Method for Operating a Heating Device for Controlling the Temperature of a Radome of a Radar Sensor of a Vehicle by Using Image Data from a Camera, Computing Device, Heating Control System and Vehicle

Abstract

A method for operating a heating device for controlling the temperature of a radome of a radar sensor of a vehicle includes the steps of: receiving surroundings data that describe surroundings of the vehicle and/or at least one area of the radome of the vehicle, detecting a deposit of a precipitation on the radome on the basis of the surroundings data, outputting a heating signal to the heating device in order to control the temperature of the radome on the basis of the detected deposit of the precipitation. The surroundings data received are image data from at least one camera of the vehicle. The image data are used to detect the precipitation in the surroundings and/or on the area of the radome.

Claims

1. A method for operating a heating device for controlling a temperature of a radome of a radar sensor of a vehicle, comprising: receiving surroundings data that describe surroundings of the vehicle and/or at least one area of the radome of the vehicle; detecting a deposit of a precipitation on the radome on the basis of the surroundings data; outputting a heating signal to the heating device in order to control the temperature of the radome on the basis of the detected deposit of the precipitation, wherein the surroundings data received are image data from at least one camera of the vehicle, and the image data are used to detect the precipitation in the surroundings and/or on the area of the radome.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein in order to detect the deposit, a deposit probability, which describes a probability of there being the deposit of the precipitation on the radome, is determined based on the image data, and the heating signal is output based on the deposit probability.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the image data describe the area of the radome and/or the deposit of the precipitation on the area of the radome.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the image data describe precipitation on and/or beside a road on which the vehicle is situated, and/or the image data describe falling precipitation.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the image data describe precipitation hurled up during convoy travel in which another road user travels in front of the vehicle.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the surroundings data received are further data that describe a temperature in the surroundings, a humidity in the surroundings, and/or a position of the vehicle, and the precipitation is characterized based on the image data and/or the further data.

7. A computing device for a heating control system for a radome of a vehicle, comprising: a processor configured to: receive surroundings data that describe surroundings of the vehicle and/or at least one area of the radome of the vehicle; detect a deposit of a precipitation on the radome on the basis of the surroundings data; output a heating signal to a heating device in order to control the temperature of the radome on the basis of the detected deposit of the precipitation, wherein the surroundings data received are image data from at least one camera of the vehicle, and the image data are used to detect the precipitation in the surroundings and/or on the area of the radome.

8. A heating control system for a radome of a vehicle, comprising: the computing device according to claim 7; the heating device for controlling the temperature of the radome; and the at least one camera for providing image data.

9. A vehicle comprising a heating control system according to claim 8.

10. The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the vehicle is an automobile.

11. The vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the at least one camera is arranged on the vehicle such that at least one area of the radome is situated in a capture zone of the at least one camera.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a vehicle that has a heating control system for controlling the temperature of a radome of a vehicle;

[0032] FIG. 2 is an enlarged representation of the vehicle shown in FIG. 1 that shows a deposit of a precipitation on the radome; and

[0033] FIG. 3 shows the vehicle shown in FIG. 1 during convoy travel in which another road user is in front of the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] In the figures, elements that are identical or that have an identical function are provided with the same reference signs.

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a vehicle 1, which is in the form of an automobile, in a side view. The vehicle 1 comprises a heating control system 2. This heating control system 2 in turn comprises a heating device 3 that is used to control the temperature of, or to heat, a radome 4 of the vehicle 1. The radome 4 serves as a cover for a radar sensor 5 of the vehicle 1. In the example shown, the radome 4 is formed by an area of an exterior cladding part 6 of the vehicle 1.

[0036] The heating control system 2 also comprises a computing device 7, which can comprise at least one electronic control unit. In addition, the heating control system 2 comprises a first camera 8, which is arranged on a front of the vehicle 1 in the example. Additionally, the heating control system 2 has a second camera 9, which is arranged behind a windshield 10 of the vehicle 1 in the example. The first camera 8 and the second camera 9 can each be used to provide image data that describe surroundings (environment) 11 of the vehicle 1. These image data are surroundings data. Further surroundings data that can be provided are data that describe a temperature and/or a humidity in the surroundings 11. The surroundings data can also describe a present position of the vehicle 1. These further surroundings data are provided by means of a unit 12 in the example.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows an enlarged representation of the vehicle 1 shown in FIG. 1. In this case, it can be seen that there is a deposit 13 of a precipitation on the radome 4. Precipitation can be ice, snow, slush or the like. This deposit 13 adversely affects the radar sensor 5 when transmitting and/or receiving a radar signal, or electromagnetic radiation. In order to remove the deposit 13 from the radome 4, or to melt the deposit 13, the heating device 3 is provided. This heating device 3 can be actuated, or activated, by means of the computing device 7.

[0038] The image data from the first camera 8 can be used to detect the deposit 13 on the radome 4. The first camera 8 is arranged on the vehicle 1 in such a way that at least areas of the radome 4 are situated in a capture zone of the first camera 8. The first camera 8 can preferably capture objects in an angle range of approximately 180°. In order to detect the deposit 13, the image data from the first camera 8 can be transmitted to the computing device 7 and evaluated by means of the computing device 7. The deposit 13 can be detected in a range of the image data that is associated with the radome 4. In particular, the deposit 13 can be detected on the basis of the color information. By way of example, a deposit 13 that comprises snow can be detected on the basis of the white or gray color.

[0039] The information about a presence and/or a form of the deposit determined on the basis of the image data is used to enable a control loop for heating the radome 4. In particular, the detected deposit 13, a type of the deposit 13 and/or an amount of the deposit 13 can be taken as a basis for controlling a heating power provided by the heating device 3.

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a schematic representation of the vehicle from FIG. 1 during convoy travel. During this convoy travel, another road user 14 travels in front of the vehicle 1, the vehicle 1 and the other road user 14 moving in the same direction of travel. The other road user 14 is likewise an automobile in the example. It is assumed that a road 15 on which the vehicle 1 and the other road user 14 are situated has the precipitation on it. By way of example, there may be snow on the road 15 as precipitation. This precipitation on the road 15 and beside the road 15 can be detected on the basis of the image data from the first camera 8 and/or the second camera 9.

[0041] The precipitation on the road 15 can also be swirled up or hurled up by the wheels of the other road user 14 that are rolling on the road 15. This swirled-up precipitation is illustrated by the lines 16 in the present case. This swirled-up precipitation can also be detected on the basis of the image data from the first camera 8 and/or the second camera 9. The image data can be used to determine a deposit probability that describes a probability of there being the deposit 13 of the precipitation on the radome 4. Additionally, the further surroundings data can also be taken into consideration in order to determine the deposit probability. By way of example, the deposit probability can additionally be ascertained on the basis of the temperature, the humidity, the position of the vehicle 1 and/or the present speed of the vehicle 1.

[0042] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.