阅读说明：本技术 用于清洁机动车辆的至少两个传感器/发射器的系统 (System for cleaning at least two sensors/emitters of a motor vehicle ) 是由 F.吉劳德 A.菲洛克斯 于 2020-03-18 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于清洁机动车辆的传感器/发射器(200、300)的系统(100),其中控制单元(140)配置成接收请求启动第一和/或第二喷射装置(150、160)的一条信息(210、310),以便一方面根据分配回路(130)的在储存器(110)和待启动的第一和/或第二喷射装置(150、160)之间延伸的一部分的长度且另一方面根据第一和/或第二喷射装置(150、160)的期望操作压力来确定泵(120)的操作参数的理论值,以便将理论值(120)与实际值(120)进行比较,并且以便根据比较结果确定分配回路(130)的该部分的状态。(The invention relates to a system (100) for cleaning a sensor/emitter (200, 300) of a motor vehicle, wherein a control unit (140) is configured to receive a piece of information (210, 310) requesting the activation of a first and/or a second spraying device (150, 160), in order to determine a theoretical value of an operating parameter of a pump (120) on the basis of the length of a portion of a dispensing circuit (130) extending between a reservoir (110) and the first and/or second spraying device (150, 160) to be activated on the one hand and on the basis of a desired operating pressure of the first and/or second spraying device (150, 160) on the other hand, in order to compare the theoretical value (120) with an actual value (120) and in order to determine the status of the portion of the dispensing circuit (130) on the basis of the comparison result.)

1. A system (100) for cleaning at least two sensor/emitters (200, 300) of a motor vehicle, the system (100) comprising at least one first device (140) for spraying cleaning fluid onto at least one first sensor/emitter (200), at least one second device (160) for spraying cleaning fluid onto at least one second sensor/emitter (300), at least one reservoir (110) for storing cleaning fluid, at least one circuit (130) for distributing cleaning fluid connecting the reservoir (110) to the first and second cleaning fluid spraying devices (150, 160), at least one electronic pump (120) and at least one control unit (140), characterized in that the control unit (140) is configured to receive information about the activation of the first and/or second device (150 ), 160) To spray a cleaning fluid, in order to determine a theoretical value of at least one operating parameter of the pump (120) firstly as a function of the length of the portion of the dispensing circuit (130) extending between the reservoir (110) and the first and/or second cleaning fluid spraying device (150, 160) to be activated and secondly as a function of a desired operating pressure (P1) of the first and/or second spraying device (150, 160), in order to compare the theoretical value of the operating parameter of the pump (120) with an actual value of the operating parameter of the pump (120), and in order to determine the state of said portion of the cleaning fluid dispensing circuit (130) as a function of the result of said comparison.

2. The cleaning system (100) of the preceding claim, wherein the control unit (140) is configured to determine the information about the leakage in the portion of the cleaning fluid distribution circuit (130) if the actual value of the operating parameter of the pump (120) is smaller than the theoretical value of the operating parameter of the pump (120) and if the difference between the actual value and the theoretical value of the operating parameter is greater than or equal to 5% of the theoretical value of the operating parameter of the pump (120).

3. The cleaning system (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (140) is configured to determine the information about the blockage in the portion of the cleaning fluid distribution circuit (130) if the actual value of the operating parameter of the pump (120) is greater than a theoretical value of the operating parameter of the pump (120) and if a difference between the actual value and the theoretical value of the operating parameter is greater than or equal to 5% of the theoretical value of the operating parameter of the pump (120).

4. The cleaning system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating parameter of the pump (120) is the rotational speed (V) of the pump (120) or the power supply (A) of the pump (120).

5. The cleaning system (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (140) and the pump (120) are two separate elements.

