cleaning device (1) of a vehicle (2), the windshield cleaning device (1) having at least one wiper (5) sweeping a predetermined overall section (GA) of a windshield (4) of the vehicle (2) in a normal operating mode (NM). According to the present invention, the predetermined overall section (GA) includes the field of view of a vehicle user and the field of view of a sensor system (3) required for autonomous driving operation of the vehicle (2). When it is determined that the vehicle (2) is operating autonomously and further that the vehicle user is distracted or absent from the vehicle (2), the windshield cleaning device (1) operates in a special operating mode (SM) in which the wiper (5) sweeps a predetermined subsection (TA) of the overall section that includes the field of view of the sensor system (3) or sweeps this subsection (TA) more frequently than the rest of the overall section (GA).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for operating a vehicle windscreen cleaning device according to the features of the preamble of claim 1 . [Background technology]

[0002] A method for operating a vehicle windshield cleaning device is known from the prior art, as described in DE 10 2012 014 445 A1. In this method, the presence or absence of dirt and / or wetness on the windshield of the vehicle is detected by means of sensors. Depending on the signal of at least one sensor, a cleaning liquid is supplied to the windshield.

[0003] German Patent No. 10010434 describes a camera device for monitoring the space behind a vehicle. The vehicle is provided with at least three brake lights, with the third brake light being located at a greater distance into the vehicle's path than the first and second brake lights. The camera device is located at the third brake light. A second camera device is also located at the third brake light. Image signals recorded by the first and second camera devices are supplied to an evaluation unit. The evaluation unit performs a stereoscopic evaluation of the images captured by the first and second camera devices. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a method for operating a vehicle windshield cleaning device that improves over the prior art. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method for operating a vehicle windscreen cleaning device with the features of claim 1.

[0006] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0007] In a method for operating a vehicle windshield cleaning device, the windshield cleaning device has at least one wiper that sweeps, i.e., moves back and forth across, a predetermined overall area of ​​the vehicle windshield in a normal operating mode of the windshield cleaning device.

[0008] For this purpose, the wiper is driven, in particular by a motor, in particular by an electric motor. The wiper movement is in particular in the form of a pivoting movement. The wiper movement is in particular achieved by suitable control and / or regulation of the motor. The wiper is moved, for example, when water, snow, and / or dirt is present on the windshield. That is, a windshield cleaning device is advantageously provided for cleaning water, snow, dirt, and other deposits from the windshield. The motor is controlled automatically, for example, according to a signal from at least one windshield cleaning sensor, in particular a rain sensor, in the vehicle. This windshield cleaning sensor detects water, in particular rain, snow, dirt, and other deposits and then activates the motor to move the wiper. Depending on the intensity of rain, snow, dirt, and other deposits, the wiper can be moved slowly or quickly, or intermittently, i.e., with a pause between two successive movements. In this case, the movement can be performed at multiple speeds, and different pauses can be provided within the intermittent movements.

[0009] The glass is in particular the windshield of a vehicle, also called a windscreen.

[0010] The glass cleaning device is in particular a wiper device and a glass washing device, and therefore has in particular a cleaning function and a wiping function.

[0011] According to the present invention, the predetermined overall distance swept by the wipers in the normal operating mode of the windshield cleaning device includes the field of view of the vehicle user and the field of view of the sensor system required for the vehicle to perform an automated driving operation, in particular a highly automated or autonomous driving operation. The sensor system particularly includes a camera, for example a stereo camera or a mono camera. The vehicle is therefore capable of performing this automated driving operation and requires this sensor system for this purpose. The term field of view here is understood to refer in particular to the viewing area of ​​the windshield. That is, the field of view of the vehicle user is the viewing area of ​​the windshield through which the vehicle user looks, and the field of view of the sensor system is the viewing area of ​​the windshield through which the sensor system looks to detect the vehicle environment outside the vehicle, in particular the vehicle environment ahead of the vehicle.

[0012] Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is determined whether the vehicle is operating automatically and whether the vehicle user is distracted or absent from the vehicle. For example, it is determined that the vehicle user is distracted when it is detected that the vehicle user is dozing off and / or when it is detected that the vehicle user's gaze is averted from the glass and / or when it is detected that the vehicle user's gaze is not focused on the vehicle surroundings outside the vehicle in front of the glass. The vehicle user's distraction is determined, for example, using a vehicle user observation camera.

