Camera based activation of heated wipers and windshield defrost
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsGary Rushton, Mohannad Murad, Lynn Y. Lau
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method to automatically activate at least one cold weather feature of a vehicle includes determining if the vehicle is in a state for activating at least one cold weather feature, and then determining at least one cold weather condition exists for activating at least one cold weather feature. When it is determined that at least one cold weather condition exists the at least one cold weather feature is automatically activated.
Claims11
A method to automatically activate at least one cold weather feature of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- determining if the vehicle is in a state for activating at least one cold weather feature by determining if the vehicle has been remotely started;
- activating a front camera configured to view through a vehicle windshield when the vehicle has been remotely started;
- determining at least one cold weather condition exists for activating at least one cold weather feature by reading the front camera configured to view through the vehicle windshield;
- and
- automatically activating at least one cold weather feature when it is determined that at least one cold weather condition exists, wherein automatically activating the at least one cold weather feature includes activating a wiper deicer when vehicle wipers are not visible by the front camera.
A method to automatically activate at least one cold weather feature of a vehicle, the method comprising:
- determining if the vehicle is in a state for activating at least one cold weather feature including determining if the vehicle is being driven with windshield wipers on;
- determining at least one cold weather condition exists for activating at least one cold weather feature by:
- reading a front camera configured to view through a vehicle windshield when the vehicle is being driven with the windshield wipers on;
- estimating a time when the windshield wipers are positioned in a field of view of the front camera;
- reading an image from the front camera at the estimated time;
- verifying a cold weather condition from the image;
- reading an outside air temperature sensor or cold weather alerts received by the vehicle from a remote location;
- and
- determining the outside air temperature is below a threshold value or receipt of the cold weather alerts;
- and
- automatically activating at least one cold weather feature when it is determined that at least one cold weather condition exists.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.