Wiper system and control method thereof

• US 9,205,826 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2013
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Lee, Kyung Ro, Jung, Jae Han
• Primary Examiner(s): FREJD, RUSSELL WARREN
• Application Number:
  US14/137,551
• Publication Number:
  US 20150105942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 701/2, 701/36, 701/45, 382/104, 348/148, 340/937, 455418-420
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/00 Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/04 Mounting of cameras operative during drive; Arrangement of controls thereof relative to the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2001/1253 with cameras, video cameras or video screens
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0026 Windows, e.g. windscreen
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/00 Details of viewing arrangements using cameras and displays, specially adapted for use in a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/10 characterised by the type of camera system used
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/108 using 'non-standard' camera systems, e.g. camera sensor used for additional purposes i.a. rain sensor, camera sensor split in multiple image areas
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/30 characterised by the type of image processing
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2300/307 virtually distinguishing relevant parts of a scene from the background of the scene
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/02 Cleaning windscreens, windows or optical devices wind deflectors specially adapted for preventing soiling of windows or windscreens B60J1/2002
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/026 using electrical means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/04 Wipers or the like, e.g. scrapers
• 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 1/0833 Optical rain sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0844 including a camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/30 including control of auxiliary equipment, e.g. air-conditioning compressors or oil pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2050/146 Display means
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 50/14 : Means for informing the driver, warning the driver or prompting a driver intervention
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 17/00 : Digital computing or data processing equipment or methods, specially adapted for specific functions information retrieval, database structures or file system structures therefor G06F16/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30248 : Vehicle exterior or interior
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 : Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0002 : Inspection of images, e.g. flaw detection

Abstract

A wiper system and a control method thereof are provided. The wiper system includes a first camera provided inside a vehicle to photograph outside of the vehicle beyond a windshield glass. A wiper apparatus removes foreign materials from the windshield glass, and a body control module operates the wiper apparatus. The telematics module communicates with a driver terminal and controls the body control module. The telematics module determines whether an external view is extractable from an image acquired by the first camera during an engine stop, and applies a wiper operation signal to the body control module based on the communication result according to a communication with the driver terminal if the external view is not extracted.

Claims

1. A wiper system comprising:

a first camera provided inside a vehicle to photograph outside of the vehicle beyond a windshield glass;

a wiper apparatus removing foreign materials from the windshield glass

a body control module operating the wiper apparatus;

a telematics module communicating with a driver terminal and controlling the body control module,

wherein the telematics module determines whether an external view is extractable from an image acquired by the first camera during an engine stop, and applies a wiper operation signal to the body control module based on a communication result according to communication with the driver terminal if the external view is not extracted, and

wherein the telematics module transmits an operation request message to the driver terminal if the external view is not extracted, and applies the wiper operation signal to the body control module if an operation approval message is received from the driver terminal; and

a second camera provided at a rear side of the vehicle,

wherein the operation request message comprises at least one of the image acquired by the first camera, an image acquired by the second camera, and weather information of a region where the vehicle is located.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the telematics module transmits a wiper operation completion message to the driver terminal if the wiper operation signal is applied to the body control module.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a battery sensor detecting a voltage of a vehicle battery; and

a smart key module receiving a remote start signal from the telematics module and performing a remote start,

wherein the telematics module generates the remote start signal based on a communication result according to the communication with the driver terminal if the voltage of the vehicle battery is less than or equal to a first voltage.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the telematics module transmits a start request message to the driver terminal if the voltage of the vehicle battery is less than or equal to the first voltage, and applies the remote start signal to the smart key module if a start approval message is received from the driver terminal.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the telematics module transmits a remote start completion message to the driver terminal if the remote start signal is applied to the smart key module.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the telematics module applies a start off signal to the smart key module if an elapsed time after engine starting is greater than or equal to a predetermined time, or the voltage of the vehicle battery is greater than or equal to a second voltage.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a heating wire installed in the windshield glass; and

an air-conditioning apparatus controlling an internal temperature of the vehicle,

wherein the body control module operates the heating wire and the air-conditioning apparatus according to the wiper operation signal.

8. A control method for a wiper system comprising:

determining whether an engine is in a stop state;

determining whether an external view is extractable from an image acquired by a first camera during an engine stop;

transmitting an operation request message to a driver terminal if the external view is not extracted;

applying a wiper operation signal to the body control module if an operation approval message is received from the driver terminal; and

collecting an image acquired by a second camera provided at a rear side of a vehicle,

wherein the operation request message comprises at least one of the image acquired by the first camera, the image acquired by the second camera, and weather information of a region where the vehicle is located.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting a wiper operation completion message to the driver terminal if the wiper operation signal is applied to the body control module.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

comparing a voltage of a vehicle battery with a first voltage; and

generating a remote start signal based on a communication result according to a communication with the driver terminal if the voltage of the vehicle battery is less than or equal to the first voltage.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transmitting a start request message to the driver terminal if the voltage of the vehicle battery is less than or equal to the first voltage; and

applying the remote start signal to a smart key module if a start approval message is received from the driver terminal.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting a remote start completion message to the driver terminal if the remote start signal is applied to the smart key module.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising applying a start off signal to the smart key module if an elapsed time after engine starting is greater than or equal to a predetermined time.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising applying a start off signal to the smart key module if the voltage of the vehicle battery is greater than or equal to a second voltage.