6. A method for implementing a cleaning system (100) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising: -a step of the control unit (140) receiving information (210, 310) about a request for injection of cleaning fluid at a given pressure (P1) by the first and/or second cleaning fluid injection means (150, 160), -a step of the control unit (140) selecting from a plurality of load loss curves (A, B, C) a curve corresponding to a portion of the distribution circuit (130) extending between the reservoir (110) and the first and/or second cleaning fluid distribution means (160) to be activated, and-a step of the control unit (140) selecting an operating curve (D, E, F) of the pump (120) allowing to obtain a determined pressure (P1) according to the previously selected load loss curve.

7. The method of the preceding claim, comprising: -a step of the control unit (140) determining a theoretical power supply (At) of the pump (120) corresponding to the selected operating curve (D, E, F), -a step of the control unit (140) measuring the power supply (Ar1, Ar2, Ar3) actually supplied to the pump (120) in order to achieve the selected operating curve (D, E, F), -a step of the control unit (140) comparing the theoretical power supply (At) of the pump (120) with the power supplies (Ar1, Ar2, Ar3) actually supplied to the pump (120), and-a step of the control unit (140) determining the status of the portion of the distribution circuit (130) according to the comparison between the theoretical power supply (At) of the pump (120) and the actual power supplies (Ar1, Ar2, Ar3) of said pump (120).

8. The method of the preceding claim, comprising the step of the control unit (140) determining information about a leak in a part of the cleaning fluid distribution circuit (130) when the value of the actual power supply (Ar3) of the pump (120) is less than the value of the theoretical power supply (At) of the pump (120).

9. The method according to any one of claims 7 or 8, comprising the step of the control unit (140) determining information about a blockage in the cleaning fluid distribution circuit (130) when the value of the actual power supply (Ar2) of the pump (120) is greater than the value of the theoretical power supply (At) of the pump (120).

10. A motor vehicle comprising at least one cleaning system (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and a plurality of sensor/emitters (200, 300), wherein at least one cleaning fluid injection device (150, 160) is associated with each sensor/emitter (200, 300), wherein a cleaning fluid distribution circuit (130) connects the cleaning fluid reservoir (110) to all devices (150, 160) for injecting the cleaning fluid, and wherein the length of the cleaning fluid distribution circuit (130) measured between the cleaning fluid reservoir (110) and any cleaning fluid injection device (150, 160) is different from the length of the cleaning fluid distribution circuit (130) measured between the cleaning fluid reservoir (110) and another cleaning fluid injection device (150, 160).

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of cleaning sensors/emitters for motor vehicles, and more particularly to a cleaning system capable of detecting problems, such as leaks or blockages in the conduit arranged between a cleaning fluid reservoir and the sensor/emitter to be cleaned.

Background

Modern motor vehicles contain an increasing number of driving assistance systems, which aim to make the vehicle autonomous in an increasing number of changing situations. Such driving assistance systems comprise, inter alia, sensors and transmitters which allow the vehicle or the driver to obtain data about the vehicle environment depending on the degree of autonomy of the vehicle in order to make driving decisions.

It is critical that these driving assistance systems be safe and always operational. Therefore, the sensor/transmitter must be always clean to get as good data acquisition as possible.

Thus, the vehicle comprises in a known manner a system for cleaning these sensors/emitters, which is controlled to provide a cleaning function when the sensors/emitters are not sufficiently clean to operate properly. These cleaning systems comprise, in particular, at least one cleaning fluid reservoir, at least one spraying device capable of spraying the cleaning fluid onto the sensor/emitter, and at least one distribution circuit connecting the cleaning fluid reservoir to the spray nozzle.

