'UNKNOWN'

Abstract

A method for operating a wiper (12) of a vehicle (10) having at least one autonomous driving mode is proposed, wherein the autonomous driving mode is based at least on sensor data of at least one sensor (14) of the vehicle (10), wherein the wiper (12) comprises an automated, in particular autonomous, sensor safety mode, in which an uninterrupted and/or fault-free operation of the sensor (14) is ensured with the aid of the wiper (12), and wherein the sensor safety mode is, in particular automatically, activated when the autonomous driving mode of the vehicle (10) is activated.

Claims

1. A method for operating a wiper (12) of a vehicle (10) having at least one autonomous driving mode, wherein the autonomous driving mode is based at least on sensor data of at least one sensor (14) of the vehicle (10), wherein the wiper (12) comprises an automated sensor safety mode, in which an uninterrupted and/or fault-free operation of the sensor (14) is ensured with the aid of the wiper (12), and wherein the sensor safety mode is activated when the autonomous driving mode of the vehicle (10) is activated.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor safety mode comprises a water shielding function in which the sensor (14), is at least substantially shielded from water by the wiper (12).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein a deflection element (18) of the wiper (12) keeps precipitation and/or spray water at least partially away from the sensor (14), by deflecting the flow.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein water moved along a surface of the vehicle (10) is kept away from the sensor (14) by a surface contact element (30) of the wiper (12) by deflection.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor safety mode comprises a sensor test function in which at least a portion of a sensor field of view (26) of the sensor (14) is specifically obscured by at least a part of the wiper (12).

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor safety mode comprises a sensor cleaning function in which the sensor (14), is cleaned by a wiping movement of the wiper (12).

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor safety mode is deactivated when the autonomous driving mode of the vehicle (10) is deactivated, or an occupant of the vehicle (10) is requested to confirm continued operation of the sensor safety mode.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor safety mode is automatically deactivated when the wiper (12) is manually activated by an occupant of the vehicle (10).

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor safety mode, when activated outside the autonomous driving mode of the vehicle (10), is activated exclusively after a request and/or reconfirmation of an occupant of the vehicle (10).

10. A computing unit (28) which is configured to perform a method according to claim 1.

11. A vehicle (10) comprising at least one autonomous driving mode having at least one sensor (14), on whose sensor data the autonomous driving mode is at least partially based, having a wiper (12) and having a computing unit (28), wherein the computing unit (28) is configured to carry out a method according to claim 1.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor safety mode is an autonomous safety mode.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensor safety mode is automatically activated when the autonomous driving mode of the vehicle (10) is activated.

14. The method according to claim 2, wherein the water shielding function is one which can be activated automatically as required.

15. The method according to claim 2, wherein a sensor field cover (16) of the sensor (14) is at least substantially shielded from water by the wiper (12).

16. The method according to claim 3, wherein a spoiler of the wiper (12) keeps precipitation and/or spray water at least partially away from the sensor (14).

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the spoiler keeps precipitation and/or spray water at least partially away from the sensor field cover (16).

18. The method according to claim 4, wherein water moved along a surface of a window (22) of the vehicle (10) which can be cleaned by the wiper (12), by a wind of travel, is kept away from the sensor (14).

19. The method according to claim 8, wherein the sensor safety mode is automatically deactivated when the wiper (12) is manually activated by a driver.

20. The computing unit of claim 10, wherein the computing unit is a control unit and/or a regulating unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Further advantages follow from the description of the drawings hereinafter. The drawings illustrate an embodiment example of the invention. The drawings, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person skilled in the art will appropriately also consider the features individually and combine them into additional advantageous combinations.

[0019] Shown are:

[0020] FIG. 1 a vehicle having a wiper and having a sensor,

[0021] FIG. 2 a schematic cross-sectional view of the wiper with a deflection element,

[0022] FIG. 3 a schematic representation of the wiper with a surface contact element,

[0023] FIG. 4 a schematic representation of the wiper with the sensor covered and