[0013] According to the present invention, when it is determined that the vehicle is operating autonomously and further that the vehicle user is distracted or absent from the vehicle, the windshield cleaning device operates in a special operating mode in which the wipers sweep only a predetermined subsection of the entire range that includes the field of view of the sensor system, or sweep this subsection more frequently than the rest of the entire range. In other words, the subsection is only a portion of the entire range and is therefore smaller than the entire range.

[0014] In this way, the method according to the present invention identifies situations in which the vehicle is in autonomous driving mode and the vehicle user is distracted or absent from the vehicle, and when such a situation is identified, the functions of the window cleaning device are controlled separately for the partial section (i.e., particularly in the field of view of the sensor system) and the remaining part of the entire section, i.e., particularly in the field of view of the sensor system and the field of view of the vehicle user), so that the wiping and cleaning quality is better in the partial section (i.e., particularly in the field of view of the vehicle user) than in the remaining part of the entire section (i.e., particularly in the field of view of the vehicle user).

[0015] Keeping the sensor system free from water, snow, dirt, and other debris is fundamental for autonomous driving. However, this often poses problems in terms of time, washer fluid consumption, and energy consumption of the windshield cleaning device, especially in adverse, particularly prolonged weather conditions, such as heavy rain or other muddy conditions caused by muddy water kicked up from the roadway by a vehicle traveling ahead. This problem is eliminated or at least reduced by the solution according to the present invention, since only a subsection or a subsection is preferably cleaned when the vehicle user's field of view does not need to be cleaned due to the vehicle user's distraction or absence from the vehicle during autonomous driving. This reduces the wiper path and thus the energy consumption of the windshield cleaning device, allowing the wiper to sweep the subsection more frequently at the same speed while reducing the washer fluid consumption, which in turn reduces the amount of washer fluid that needs to be carried, allowing for the installation of a smaller, more space-saving washer fluid tank, or achieving a longer driving range for the vehicle without refilling the washer fluid while maintaining the same storage volume.

[0016] Therefore, the method of the present invention can improve the efficiency of keeping the sensor system clear, for example, in heavy rain, and can maintain the sensor system clear more quickly. On the other hand, a method of moving the wipers as fast as possible can limit the above-mentioned conditions. In other words, the present invention makes it possible to perform automatic driving operations even in heavy rain, thereby improving the availability of automatic driving operations.

[0017] In the method described herein, in particular, the wiper moves from a predetermined normal start position to a predetermined normal reversal position and back, particularly multiple times, particularly continuously or intermittently, in the normal operating mode, and moves from a predetermined special start position to a predetermined special reversal position and back, particularly multiple times, particularly continuously or intermittently, in the special operating mode. Here, the path of movement of the wiper from the special start position to the special reversal position, particularly a pivoting path, is shorter than the path of movement from the normal start position to the normal reversal position. For example, the special start position may correspond to the normal start position and the special reversal position may be different from the normal reversal position, or the special reversal position may correspond to the normal reversal position and the special start position may be different from the normal start position, or the special start position may be different from the normal start position and the special reversal position may be different from the normal reversal position. If the special start position is different from the normal start position, it is particularly offset toward the normal reversal position. If the special reversal position is different from the normal reversal position, it is particularly offset toward the normal start position. The special start position and the special reversal position, i.e. the sub-interval, are determined in particular in such a way that the sub-interval completely encompasses the field of view of the sensor system and is as small as possible in order to optimally achieve the above-mentioned advantages.

[0018] In one possible embodiment of the method, the wipers are moved from the normal start position to the special start position at the start of the special operating mode and only stop at the special start position during the special operating mode. This is especially true if the special start position differs from the normal start position. In the normal operating mode, the wipers are in the normal start position while stationary. When switching to the special operating mode, the wipers must first be moved to the special start position. Then, during the special operating mode, the wipers do not return to the normal start position, i.e., do not return to the normal start position even while stationary, but remain in the special start position while stationary. Only when the special operating mode ends, i.e., when the above-mentioned conditions for the special operating mode are no longer fulfilled, are the wipers moved back to the normal start position again.

