METHOD AND A SYSTEM FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF AN ASSISTANCE SYSTEM FOR A WINDSCREEN OF A CAB OF A VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a management method of an assistance system for a windscreen of a cab of a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a camera assembly including at least one camera located on the top of the windscreen with an angle between 25° and 75° with respect to the windscreen, for providing a captured image of a wide angle field of view located in front of the vehicle, said wide angle field of view comprising a first front field of vision, a second field of vision of a front-view and a third rear field of the vision, the method comprising: Determining a state of the windscreen using the at least one camera and Processing the captured image, according to the state of the windscreen, to operate the windscreen system on the windscreen.

Claims

1. A management method of an assistance system for a windscreen of a cab of a vehicle, the method comprising: determining a state of a windscreen of a cab of a vehicle using at least one camera of at least one camera assembly, the at least one camera located on top of the windscreen with an angle between 25° and 75° with respect to the windscreen for providing a captured image of a wide angle field of view located in front of the vehicle, the wide angle field of view comprising a first front field of vision, a second field of vision of a front-view, and a third rear field of vision; and processing the captured image, according to the state of the windscreen, to operate the windscreen system on the windscreen.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the field of vision of the at least one camera is between 150 and 180°.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first front field of vision corresponds to a first part of the captured image, the second field of view corresponds to a second part of the captured image, and the third field of view corresponds to a third part of the captured image.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the processing of the captured image is based at least on the third part of the captured image.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the third rear field of vision provides the captured image including at least 60% of the windscreen.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the camera assembly including the at least one camera is located on the top of the windscreen with an angle between 40 and 60° with respect to the windscreen.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the camera assembly comprises the at least one camera mounted on at least one side of the windscreen.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the state of the windscreen comprises at least one of clean, snowy, wet, dirty or frost.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the windscreen system comprises at least one of a wiping system, a cleaning system, or a heating system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the wiping system comprises wiping blades.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the cleaning system comprises cleaning nozzles.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the heating system comprises a heating foils system or a heating air system.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the windscreen system can manage cleaning, wiping, heating and/or defrosting of the windscreen depending on the state of the windscreen.

14. A system for the management of an assistance system for a windscreen of a cab of a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a camera assembly including at least one camera located on top of the windscreen with an angle between 25 and 75° with respect to the windscreen for providing a captured image of a wide angle field of view located in front of the vehicle, the wide angle field of view of the at least one camera comprises a first front field of vision, a second field of vision of a front-view, and a third rear field of vision, the system comprising: a windscreen system; and a controller capable of receiving a state of the windscreen from the at least one camera and of processing the captured image, according to the state of the windscreen, to manage the windscreen system on the windscreen.

15. A vehicle comprising: a cab including a windscreen having front and rear wheels; a vehicle internal communication network; a camera assembly including at least one camera located on top of the windscreen with an angle between 25 and 75° with respect to the windscreen for providing a captured image of a wide angle field of view located in front of the vehicle, the wide angle field of view of the at least one camera comprises a first front field of vision, a second field of vision of a front-view, and a third rear field of vision; and a system for the management of an assistance system for the windscreen of the cab, the system comprising: a windscreen system; and a controller capable of receiving a state of the windscreen from the at least one camera and of processing the captured image, according to the state of the windscreen, to manage the windscreen system on the windscreen; wherein the camera assembly, the windscreen system, and the controller are linked by the vehicle internal communication network.

16. The vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the vehicle comprises an electrical control unit, the controller being linked to the electrical control unit or integrated into the electrical control unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0038] With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a more detailed description of embodiments of the invention cited as examples.

[0039] In the drawings:

[0040] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle according to the invention and

[0041] FIG. 2 is a perspective view forward from the interior of a vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0042] In the following description, X is defined as the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 1, Y is defined as the transversal direction and Z is defined as the vertical direction of the vehicle 1.

[0043] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the vehicle 1 comprises a cab 2 defining a driver's compartment 3. The cab 2 has side walls 4 each comprising a door 5 and a front wall 6 including a windscreen 7. The vehicle 1 further comprises front wheels 8, and rear wheels 9.