[0024] FIG. 5 a schematic flow diagram of a method according to the invention for operating the wiper.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 is designed as an autonomous or semi-autonomous and/or manually operated vehicle 10. The vehicle 10 has an autonomous and/or semi-autonomous driving mode. The vehicle 10 is designed as a car. The vehicle 10 could also be configured as a truck or ship and/or an aircraft or drone or train or the like. The vehicle 10 includes a window 22. The window 22 is configured as a vehicle window. The window is configured as a windshield/front windshield. The window 22 could also be configured as a rear window or a comparable window 22, for example a sensor window. The vehicle 10 comprises a sensor 14. The sensor 14 is designed as a vehicle sensor. The sensor 14 is arranged in a rear view mirror base. The sensor 14 is arranged in a passenger compartment. The sensor 14 contacts the window 22. The sensor 14 comprises a sensor field cover 16. The sensor field cover 16 is formed by the window 22 of the vehicle 10. The sensor field cover 16 is designed to be transparent. The sensor 14 comprises a sensor field of view 26. The sensor field cover 16 defines the sensor field of view 26. The sensor 14 detects a vehicle environment arranged within the sensor field of view 26. The sensor 14 provides sensor data. The sensor data could be configured as image data of the vehicle environment.

[0026] The vehicle 10 includes a wiper 12. The wiper 12 has a safety mode. The safety mode is configured to ensure uninterrupted and/or error-free operation of the sensor 14. The sensor safety mode includes a water shielding function. The sensor safety mode includes a sensor test function. The sensor safety mode includes a sensor cleaning function. The sensor safety mode could include other functions, such as a sensor protection function or the like. The wiper 12 comprises a wiper arm 32. The wiper arm 32 is coupled to a wiper drive 34 of the vehicle 10. The wiper 12 comprises a wiper blade 36. The wiper blade 36 has a wiper lip 24. Preferably, the wiper lip 24 is made of a rubber material. The wiper lip 24 contacts the window 22. The wiper lip 24 is configured to be moved over the window 22 in an operation. The area of the washer 22 swept by the wiper lip 24 is configured as a wiping area 40. The wiping area 40 is formed as a circular sector. The circular sector includes a smallest angle 62 of a maximum of 180?. The sensor field cover 16 is arranged within the wiping area 40. The window 22 has a sensor wiping zone 42. The sensor wiping zone 42 is configured as a partial area of the wiping area 40. The sensor wiping zone 42 completely overlaps the sensor field cover 16 of the sensor 14. The sensor wiping zone 42 is configured as another circular sector. The further circular sector of the sensor wiping zone 42 has a further smallest angle 64 which is less than a smallest angle 62 of the circular sector of the wiping area 40. The further circular sector has a further smallest angle 64 of a maximum of 30?. The vehicle 10 comprises a computing unit 28. The computing unit 28 is configured as an internal and/or external control and/or regulating unit. The computing unit 28 is configured to control and/or regulate the autonomous driving mode based on the sensor data of the sensor 14. The computing unit 28 is configured to control and/or regulate the wiper 12. It is conceivable that the control and/or regulating unit 40 is configured as a controller of the vehicle 10.

[0027] FIG. 2 shows the window 22 in a schematic cross-sectional view. Furthermore, FIG. 2 shows the wiper 12. The wiper lip 24 of the wiper 12 contacts the window 22. The wiper 12 is configured to shield the sensor field cover 16 of the sensor 14 from water. The wiper 12 comprises a deflection element 18. The deflection element 18 is configured as a spoiler. The deflection element 18 is configured to deflect a fluid flow. The fluid flow is formed by the wind of travel and/or an ambient wind. The deflection element 18 is configured to keep a precipitation and/or spray water away from the sensor field cover 16 by deflecting the flow. The deflection element 18 provides a slipstream 38. The wiper 12 is positioned on the window 22 in an operating state, such that the sensor field cover 16 is arranged in the slipstream 38 of the deflection element 18 of the wiper 12.

[0028] FIG. 3 shows the window 22 in a schematic top plan view. Furthermore, FIG. 2 shows the wiper 12. The wiper 12 comprises a surface contact element 30. The surface contact element 30 of the wiper 12 contacts the window 22. The surface contact element 30 of the wiper 12 pressed onto the window 22 is formed as a fluid-tight contact between the wiper 12 and the window 22. The surface contact element 30 is configured as the wiper lip 24 of the wiper 12. The surface contact element 30 is configured to keep water moved along the window 22 away from the sensor field cover 16 by deflection.