[0019] In one possible embodiment of the method, in a special operating mode, only the subsection is sprayed with the above-mentioned cleaning liquid, or more cleaning liquid is sprayed on the subsection than on the rest of the entire section, or cleaning liquid is sprayed more frequently on the subsection than on the rest of the entire section, thereby achieving the above-mentioned advantages in terms of consumption of cleaning liquid and a lower storage requirement or a longer driving range with the same storage requirement. In particular, the spraying of cleaning liquid is carried out automatically, in particular by controlling and / or regulating a supply pump for cleaning liquid and / or by controlling and / or regulating one or more spray nozzles, in particular by opening and closing each spray nozzle.

[0020] In one possible embodiment of the method, in a special operating mode, cleaning liquid is sprayed only on a sub-area of ​​the sub-section that includes the field of view of the sensor system, or cleaning liquid is sprayed more on the sub-area of ​​the sub-section than on the remainder of the sub-section and / or the remainder of the entire section, or cleaning liquid is sprayed more frequently on the sub-area of ​​the sub-section than on the remainder of the sub-section and / or the remainder of the entire section. The sub-area is smaller than the sub-section since it is only a part of the sub-section. As a result, advantageously, cleaning liquid is sprayed only on a relatively small sub-area of ​​the sub-section, which can further reduce the consumption of cleaning liquid.

[0021] To achieve this, for example, a plurality of spray nozzles for spraying the cleaning liquid onto the windshield are arranged on the wiper, in particular on the wiper blade of the wiper, in particular distributed over the length of the wiper, in particular over the length of the wiper blade, for example, this distribution can be uniform, or in order to achieve an even better cleaning effect in the field of view of the sensor system, more spray nozzles can be arranged in the area of ​​the wiper, in particular on the wiper blade, which sweeps over the field of view of the sensor system, than in the remaining area of ​​the wiper, in particular on the wiper blade.

[0022] In one possible embodiment of the method, in a special operating mode, cleaning liquid can be sprayed onto the glass only from one or more spray nozzles that move back and forth over the subsection as the wiper moves. In particular, to optimize the reduction of cleaning liquid consumption, in a special operating mode, cleaning liquid can be sprayed onto the glass only from one or more spray nozzles that move back and forth over a subsection of the subsection as the wiper moves. For example, the corresponding one or more spray nozzles are activated, i.e., open, to spray cleaning liquid, while one or more other spray nozzles remain inactivated, i.e., closed.

[0023] As described above, the glass cleaning device has at least one wiper. The glass cleaning device may have two or more wipers. In this case, the above description applies to all wipers. Therefore, in particular, the entire section, the partial section, and the partial area are swept by all wipers. Therefore, each of the entire section, the partial section, and the partial area may be composed of sections or areas swept by individual wipers, some of which may be swept by multiple wipers.

[0024] The special operating mode is activated only when, in addition to the above conditions, a need for cleaning the windshield, i.e., a need for a wiping movement of the wipers and / or a need for a spray of cleaning fluid, is detected, particularly based on a signal from the windshield cleaning sensor, i.e., when water, particularly rain, snow, dirt, or other deposits are detected on the windshield, particularly using the windshield cleaning sensor. The special operating mode is preferably terminated only when the above conditions related to the vehicle user and the automated driving operation are no longer met. In particular, if the need for cleaning the windshield is no longer detected but the special operating mode remains active based on conditions that still hold for the vehicle user and the automated driving operation, the wipers are stopped in the special starting position. The wipers then remain in the special starting position until the need for cleaning the windshield arises again or until the special operating mode is terminated and the normal operating mode is activated again due to at least one of the above conditions for the special operating mode no longer being held for the vehicle user and the automated driving operation. When the special operating mode is terminated, the wipers are moved back to the normal starting position.

[0025] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a normal operating mode of a vehicle window cleaning device; [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a special operating mode of the glass cleaning device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0027] In all the drawings, the same reference numerals are used to designate corresponding parts.

[0028] 1 and 2 exemplarily show two operating modes NM, SM of a window glass cleaning device 1 of a vehicle 2. Fig. 1 shows a normal operating mode NM corresponding to conventional operation of the window glass cleaning device 1, and Fig. 2 shows a special operating mode SM.

