Sensor Device and Driver Assistance System

Abstract

A sensor device includes at least one sensor unit, which is configured to detect a detection area; at least one through element, wherein the at least one sensor unit is configured to detect the detection area through the at least one through element; at least one temperature sensor on or in at least one through element, the at least one temperature sensor being configured to detect a temperature of the at least one through element; at least one heating unit, which is configured to heat the at least one through element; and a controller, which is connected to the at least one temperature sensor and the at least one heating unit and which is configured to control the at least one heating unit based on the temperature detected by the at least one temperature sensor.

Claims

1. to 10. (canceled)

11. A sensor device comprising: at least one sensor unit configured to detect a detection region; at least one passage element, the at least one sensor unit being configured to detect the detection region through the at least one passage element; at least one temperature sensor on or in the at least one passage element, the at least one temperature sensor being configured to measure a temperature of the at least one passage element; at least one heating unit configured to heat the at least one passage element; and a controller connected to the at least one temperature sensor and the at least one heating unit and configured to control the at least one heating unit based on the temperature measured by the at least one temperature sensor.

12. The sensor device according to claim 11, wherein the at least one passage element (120) is an optical element of a sensor optical unit.

13. The sensor device according to claim 11, wherein the at least one sensor unit is a camera.

14. The sensor device according to claim 11, wherein the at least one passage element is a radome and/or wherein the at least one sensor unit is a radar, a lidar or an ultrasonic sensor.

15. The sensor device according to claim 11, wherein the at least one passage element is at least partly transparent and/or at least partly opaque.

16. The sensor device according to claim 15, wherein the at least one passage element comprises a first region which is transparent and a second region which is opaque, wherein the at least one sensor unit is configured to detect the detection region through the first region of the at least one passage element, and wherein the at least one temperature sensor is arranged in the second region of the at least one passage element.

17. The sensor device according to claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to set a power of the at least one heating unit such that the temperature of the at least one passage element is less than or equal to a specified threshold.

18. A driver assistance system comprising the sensor device according to claim 11.

19. The driver assistance system according to claim 18, wherein the driver assistance system is configured for automated driving.

20. A vehicle comprising the sensor device according to claim 11.

21. The vehicle of claim 20, wherein the vehicle is a motor vehicle.

22. A vehicle comprising the driver assistance system of claim 18.

23. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein the vehicle is a motor vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] FIG. 1 schematically shows a sensor device according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0026] FIG. 2 schematically shows a sensor device according to further embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0027] FIG. 3 schematically shows a sensor device according to further embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0028] FIG. 4 schematically shows a vehicle having a sensor device according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0029] FIG. 5 schematically shows a flowchart of a method for operating a sensor device according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0030] Providing nothing else is noted, the same reference signs are used below for the same elements and for elements with same effect.

[0031] FIG. 1 schematically shows a sensor device 100 according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0032] The sensor device 100 comprises at least one sensor unit 110 configured to detect a detection region 112; at least one passage element 120, the at least one sensor unit 110 being configured to detect the detection region 112 through the at least one passage element 120; at least one temperature sensor 130 on or in the at least one passage element 120, the at least one temperature sensor 130 being configured to measure a temperature of the at least one passage element 120; at least one heating unit 140 configured to heat the at least one passage element 120; and a controller 150 connected to the at least one temperature sensor 130 and the at least one heating unit 140 and configured to control the at least one heating unit 140 of the basis of the temperature measured by the at least one temperature sensor 130.

[0033] In the example of FIG. 1, both the at least one temperature sensor 130 and the at least one heating unit 140 are arranged outside of the detection region 114 of the at least one sensor unit 110. The detection by the at least one sensor unit 110 is not impaired by this arrangement.

[0034] In some embodiments, the at least one passage element 120 is an optical element of a sensor optical unit. By way of example, the optical element can be a lens, a beam shaping optical unit, a cover element, a protective glass, etc. The at least one passage element 120 may consist of an optically transparent material for example.

[0035] In a further example, the at least one passage element 120 may consist of a plastic which is substantially transmissive or transparent to at least a certain wavelength range.

[0036] However, the at least one passage element 120 is not restricted to optical elements and could be a radome, for example. The radome is a closed protective casing which protects the at least one sensor unit (e.g., a radar antenna, a directional antenna, etc.) from external mechanical and chemical influences such as wind or rain.

[0037] According to some embodiments, the at least one sensor unit 110 is selected from the group comprising, or consisting of, a camera, a radar, lidar and an ultrasonic sensor.

[0038] A transmissivity or transparency in relation to certain wavelengths or wavelength ranges of the at least one passage element 120 may be chosen on the basis of the type of the at least one sensor unit 110 utilized. In particular, the at least one passage element 120 can be substantially transmissive or transparent to the wavelengths or wavelength ranges detectable by the at least one sensor unit 110. Optionally, the at least one passage element 120 may be substantially non-transmissive or opaque to at least some of the wavelengths 120 not detectable by the sensor unit 110.

[0039] In one example, the at least one sensor unit 110 may be a camera, and in particular an imaging camera. The camera may have an optical axis 114, as shown in the example of FIG. 1. In this case, the at least one passage element 120 may be substantially transparent to the visible wavelength range. In a further example, the at least one sensor unit 110 may be a radar, lidar or ultrasonic sensor. In this case, the at least one passage element 120 may be transmissive or transparent to the wavelengths detectable by the radar, the lidar or the ultrasonic sensor, and may be substantially non-transmissive or opaque to the visible wavelength range.