[0044] FIG. 1 illustrates an example wherein the vehicle 1 is a truck having a trailer and rear wheels 31.

[0045] The vehicle 1 can also comprise an image capturing assembly 11 mounted on the front wall of the cabin. The image capturing assembly 11 is configured to be placed outside of the cab 2. The image capturing assembly 11 is located on the upper part of the cab 2 and, preferably, above the windscreen 7. The image capturing assembly 11 can also be secured on the cab roof panel overlooking the vehicle front area. The image capturing assembly 11 can be located ideally on the top centre of the windscreen 7 or can be located on the top side of the windscreen 7.

[0046] The image capturing assembly 11 includes at least one camera 12 located on the top right of the windscreen 7 with an angle α between 25 and 75° with respect to the windscreen 7 for providing a captured image of a wide angle field of view located in front of the vehicle 1. The image capturing assembly 11 is part of a so-called camera monitoring system (CMS) and provides the driver with an image of truck front area.

[0047] For example, the angle β of the field of vision of the camera can be between 150 and 180°. The field of vision of the camera 11 can comprise a first front field of vision F1, a second field of vision F2 of a class VI front-view according to the Regulation UN ECE n ° 46 and a third windscreen field of the vision F3.

[0048] The first front field of vision F1 corresponds to a first part of the captured image (not shown), the second field of view F2 corresponds to a second part of the captured image (not shown) and the third field of view F3 corresponds to a third part of the captured image (not shown). For example, the first part of the captured image can provide data, for example, to the collision system of a vehicle. The second part of the captured image can be the one displayed for example on a monitor for the driver to improve its visibility. For example, the third rear field of vision F3 provides a captured image including at least 60% of the windscreen 7.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle 1 can comprise a system for the management of an assistance system (not shown) for a windscreen 7 of a cab 2 of a vehicle 1 comprising a controller 20 and a windscreen system (not shown). The controller 20 can be linked to the electrical control unit (ECU) 10 via a vehicle CAN bus 23 including an electrical wiring 24. The network 23 is configured to establish electric connection and communication between the camera assembly 11, the system and various components.

[0050] The method for the management of an assistance system for a windscreen 7 of a cab 2 of a vehicle 1 comprises determining the state of the windscreen 7 using the camera assembly 11 and processing the captured image, according to the state of the windscreen, to manage the windscreen system on the windscreen 7.

[0051] The camera assembly 11 provides a state of the windscreen 7 chosen from among: clean, snowy, wet, dirty or frost. For example, the camera assembly 11 determines when the windscreen 7 is wet if it is raining outside. For example, the camera assembly 11 determines when the windscreen 7 is snowy if it is snowing outside. For example, the camera assembly 11 determines that when the windscreen 7 is frost if the temperature is below 0° outside. For example, the windscreen 7 is dirty if the vehicle 1 goes through the mud.

[0052] Then, the controller 20 can receive a state of the windscreen 7 from the camera 12 and processes the captured image to manage the windscreen system on the windscreen 7. For example, the wiping system turns on when the windscreen 7 is wet. For example, the cleaning system turns on when the windscreen 7 is dirty or snowy. For example, the heating system turns on when the windscreen 7 is frost or snowy.

[0053] The wiping system can comprise wiping blades. For example, the camera 12 based on the first front field of view F1 can capture soiling in front of the vehicle and based on the third field of view F3 can capture the state of the windscreen 7 so that the wiping parameters are adapted. For example, the camera 12 based on the third field of view F3 can capture snow on the windscreen 7 so that the wiping angle is adjusted to avoid motor heating and system breakage.

[0054] The cleaning system can comprise cleaning nozzles.

[0055] The heating system can comprise a heating foils system, for example monitoring by a heating control or a heating air system, for example monitoring by the heating and ventilation system of the vehicle.

[0056] The present invention provides an optimized method and system to easily manage the windscreen of the vehicle, in particular of a truck, based on more precise data collected by a specific camera assembly.

[0057] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.