[0029] The vehicle 2 is capable of performing automated driving operations, in particular highly automated or autonomous driving operations. To this end, the vehicle 2 has a sensor system 3 required for performing automated driving operations. For the sake of clarity, only one glass 4 of the vehicle 2, the glass cleaning device 1 and the sensor system 3 are shown.

[0030] The windshield cleaning device 1 has at least one wiper 5. In a method for operating the windshield cleaning device 1, the wiper 5 sweeps a predetermined overall distance GA of the windshield 4 of the vehicle 2 in a normal operating mode NM of the windshield cleaning device 1. This overall distance GA includes the field of view of the vehicle user and the field of view of the sensor system 3. The sensor system 3 is therefore arranged behind the windshield 4, i.e., on the inner surface of the windshield 4 facing the passenger compartment. The sensor system 3 includes, among other things, a camera. In the illustrated example, the windshield 4 is the windshield of the vehicle 2.

[0031] The term field of view here is understood in particular to mean the viewing area of ​​the glass 4. That is to say, the field of view of the vehicle user is the viewing area of ​​the glass 4 through which the vehicle user looks, and the field of view of the sensor system 3 is the viewing area of ​​the glass 4 through which the sensor system 3 looks in order to detect in particular the vehicle environment outside the vehicle 2, in particular the vehicle environment in front of the vehicle 2.

[0032] The glass cleaning device 1 is particularly a wiper device and a glass washing device, and therefore has particularly a cleaning function and a wiping function.

[0033] For cleaning purposes, the windshield cleaning device 1 has a number of spray nozzles 6 for spraying a cleaning liquid F onto the windshield 4. These spray nozzles 6 are arranged on the wiper 5, in particular on the wiper blade of the wiper 5, and in particular are evenly distributed over the length of the wiper blade.

[0034] 1 shows a normal operating mode NM, i.e., the wiper 5 always sweeps a predetermined entire section GA of the glass 4. Furthermore, the cleaning fluid F is always sprayed onto the entire section GA of the glass 4 through all the spray nozzles 6. That is, all the spray nozzles 6 are always open or open to spray the cleaning fluid F.

[0035] Keeping the sensor system 3 free from water, snow, dirt and other deposits is of fundamental importance for carrying out autonomous driving operations, however this often becomes problematic in terms of time, consumption of cleaning fluid F and energy consumption of the windshield cleaning device 1, particularly in adverse weather conditions, particularly in the case of prolonged adverse weather conditions, such as heavy rainfall or other muddy conditions, e.g. muddy water kicked up from the road.

[0036] To avoid or at least reduce these problems, the method for operating a glass cleaning device 1 described herein determines whether the vehicle 2 is in autonomous driving operation and whether the vehicle user is distracted or absent from the vehicle 2. For example, the vehicle user's distraction may be determined when the vehicle user is detected to be dozing off and / or when the vehicle user's gaze is detected to be averted from the glass 4 and / or when the vehicle user's gaze is not focused on the vehicle environment outside the vehicle 2 in front of the glass 4. The vehicle user's distraction may be determined, for example, using a vehicle user observation camera.

[0037] If both of these conditions are met, i.e., if it is determined that the vehicle 2 is operating autonomously and that the vehicle user is distracted or absent from the vehicle 2, the windshield cleaning device 1 operates in a special operating mode SM in which the wipers 5 sweep only a predetermined sub-interval TA of the entire interval GA that includes the field of view of the sensor system 3, as illustrated in FIG. 2 . Since the sub-interval TA is only a portion of the entire interval GA, it is smaller than the entire interval GA. In another example, the wipers 5 can sweep the sub-interval TA more frequently than the remaining portion of the entire interval GA (the entire interval GA minus the sub-interval TA). This can prevent, for example, dirt or snow from accumulating in the remaining portion of the entire interval GA, so that the wipers 5 can no longer remove it in the normal operating mode NM.

[0038] This solution eliminates or at least reduces the above-mentioned problem, because only the sub-section TA or the sub-section TA are preferably cleaned when cleaning of the field of view of the vehicle user is not required due to the vehicle user's distraction or absence during autonomous driving operation in the vehicle 2. This reduces the travel path of the wiper 5 and thus the energy consumption of the windshield cleaning device 1, allowing the wiper 5 to sweep the sub-section TA more frequently at the same speed and reducing the consumption of washer fluid F, which in turn reduces the amount of washer fluid F that needs to be carried, allowing a smaller, space-saving washer fluid tank to be installed, or allowing the vehicle 2 to travel a longer distance without refilling the washer fluid F with the same storage volume.

