Adjustable rain sensor setting based on proximity vehicle detection

• US 9,045,112 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2013
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kracker, Thomas G., Lickfelt, Brian K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ismail, Shawki S
• Assistant Examiner(s): BROWN, BRADLEY R
• Application Number:
  US13/917,991
• Publication Number:
  US 20140265980A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 318/483, 318443-444
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0818 including control systems responsive to external conditions, e.g. by detection of moisture, dirt or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0844 including a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/56 exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle

Abstract

A system for adjusting the wipers of a vehicle based on the use of rain and proximity detecting subsystem on a given vehicle for detecting the presence of rain and one or more other vehicles in proximity to the given vehicle, such that the wipers of the given vehicle can be automatically operated to better respond to material such as rain, snow, or other material being splashed on the given vehicle by the other vehicle(s). This system may utilize sensor subsystems used for other purposes for use as the proximity sensors.

Claims

1. A system for automatically adjusting operation of wipers of a given

vehicle, comprising:

a controller;

a rain detector adapted for detecting the presence of rain

and other water based materials obstructing a view of a driver of the given vehicle;

at least one proximity detector configured to detect a proximity of at least one other vehicle to the given vehicle, wherein the proximity

detector notifies the controller of the other vehicle being in proximity

to the given vehicle; and

a wiper subsystem including the wipers adapted for adjusting operation of the wipers, wherein

the controller is adapted to control the wiper subsystem to adjust the operation of the wipers based on the detected proximity of the at

least one other vehicle to the given vehicle when the rain detector

has detected the presence of rain and other water based materials;

wherein

the controller is adapted to have the wider subsystem adjust the operation of the wipers in response to determining that the proximity of the at least one of the other vehicles has become relatively closer to the given vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to have the wiper subsystem adjust the operation of the wipers using a different sensitivity mode, such that the wipers are operated differently to the detection of the presence of rain and other water based materials than when the wiper subsystem is not in the different sensitivity mode.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is adapted to have the wiper subsystem adjust the operation of the wipers in response to one or more of the proximity detectors detecting a change in the proximity of the at least one of the other vehicles.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to have the wiper subsystem further adjust the operation of the wipers in response to determining that the proximity of the at least one of the other vehicles has become relatively further away from the given vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the operation of the wipers of the wiper subsystem is adjusted by the wiper subsystem to a faster wipe speed based on the detected proximity becoming relatively closer to the given vehicle.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the operation of the wipers of the wiper subsystem is adjusted by the wiper subsystem from the faster wipe speed to a slower wipe speed based on the detected proximity becoming relatively further away from the given vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to have the wiper subsystem further adjust the operation of the wipers of the wiper subsystem based on a change to the detected proximity of the at least one of the other vehicles to the given vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more proximity detectors uses a sensor adapted for detecting light for detecting the proximity of the one of the one or more other vehicles.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more proximity detectors uses a video camera or a laser or radar subsystem for detecting the proximity of the one of the one or more other vehicles.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said controlled vehicle is adapted for also using said video camera or said laser or radar subsystem for functions other than adjusting the operation of the wipers.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a windshield washer subsystem, wherein the controller is further adapted to control a spray of the windshield washer subsystem based on the presence of rain and other water based materials.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further adapted to control the spray of the windshield washer subsystem based on the detected proximity of the at least one other vehicle to the given vehicle.

13. A system for automatically adjusting operation of wipers of a controlled vehicle, comprising:

a controller;

a rain detector adapted for detecting the presence of rain and other water based materials;

one or more proximity detectors configured to detect a proximity of at least one other vehicle to the controlled vehicle, wherein the one or more proximity detectors notify the controller of the at least one other vehicle being in proximity to the controlled vehicle; and

a wiper subsystem including the wipers adapted for adjusting operation of the wipers, wherein the controller is adapted to adjust the operation of the wiper in response to the rain detector detecting the presence of rain, wherein the controller is also adapted to control the wiper subsystem based on the detected presence of the at least one vehicle in the vicinity of the

given vehicle, such that the operation of the wipers is different than

if the at least one vehicle had not been detected in the vicinity of the given vehicle; and

wherein to increase the speed of the wipers when the detected proximity of the at least one other vehicle to the given vehicle is relatively closer when the rain detector has detected the presence of rain and other water based materials.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one proximity detector uses a sensor adapted for detecting light for detecting the proximity of the at least one other vehicle.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the at least one proximity detector uses a video camera or a laser or radar subsystem for detecting the proximity of the at least one other vehicle.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said controlled vehicle is adapted for also using said video camera or the laser or radar subsystem for functions other than adjusting the operation of the wipers.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further adapted to, subsequent to increasing the speed of the wipers based on the detected proximity, control the wiper subsystem to decrease the speed of the wipers when the detected proximity of the at least one other vehicle to the given vehicle has changed.

18. A method for adjusting operation of wipers of a given vehicle, comprising the steps of:

automatically detecting the presence of rain and other water based materials;

automatically setting the operation of the wipers of the given vehicle based on the detected presence of rain and other water based materials;

automatically detecting the presence of one or more other vehicles in a vicinity of the given vehicle; and

automatically adjusting the operation of the wipers of the given vehicle based on the detected presence of the one or more other vehicles in the vicinity of the given vehicle, such that the operation of the wipers is different than if the one or more other vehicles had not been detected in the vicinity of the given vehicle;

wherein the controller is adapted to have the wiper subsystem adjust the operation of the wipers in response to determining that the proximity of the at least one of the other vehicles has become relatively closer to the given vehicle; and

to increase the speed of the wipers when the detected proximity of the at least one other vehicle to the given vehicle is relatively closer when the rain detector has detected the presence of rain and other water based materials.