[0029] FIG. 4 shows the window 22 in a schematic top plan view. Furthermore, FIG. 2 shows the wiper 12. The wiper 12 is arranged such that a portion of the wiper 12 is arranged on the sensor field cover 16. The wiper 12 completely overlaps the sensor field cover 16 in a longitudinal direction of the wiper 12. The wiper 12 obscures a partial area from the sensor field of view 26. The sensor 14 is configured to detect a partial concealment/covering of the sensor field cover 16. It is conceivable that the wiper 12 completely covers the sensor field cover 16 and/or the sensor field of view 26. The partial concealment/covering of the sensor field cover 16 by the wiper 12 can check whether the sensor 14 detects a contamination/wetting of the sensor field cover 16 without errors.

[0030] FIG. 5 shows a schematic flow diagram of a method according to the invention for operating the wiper 12.

[0031] In a method step 44, an uninterrupted and/or error-free operation of the sensor 14 is ensured with the aid of the wiper 12 by automatically activating the sensor safety mode when the autonomous driving mode of the vehicle 10 is activated. It is conceivable that the sensor safety mode is manually activated by a vehicle occupant. It is conceivable that the sensor safety mode is automatically/or manually activated when a semi-autonomous driving mode of the vehicle 10 is activated.

[0032] In a further method step 46, the sensor field cover 16 of the sensor 14 is shielded from precipitation and/or spray water by the wiper 12. The sensor field cover 16 of the sensor 14 is shielded by a water shielding function which can be activated automatically as required. The water shielding function is activated when a soiling/wetting of the sensor field cover 16 is detected by the sensor 14. The water shielding function is activated when there is a high probability of precipitation. The precipitation probability could be provided, for example, by data of a weather service.

[0033] In a further method step 48, the precipitation and/or spray water is kept away from the deflection element 18 of the wiper 12 by deflecting the flow away from the sensor field cover 16 of the sensor 14. The deflection element 18 deflects the wind of travel, such that the sensor field cover 16 is protected from the precipitation and/or spray water by the slipstream 38 (see FIG. 2).

[0034] In a further method step 50, the water moved along the windshield 22, which can be cleaned by the wiper 12, is kept away from the sensor field cover 16 by the wiper lip 24 of the wiper 12 by deflection (see FIG. 3). It is conceivable that the further method step 48 and the further method step 50 are performed simultaneously.

[0035] In a further method step 52, a sensor test function of the sensor safety mode is automatically activated as required. The sensor test function is activated at regular intervals. For example, the sensor test function could be activated after a start of the engine. Alternatively, the sensor test function could be activated each time the wiper 12 is swept over the sensor field cover. In the sensor test function, a portion of the sensor field of view 26 of the sensor 14 is specifically obscured by a portion of the wiper 12. While the portion of the sensor field of view 26 is obscured by the portion of the wiper 12, it is checked whether the sensor 14 detects the covering, which simulates soiling/wetting, without errors (see FIG. 4).

[0036] In a further method step 54, a sensor cleaning function of the sensor safety mode is automatically activated as required. For example, the sensor cleaning function is activated when a precipitation is detected by the sensor 14. In the sensor cleaning function, the window 22 covering the sensor 14 is cleaned by a wiping movement of the wiper 12. To this end, the wiper 24 of the wiper 12 is moved over the window 22. The window 22 is cleaned by the water on the window 22 being mechanically wiped off by the wiper lip 24 and/or pushed to one side of the window 22. It is conceivable that the window 22 is cleaned at different cleaning intervals.

In a further method step 56, the sensor safety mode is automatically deactivated when the autonomous driving mode of the vehicle 10 is deactivated. Alternatively, a driver of the vehicle 10 is requested to confirm continued operation of the sensor safety mode.

[0037] In a further method step 58, the sensor safety mode is automatically deactivated when the wiper 12 is manually activated by a driver of the vehicle 10. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the driver is requested to wait until a cleaning state of the sensor 14 permits cleaning of the window 22. For example, the driver could be requested to agree to prioritize cleaning the sensor 14 prior to cleaning the window 22.

[0038] In a further method step 60, the sensor safety mode is activated outside the autonomous driving mode of the vehicle 10 only after a request and/or reconfirmation by the driver. For example, the safety mode is activated in a semi-autonomous or manual driving mode of the vehicle 10 only when the driver confirms the request for activation.