However, these cleaning systems are not entirely satisfactory, since no information is received about the correct supply of these spraying devices, in particular about the state of the dispensing circuit. For example, these cleaning systems of today do not allow for detecting leaks or blockages in the distribution circuit.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is in this context and aims at least to remedy the above-mentioned problems by proposing a system for cleaning at least two sensors/emitters of a motor vehicle, comprising at least one first device for spraying a cleaning fluid onto at least one first sensor/emitter, at least one second device for spraying a cleaning fluid onto at least one second sensor/emitter, at least one reservoir for storing the cleaning fluid, at least one circuit for dispensing the cleaning fluid connecting the reservoir to the first and second cleaning fluid spraying devices, at least one electronic pump and at least one control unit. According to the invention, the control unit is configured to receive information about a request to activate the first and/or second device to eject the cleaning fluid, so as to determine a theoretical value of at least one operating parameter of the pump, firstly as a function of the length of the portion of the dispensing circuit extending between the reservoir and the first and/or second cleaning fluid ejection device to be activated, and secondly as a function of a desired operating pressure of the first and/or second ejection device, so as to compare the theoretical value of the operating parameter of the pump with an actual value of the operating parameter of the pump, and so as to determine a state of said portion of the cleaning fluid dispensing circuit as a function of the result of said comparison.

The term "distribution circuit" in the present application refers to: a hydraulic network serving each injection device connected to the network; and an independent conduit serving each injection device independently of the other injection devices. It will be appreciated that by taking into account the length of the relevant part of the distribution circuit, it is possible to take into account the load loss of the cleaning fluid observed on said circuit part in order to determine the theoretical value of the pump operating parameter as accurately as possible.

According to a feature of the invention, the control unit is configured for determining information about a leak in the portion of the cleaning fluid distribution circuit if the actual value of the operating parameter of the pump is less than the theoretical value of the operating parameter of the pump and if the difference between the actual value and the theoretical value of the operating parameter is greater than or equal to 5% of the theoretical value of the operating parameter of the pump.

According to another feature of the invention, the control unit is configured to determine information about a blockage in the portion of the cleaning fluid distribution circuit if the actual value of the operating parameter of the pump is greater than the theoretical value of the operating parameter of the pump and if the difference between the actual value and the theoretical value of the operating parameter is greater than or equal to 5% of the theoretical value of the operating parameter of the pump.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the operating parameter of the pump is the rotational speed of the pump or the power supply of the pump. For example, it is checked whether the actual power supply corresponds to the power supply normally required to achieve the desired pump speed, which is determined from the length of the distribution circuit portion and the desired operating pressure of the first and/or second injection device.

According to a feature of the invention, the control unit and the pump are two separate elements. According to this feature of the invention, the pump comprises at least one command unit containing at least one optimal operating profile of said pump. This command unit, which is specific to the pump, also comprises means for communicating with the control unit of the cleaning system according to the invention. The cleaning system control unit includes load loss curves for the various circuit portions extending between the reservoir and each cleaning fluid ejection device. Advantageously, the fact that the command unit of the electronic pump and the control unit of the cleaning system can communicate allows for the standardization of these elements without the need to program them for each new installation on a given vehicle, i.e. without the need to manually store the pump operating parameters in the cleaning system control unit or to manually store the load loss curves of different parts of the distribution circuit in the pump command unit.

The invention also relates to a method for implementing a cleaning system according to the invention, comprising: the method comprises the steps of a control unit receiving information about a request to eject cleaning fluid at a given pressure by a first and/or second cleaning fluid ejection device, the control unit selecting from a plurality of load loss profiles a profile corresponding to a portion of the dispensing circuit extending between the reservoir and the first and/or second cleaning fluid dispensing device to be activated, and the control unit selecting an operating profile of the pump that allows to obtain a determined pressure according to the previously selected load loss profile.

In other words, it will be appreciated that the pump operating profile is selected according to the length of the portion of the distribution circuit that must be supplied, the load loss along the circuit directly related to its length, and the required pressure of the first and/or second injection means. The pump operating curve itself may be, for example, a curve representing the pressure as a function of the flow rate of the cleaning fluid at a given pump speed.

