METHOD AND SENSOR ARRANGEMENT FOR DETECTING THE VISIBILITY OUTSIDE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE

• US 20120007507A1
• Filed: 06/29/2011
• Published: 01/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hella KGaA Hueck & Company
• Original Assignee: Hella KGaA Hueck & Company
• Inventors: Niemann, Thomas, Lüdtke, Olaf, Schlarmann, Almut, Palloks, Jürgen, Müller, Antje, Petasch, Tim
• Application Number:
  US13/172,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20120007507A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/82
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/02 Measuring two or more variables by means not covered by a single other subclass

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for detecting the visibility outside of a motor vehicle by means of at least two light sensors, in the case of which the intensity of the light reflection of the driving light emitted in the direction of travel is detected by means of a first light sensor, which is oriented in the direction of travel. The first light sensor thereby transmits at least a first evaluation signal to a control unit for further processing at least as a function of the recorded intensity of the light reflection. The ambient light is detected by means of a second light sensor and a second evaluation signal is transmitted to the control unit as a function of the intensity of the ambient light. The control unit correlates the evaluation signals of both light sensors and the light intensity threshold value is determined on the basis thereof. The control unit outputs different control signals in each case, in response the first evaluation signal is exceeding of falling below of the determined light intensity threshold value.

Claims

1. A method for detecting the visibility outside of a motor vehicle by means of at least two light sensors, in the case of which the intensity of the light reflection of the driving light emitted in the direction of travel is detected by means of a first light sensor, which is oriented in the direction of travel,

the first light sensor transmits at least a first evaluation signal to a control unit for further processing at least as a function of the recorded intensity of the light reflection,

the ambient light is detected by means of a second light sensor (13) and a second evaluation signal is transmitted to the control unit as a function of the intensity of the ambient light,

the control unit correlates the evaluation signals of both light sensors and a light intensity threshold value is determined on the basis thereof, and

the control unit outputs different control signals in each case, in response the first evaluation signal is exceeding or falling below of the determined light intensity threshold value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the humidity and the temperature are measured simultaneously in addition to the detection of the light reflection of the driving light.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the output control signal is transmitted to at least one output device.

4. A sensor arrangement for a motor vehicle for detecting the visibility by means of at least a first light sensor, which can be arranged so as to be oriented in the direction of travel, wherein:

the light first sensor is embodied such that the intensity of the light reflection of the driving light, which is emitted in the direction of travel, can be detected, wherein the light sensor can be coupled to a control unit so as to transmit a signal,

the first light sensor is a switchable diode, which detects radiations in at least two different wavelengths, and

at least a second light sensor, which detects the ambient light.

5. The sensor arrangement according to claim 4 wherein at least one humidity sensor and at least one temperature sensor are additionally assigned to the light sensors.

6. A motor vehicle comprising at least one sensor arrangement for detecting the visibility and comprising at least one control unit for controlling the driving light at the motor vehicle, wherein:

the sensor arrangement is a sensor arrangement according to claim 4 and

at least one signaling device for an output signal is coupled to the control unit once a predetermined threshold value of the light reflection of the driving light has been reached.