[0040] In some embodiments, the controller 150 is configured to set a power of the at least one heating unit 140 in such a way that the temperature of the at least one passage element 120 is less than or equal to a specified threshold. By way of example, the specified threshold may be 70° C. As a result of the direct measurement of the temperature of the at least one passage element 120, the controller 150 can react more quickly to an actual change in temperature. Hence, the heating unit 140 can be driven with a higher power without the specified threshold being exceeded inadvertently. This facilitates faster deicing and/or dehumidifying of the at least one passage element 120.

[0041] The at least one heating unit 140 can be a resistance heater. In some embodiments, the at least one heating unit 140 can be attached directly to an outer surface of the at least one passage element 120. In further embodiments, the at least one heating unit 140 can be embedded in the at least one passage element 120.

[0042] FIG. 2 schematically shows a sensor device 100 according to further embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0043] In the example of FIG. 1, both the at least one temperature sensor 130 and the at least one heating unit 140 are arranged outside of the detection region 114 of the at least one sensor unit 110. Alternatively, the at least one temperature sensor 130 and/or the at least one heating unit 114 may be arranged within the detection region 114 of the at least one sensor unit 110.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary arrangement of the at least one heating unit 140 within the detection region 114 of the at least one sensor unit 110. The at least one temperature sensor 130 may be arranged outside of the detection region 114 of the at least one sensor unit 110. Such an arrangement is advantageous for ensuring fast deicing or dehumidifying of the at least one passage element 120 in the detection region 114 of the at least one sensor unit 110.

[0045] In some embodiments, the at least one heating unit 140 can be configured such that it substantially does not influence a detection by the at least one sensor unit 110. By way of example, the at least one heating unit 140 may consist of a transparent material. Additionally or as an alternative, the at least one heating unit 140 may comprise a plurality of elongate heating elements (not shown) which have a thickness small enough to substantially not influence the detection by the at least one sensor unit 110.

[0046] FIG. 3 schematically shows a sensor device 100 according to further embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0047] In some embodiments, the at least one passage element 120 has a first region which is transparent (e.g., optically transparent) and a second region which is opaque (e.g., optically opaque). The at least one sensor unit 110 can be configured to detect the detection region through the first region of the at least one passage element 120. The at least one temperature sensor 130 may be arranged in the second region of the at least one passage element 120. In this way, the at least one temperature sensor 130 can be protected from external influences, for example solar radiation, such that a more precise temperature measurement by the at least one temperature sensor 130 is facilitated.

[0048] In an exemplary embodiment, the second region can be defined by a black mask 310. The black mask 310 may be applied to a surface of the at least one passage element 120 in order to define the first region and the second region.

[0049] However, the present disclosure is not restricted thereto, and the first region and the second region may be provided by material properties of the at least one passage element 120, for example.

[0050] FIG. 4 schematically shows a vehicle 400 having a sensor device 100 according to embodiments of the present disclosure. In particular, the vehicle 400 may be a motor vehicle.

[0051] The vehicle 400 may comprise a driver assistance system and the sensor device 100 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. In particular, the sensor device 100 may be provided as a component of the driver assistance system. The driver assistance system may be configured for automated driving.

[0052] Within the scope of automated driving, the longitudinal and lateral control of the vehicle 400 are implemented automatically. Thus, the driver assistance system takes over the vehicle control. To this end, the driver assistance system controls the drive, the transmission, the hydraulic service brakes and the steering.

[0053] To plan and carry out automated driving, surround information from a surround sensor system observing the vehicle surround is received by the driver assistance system. In particular, the vehicle 400 may comprise at least one sensor device 100 according to the embodiments of the present disclosure, which are configured to record surround data specifying the vehicle surround. By way of example, the at least one sensor device 100 may comprise a lidar system, a radar system and/or a camera.

[0054] FIG. 5 schematically shows a flowchart of a method 500 for operating a sensor device according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The method 500 may be implemented by an appropriate algorithm that is executable by a processor (e.g., CPU).

[0055] In block 510 of the method 500, icing or fogging is detected in the detection region of the sensor device. This detection may be used as a trigger to drive the heating unit in block 520 in order to deice or dehumidify the detection region of the sensor device. The heating unit may be driven on the basis of the measured temperature in or on the detection region, at least one heating restriction (e.g., a maximum heating temperature), a heating strategy, etc.

[0056] The heating unit can be operated until at least one termination condition is satisfied in block 530. By way of example, the at least one termination condition may be the at least one heating restriction, the complete clearing of deiced or fogged surfaces, etc. If the at least one termination condition is satisfied, the heating process is terminated in block 540.

[0057] According to embodiments of the invention, the at least one temperature sensors is arranged on or in the at least one passage element of the sensor device. Expressed differently, the at least one temperature sensor is part of the sensor device and is not arranged outside of the sensor device. As a result, it is possible to determine more precisely whether the detection region of the at least one sensor unit is iced or fogged, and so the at least one heating unit can be controlled more precisely and hence a time for deicing or dehumidifying can be reduced. In this way, it is possible to improve, e.g., a driver assistance function for automated driving and/or design the latter to be safer.