According to the invention, the method further comprises: the method comprises the steps of a control unit determining a theoretical power supply of the pump corresponding to a selected operating curve, a control unit measuring the power supply actually supplied to the pump in order to achieve the selected operating curve, a control unit comparing the theoretical power supply of the pump with the power supply actually supplied to the pump, and a control unit determining the state of a part of the distribution circuit from the comparison between the theoretical power supply of the pump and the actual power supply of said pump.

According to a feature of the invention, the method comprises a step of the control unit determining information about a leak in the portion of the cleaning fluid distribution circuit when the value of the actual power supply of the pump is less than the value of the theoretical power supply of the pump.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the method comprises a step of the control unit determining information about a blockage in the cleaning fluid distribution circuit when the value of the actual power supply of the pump is greater than the value of the theoretical power supply of the pump.

Advantageously, when two injection devices are activated simultaneously and the control unit detects a leak or a blockage in the relevant part of the distribution circuit, the control unit may also be configured to issue a command to activate the first injection device and a command to shut down the second injection device and to restart the method just described. The control unit may thus improve the result of its first comparison and provide information about the state of the portion of the dispensing circuit extending between the reservoir and the first spraying device and another portion of the dispensing circuit extending between the first spraying device and the second spraying device.

The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one cleaning system according to the invention and a plurality of sensor/emitters, wherein at least one cleaning fluid spraying device is associated with each sensor/emitter, a cleaning fluid distribution circuit connecting the cleaning fluid reservoir to all devices for spraying said cleaning fluid, and wherein the length of the cleaning fluid distribution circuit measured between the cleaning fluid reservoir and any cleaning fluid spraying device is different from the length of the cleaning fluid distribution circuit measured between the cleaning fluid reservoir and another cleaning fluid spraying device.

Drawings

Further characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will become clearer from reading the following description, given by way of non-limiting indication, of a plurality of exemplary embodiments, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a system for cleaning at least two sensors/emitters according to the present invention;

figure 2 shows a graph forming the basis of a control unit of the cleaning system according to the invention for optimizing the functioning of the cleaning system;

fig. 3 shows another graph forming the basis of the control unit of the cleaning system according to the invention for detecting the state of the dispensing circuit of the cleaning system.

Detailed Description

The features, variants and different embodiments of the invention can be combined with each other in various combinations, as long as they are not mutually incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, if the choice of features is sufficient to confer technical advantages or to distinguish the invention from the prior art, variants of the invention can be envisaged which comprise only the choice of the features described below, separately from the other features described.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a system 100 for cleaning at least two sensor/emitters 200, 300 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. As shown, the cleaning system 100 includes at least one cleaning fluid reservoir 110, at least one electronic pump 120, at least one cleaning fluid distribution circuit 130, at least one control unit 140, at least one first injection device 150 configured to inject cleaning fluid onto a first sensor/emitter 200, and at least one second injection device 160 configured to inject cleaning fluid onto a second sensor/emitter 300. According to the present invention, the first and second injection devices 150, 160 may be the same or different without departing from the scope of the present invention.

According to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the cleaning fluid distribution circuit 130 is formed by a hydraulic network to which the spraying devices 150, 160 are connected. In other words, the hydraulic network allows to supply all these injection devices 150, 160, wherein each of these devices is connected to the hydraulic network. It should be understood that fluid is available on the network and the selection of supply is achieved by at least one first valve 151 associated with first injection device 150 and at least one second valve 161 associated with second injection device 160. According to another exemplary embodiment (not shown here), the cleaning fluid distribution circuit 130 comprises separate conduits which supply each spraying device independently of each other. According to any of these embodiments, the cleaning fluid distribution circuit 130 extends from the reservoir 110 containing the cleaning fluid and allows for the supply of each spraying device 150, 160, which allows for spraying the cleaning fluid onto the sensor/emitter 200, 300.

As described above, the reservoir 110 houses the electronic pump 120. The electronic pump 120 comprises a command unit (not shown here) containing communication means allowing the electronic pump 120 to exchange information and instructions with the control unit 140. Alternatively, it may be provided that the control unit 140 and the command unit form a single entity without departing from the scope of the invention.