[0039] Therefore, the above-described method can improve the efficiency of keeping the sensor system 3 clear, and can maintain the sensor system 3 clear more quickly, for example, in the case of heavy rain. On the other hand, a method of moving the wipers 5 as fast as possible may limit the above-described state. In other words, the present invention makes it possible to perform automatic driving operations even in the case of heavy rain, thereby improving the availability of automatic driving operations.

[0040] In the method described herein, in particular, the wiper 5 moves from a predetermined normal start position NS to a predetermined normal reversal position NW and returns, particularly reciprocating multiple times, particularly continuously or intermittently, in a normal operation mode NM as shown in Fig. 1, and moves from a predetermined special start position SS to a predetermined special reversal position SW and returns, particularly reciprocating multiple times, particularly continuously or intermittently, in a special operation mode SM as shown in Fig. 2. Here, the movement path, particularly the turning path, of the wiper 5 from the special start position SS to the special reversal position SW is shorter than the movement path from the normal start position NS to the normal reversal position NW.

[0041] In the example shown here, as can be seen from a comparison of Figures 1 and 2, the special start position SS is different from the normal start position NS, and the special reversal position SW is different from the normal reversal position NW. Here, the special start position SS is positioned offset in the direction of the normal reversal position NW, and the special reversal position SW is positioned offset in the direction of the normal start position NS.

[0042] In other examples, for example, the special start position SS may correspond to the normal start position NS and the special reversal position SW may be different from the normal reversal position NW, or the special reversal position SW may correspond to the normal reversal position NW and the special start position SS may be different from the normal start position NS.

[0043] The special start position SS and the special reversal position SW, i.e. the sub-interval TA, are determined in particular so that the sub-interval TA completely encompasses the field of view of the sensor system 3 and is as small as possible in order to optimally achieve the above-mentioned advantages.

[0044] In the embodiment of the method illustrated with reference to Figures 1 and 2, in particular, the wiper 5 moves from the normal start position NS to the special start position SS at the start of the special operation mode SM and remains only at the special start position SS during the special operation mode SM. Thus, in the normal operation mode NM, the wiper 5 is in the normal start position NS when stationary. Switching to the special operation mode SM first requires the wiper 5 to move to the special start position SS. The wiper 5 then does not return to the normal start position NS during the special operation mode SM, i.e., does not return to the normal start position NS even when stationary, but remains in the special start position SS while stationary. Only when the special operation mode SM ends, i.e., when the above-mentioned conditions for the special operation mode SM are no longer fulfilled, is the wiper 5 returned to the normal start position NS again.

[0045] In one possible embodiment of the method, in the special operating mode SM, the above-mentioned cleaning liquid F is sprayed only in the sub-interval TA, or more cleaning liquid F is sprayed in the sub-interval TA than in the rest of the entire interval GA, or cleaning liquid F is sprayed more frequently in the sub-interval TA than in the rest of the entire interval GA.

[0046] 1 and 2, in order to further reduce the consumption of cleaning liquid F, in the special operating mode SM, cleaning liquid F is sprayed only onto a sub-area TB of the sub-section TA, which includes the field of view of the sensor system 3, as shown in FIG. 2. The sub-area TB is only a part of the sub-section TA and is therefore smaller than the sub-section TA. In the illustrated example, the field of view of the sensor system 3 is located in the upper region of the sub-section TA, so this sub-area TB is the upper region of the sub-section TA on the glass pane 4.

[0047] In another example, for example, in the special operation mode SM, more cleaning liquid F can be sprayed onto the partial region TB of the sub-interval TA than onto the remaining portion of the sub-interval TA and / or the remaining portion of the entire interval GA, or cleaning liquid F can be sprayed onto the partial region TB of the sub-interval TA more frequently than onto the remaining portion of the sub-interval TA and / or the remaining portion of the entire interval GA. This can prevent excessive accumulation of dirt in the remaining portion of the sub-interval TA and / or the remaining portion of the entire interval GA, for example.

