Device for automatically cleaning windows
OwnerAchim Neubauer, Martin-Peter Bolz +2inventors
InventorsAchim Neubauer, Martin-Peter Bolz, Jochen Moench, Hartmut Krueger
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Abstract
The invention relates to a method and a device for controlling a cleaning device of a vehicle. Said device comprises a sensor device (10) which uses ultrasonic sensors for recognising fixed objects for detecting environmental parameters, such as rain or snow.
Claims9
A device for the automatic cleaning of windows, in particular the rear windshield of a motor vehicle, comprising:
- a cleaning system (34);
- a control device (32) controlling the cleaning system (34),
- wherein a sensor device (10) is provided, which is connected to the control device (32) for controlling the cleaning system (34) and is able to emit signals that are a function of the distances between it and other solid, in particular stationary, objects within its detection range, and of environmental parameters.
The device as recited in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (32), for controlling the cleaning system (34) is connected to additional drive-condition information sensors (56).
The device as recited in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (32) is connected to a front-windshield rain sensor and controls the cleaning system (34) as a function of its signals.
The device as recited in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor device (10) has integrated signal-conditioning, in particular signal amplification and/or filtering, to detect the environmental parameters, especially spray water.
The device as recited in one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning system (34) is designed as a wipe-wash system.
A method for controlling a cleaning system (34), in particular for cleaning the windshields of a motor vehicle, comprising at least the following steps:
- emission of at least one precipitation-dependent signal by an ultrasound sensor (10);
- processing of the signal over a specified time interval;
- comparing the processed signal to at least one threshold;
- release of an operating signal to the cleaning system (34) when at least one of the at least one thresholds is exceeded or undershot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.