According to the invention, when one of the sensor/transmitters 200, 300 requires cleaning, information 210, 310 in this respect is transmitted to the control unit 140 of the cleaning system 100 according to the invention. According to the example shown in fig. 1, the information 210, 310 is sent directly by the sensor/transmitter that requires cleaning, but it should be understood that the information 210, 310 may be sent by another device without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the images detected by the sensors/transmitters 200, 300 are analyzed by an image processing module in order to implement a driving assistance strategy if applicable, and the processing module may estimate that one and/or the other of the sensors/transmitters needs cleaning and may send information 210, 310 to the control unit.

The control unit 140 receiving this information 210, 310 then determines which part of the circuit 130 has to be supplied with cleaning fluid and thus determines the length of this part of the circuit. In effect, this length of the circuit reflects the level of load loss experienced by the cleaning fluid during its transport from the reservoir 110 to the spraying devices 150, 160. More precisely, the control unit 140 is implemented with a load loss curve relating a given load loss to each part of the distribution circuit 130, the load loss being proportional to the length of the relevant part of the distribution circuit.

In order to ensure an optimal cleaning of the relevant sensor/emitter 200, 300, a minimum pressure P1 for the fluid to be ejected at the first and/or second ejection means 150, 160 should be ensured. The control unit 140 is here programmed to have a desired theoretical pressure for the fluid injection in each injection device, which is the same for each injection device and is substantially equal to 3 bar.

As will be explained in more detail below, the control unit 140 according to the invention is configured to determine at least one theoretical operating parameter of the pump 120, firstly as a function of the desired minimum pressure P1 at the first and/or second spraying devices 150, 160 and secondly as a function of the length of the relevant part of the distribution circuit 130, i.e. more precisely as a function of the load loss undergone by the cleaning fluid between the reservoir 110 and the relevant spraying devices 150, 160.

For example, the at least one theoretical operating parameter of the pump 120 is the rotational speed of said pump 120. In order to allow the control unit 140 to determine the theoretical operating parameters of the pump 120, a theoretical value curve of the operating parameters of the pump 120 is stored in advance in the control unit 140. Examples of these curves are shown in fig. 2, for example.

As mentioned above, the control unit 140 comprises communication means enabling it to communicate with the command unit of the electronic pump. Such communication means allow communication between the control unit 140 and the electronic pump 120, the control unit 140 being implemented with load loss curves corresponding to each part of the distribution circuit as described above, the electronic pump 120 itself being implemented with the characteristics of the first and second injection means 150, 160. These characteristics include, for example, the operating pressure values of the injection devices 150, 160. Advantageously, this allows standardization of these elements, i.e. of the control unit 140 and the electronic pump 120, without the need to program them for each new installation on a given vehicle, i.e. without the need to manually store pump operating parameters or characteristics of the spraying device in the control unit 140 of the cleaning system 100, or to manually store load loss curves of different parts of the distribution circuit 130 in the command unit of the electronic pump 120.

Fig. 2 shows a graph with the abscissa showing the flow rate D of the cleaning fluid and the ordinate showing the pressure P at the injection devices 150, 160. The figure shows three curves A, B, C in solid lines, which represent the load loss experienced by the cleaning fluid as a function of the spray devices it supplies, i.e. the length of the portion of the distribution circuit through which the cleaning fluid must pass from the reservoir, and as a function of the number of spray devices supplied.

These curves A, B, C are obtained, for example, by calibration tests performed on the vehicle for which the cleaning system according to the invention is intended. Alternatively, these curves A, B, C are advantageously obtained from values given by the supplier of the electronic pump and of the injection device.

Thus, curve a represents the cleaning fluid load loss when the first sensor/emitter needs cleaning and only the first spraying device is activated, curve B represents the cleaning fluid load loss when the second sensor/emitter needs cleaning and only the second spraying device is activated, and curve C represents the cleaning fluid load loss when both the first and second sensors/emitters need cleaning simultaneously and both the first and second spraying devices are activated. According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown here, these load loss curves are implemented in the cleaning system control unit.