[0048] The described configuration advantageously allows the consumption of cleaning fluid F to be further reduced, since cleaning fluid F is sprayed only in the sub-region TB, or at least preferably in a relatively small sub-region TB of the subsection TA, thereby achieving the aforementioned advantages of a smaller storage requirement or a longer driving range with the same storage requirement.

[0049] The spraying of the cleaning liquid F is carried out automatically, in particular by controlling and / or regulating a supply pump for the cleaning liquid F and by controlling and / or regulating one or more spray nozzles 6, in particular by opening and closing each spray nozzle 6.

[0050] In one possible embodiment of the method, in a special operating mode SM, cleaning liquid F can be sprayed onto the glass 4 only from one or more spray nozzles 6 that move back and forth over the subsection TA. In the embodiment of the method illustrated using Figures 1 and 2, in order to spray as little cleaning liquid F as possible into the field of view of the sensor system 3, in the special operating mode SM, cleaning liquid F is sprayed onto the glass 4 only from one or more spray nozzles 6 that move back and forth over a subregion TB of the subsection TA. In the illustrated example, this is one spray nozzle 6 that is opened to spray cleaning liquid F. Figure 2 shows this opened spray nozzle GS and the cleaning liquid F sprayed from this spray nozzle GS.

[0051] Thus, the method described here allows the windshield cleaning device 1, in particular its wiper 5, to be automatically activated in the event of heavy rain when the above-mentioned conditions for the vehicle user and for automatic operation are met, and also automatically activates the special operating mode SM. The wiper 5, more precisely the motor for moving the wiper 5, is controlled and / or adjusted so that the wiper 5 moves only from the special start position SS to the special reversal position SW and back. In this case, for example, the wiper 5 first moves from the normal start position NS to the special start position SS. By moving the wiper 5 from the special start position SS to the special reversal position SW and back, the field of view of the sensor system 3 is wiped and thus cleaned by the wiper 5. The wiper 5 is advantageously stopped in the special start position SS. Advantageously, the wiper 5 is only moved back to the normal start position NS when the special operating mode SM is terminated, i.e., when returning to the normal operating mode NM.

[0052] If the windshield 4 is detected as dirty using the method described here, and the above-mentioned conditions for the vehicle user and for automated driving operation are met, the windshield cleaning device 1, in particular its wiper 5, and the spray function for spraying the cleaning fluid F are automatically activated, and also the special operating mode SM. In this case, only the spray nozzles 6 spraying into the sub-area TB are opened, i.e., only one spray nozzle 6, designated as open spray nozzle GS in the illustrated example, so that the cleaning fluid F is sprayed only into the sub-area TB of the sub-section TA, i.e., into the field of view of the sensor system 3, preferably only when the wiper 5 sweeps over this sub-area TB of the sub-section TA. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0053] [Patent Document 1] German Patent Application Publication No. 102012014445 [Patent Document 2] German Patent No. 10010434

Claims

1. A method for operating a windshield cleaning device (1) of a vehicle (2), the windshield cleaning device (1) having at least one wiper (5) for sweeping a predetermined overall distance (GA) of a windshield (4) of the vehicle (2) in a normal operating mode (NM) of the windshield cleaning device (1), the overall section (GA) comprises the field of view of the vehicle user and the field of view of the sensor system (3) required to perform the autonomous driving operation of the vehicle (2), - when it is determined that the vehicle (2) is operating in an automatic driving mode and further that the vehicle user is distracted or not present in the vehicle (2), the windshield cleaning device (1) is operated in a special operating mode (SM) in which the wiper (5) sweeps only a predetermined partial section (TA) of the entire section (GA) that includes the field of view of the sensor system (3), or sweeps the partial section (TA) more frequently than the rest of the entire section (GA); In the normal operation mode (NM), the wiper (5) moves from a predetermined normal start position (NS) to a predetermined normal reversal position (NW) and returns, and in the special operation mode (SM), it moves from a predetermined special start position (SS) to a predetermined special reversal position (SW) and returns, and the movement path of the wiper (5) from the special start position (SS) to the special reversal position (SW) is shorter than the movement path of the wiper (5) from the normal start position (NS) to the normal reversal position (NW); The wiper (5) moves from the normal start position (NS) to the special start position (SS) at the start of the special operation mode (SM) and stops only at the special start position (SS) during the special operation mode (SM). A method characterized by:

2. - the special start position (SS) corresponds to the normal start position (NS) and the special reversal position (SW) differs from the normal reversal position (NW), or - the special reversal position (SW) corresponds to the normal reversal position (NW) and the special start position (SS) differs from the normal start position (NS), or The special start position (SS) is different from the normal start position (NS) and the special reversal position (SW) is different from the normal reversal position (NW).