Note also that the three curves D, E, F are shown in dashed lines in this figure. The three curves D, E, F represent three speed curves for the electronic pump. Thus, curve D represents operation of the electronic pump at low rotational speeds, curve E represents operation of the electronic pump at medium rotational speeds, and curve F represents operation of the electronic pump at high speeds. According to the exemplary embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, these curves D, E, F are implemented in the electronic pump command unit of the cleaning system.

Thus, from the graph shown in fig. 2, the control unit initially selects one of the three load loss curves A, B, C as a function of the portion of the distribution circuit to be supplied. Once this curve is selected, the control unit derives therefrom a pair of values, i.e. which flow corresponds to the desired pressure value P1 at the level of the injection device, and then searches in the pump operating curve D, E, F for a curve that allows this pair of values to be correlated.

Thus, for example, if a cleaning request is made by the first and second sensor/emitters simultaneously, and if it is desired to supply pressure P1 to the first and second injection devices, the control unit reads on the graph that the electronic pump should be set to operate at low speed, i.e. according to curve D, since the load loss curve corresponding to the part of the circuit to be supplied, i.e. curve C, crosses this curve D for pressure P1. The control unit thus determines which power supply the electronic pump theoretically needs to achieve such a low speed, so as to ensure the required pressure P1 at the injection device.

The control unit then sets the electronic pump to run at the desired speed and measures the actual value of the power supply to the pump, i.e. the control unit then measures the power supply value actually required for the electronic pump to run at the desired speed. The control unit can thus compare the theoretical value of the power supply of the pump with the actual measured value thanks to another curve installed in the command unit of the electronic pump, as shown in figure 3. Fig. 3 thus shows the rotational speed V of the electronic pump as a function of the supplied power supply a. If the theoretical value At is equal to the actual value Ar1, the distribution circuit, more specifically the relevant part of the distribution circuit, is in good condition. However, if the theoretical value At is less than the actual value Ar2, the relevant part of the dispensing circuit is blocked between the reservoir and the injection device furthest from the reservoir (i.e. the second injection device in the example shown in fig. 1). However, if the theoretical value At is greater than the actual value Ar3, then the relevant part of the distribution circuit is subject to leakage between the reservoir and the injection device furthest from the reservoir (i.e. the second injection device in the example shown in fig. 1). An acceptable error range should also be determined. According to the examples of the invention described herein, a standard deviation of less than 5% is considered negligible.

The control unit may then be configured to send a signal warning a user of a vehicle equipped with such a cleaning system that a fault is detected on the distribution circuit. It is also conceivable that the signal will give more or less an alarm, for example with a color scale, depending on the measured difference between the actual value and the theoretical value.

As will be understood from the above, the control unit 140 allows detecting a leak or a blockage in the dispensing circuit between the reservoir and the last supplied spraying device (i.e. the spraying device furthest from the reservoir), but does not allow to precisely locate this leak or blockage in the dispensing circuit. In particular, when the injection device is connected to a hydraulic network, there may be a degree of uncertainty in the location of the detected leak or blockage, as shown in FIG. 1, for example. Alternatively, when such uncertainty exists for a damaged circuit portion, the control unit may be configured to perform a new operation that activates only one of the injection devices in order to better target the detected leak or blockage, thereby allowing for faster repair. Thus, according to the example shown here, the control unit should be able to determine, for example, whether a leak or a blockage is located between the reservoir and the first injection device or between the first injection device and the second injection device.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the example just described, and various modifications may be made to this example without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the cleaning system according to the invention may comprise more than two spraying devices, or the pump operating parameters may be different from those described, without departing from the scope of the invention, as long as the operating parameters allow the state of the dispensing circuit at a given moment to be determined.