2. The method of claim 1.

3. In the special operating mode (SM), the cleaning liquid (F) is sprayed only in the partial section (TA), or the cleaning liquid (F) is sprayed more in the partial section (TA) than in the remaining part of the entire section (GA), or the cleaning liquid (F) is sprayed more frequently in the partial section (TA) than in the remaining part of the entire section (GA).

2. The method of claim 1.

4. In the special operation mode (SM), the cleaning liquid (F) is sprayed only onto a partial region (TB) of the partial section (TA) that includes the field of view range of the sensor system (3), or the cleaning liquid (F) is sprayed more onto the partial region (TB) of the partial section (TA) than onto the remaining part of the partial section (TA) and / or the remaining part of the entire section (GA), or the cleaning liquid (F) is sprayed more frequently onto the partial region (TB) of the partial section (TA) than onto the remaining part of the partial section (TA) and / or the remaining part of the entire section (GA).

4. The method according to claim 3.

5. A plurality of spray nozzles (6) for spraying the cleaning liquid (F) onto the glass (4) are arranged on the wiper (5), and in the special operation mode (SM), the cleaning liquid (F) is sprayed onto the glass (4) only from one or more of the spray nozzles (6) that reciprocate within the partial section (TA).

5. The method according to claim 4.

6. A method for operating a windshield cleaning device (1) of a vehicle (2), the windshield cleaning device (1) having at least one wiper (5) for sweeping a predetermined overall distance (GA) of a windshield (4) of the vehicle (2) in a normal operating mode (NM) of the windshield cleaning device (1), the overall section (GA) comprises the field of view of the vehicle user and the field of view of the sensor system (3) required to perform the autonomous driving operation of the vehicle (2), - when it is determined that the vehicle (2) is operating in an automatic driving mode and further that the vehicle user is distracted or not present in the vehicle (2), the windshield cleaning device (1) is operated in a special operating mode (SM) in which the wiper (5) sweeps only a predetermined partial section (TA) of the entire section (GA) that includes the field of view of the sensor system (3), or sweeps the partial section (TA) more frequently than the rest of the entire section (GA); In the special operating mode (SM), the cleaning liquid (F) is sprayed only in the partial section (TA), or the cleaning liquid (F) is sprayed more in the partial section (TA) than in the remaining part of the entire section (GA), or the cleaning liquid (F) is sprayed more frequently in the partial section (TA) than in the remaining part of the entire section (GA), In the special operating mode (SM), the cleaning liquid (F) is sprayed only onto a sub-region (TB) of the sub-section (TA) that includes the field of view of the sensor system (3), or the cleaning liquid (F) is sprayed more onto the sub-region (TB) of the sub-section (TA) than onto the remaining part of the sub-section (TA) and / or the remaining part of the entire section (GA), or the cleaning liquid (F) is sprayed more frequently onto the sub-region (TB) of the sub-section (TA) than onto the remaining part of the sub-section (TA) and / or the remaining part of the entire section (GA), A plurality of spray nozzles (6) for spraying the cleaning liquid (F) onto the glass (4) are arranged on the wiper (5), and in the special operation mode (SM), the cleaning liquid (F) is sprayed onto the glass (4) only from one or more of the spray nozzles (6) that reciprocate within the partial section (TA). A method characterized by:

7. In the special operation mode (SM), the cleaning liquid (F) is sprayed onto the glass (4) only from one or more of the spray nozzles (6) reciprocating in the partial region (TB) of the partial section (TA).

7. The method according to claim 6.

8. The vehicle user's attention is determined to be distracted when it is detected that the vehicle user is dozing off, and / or when it is detected that the vehicle user's line of sight is averted from the glass (4), and / or when it is detected that the vehicle user's line of sight is not focused on the vehicle surroundings outside the vehicle (2) in front of the glass (4). The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that

9. The vehicle user's distraction is determined using a vehicle user observation camera. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that

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