Camera and washer spray diagnostic

• US 10,399,106 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2017
• Issued: 09/03/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Dudar, Aed M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shudy, Angelina
• Application Number:
  US15/409,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20180200745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 701 323
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/004 comprising sensors for monitoring the delivery, e.g. by displaying the sensed value or generating an alarm B05B12/08 takes precedence; registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus in general G07C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/006 Pressure or flow rate sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/085 responsive to flow or pressure of liquid or other fluent material to be discharged B05B1/3006, B05B1/323, B05B7/1254 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/10 responsive to temperature or viscosity of liquid or other fluent material discharged
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/002 incorporating means for heating or cooling, e.g. the material to be sprayed
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 9/0403 with pumps for liquids or other fluent material B05B9/043 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/486 including control systems responsive to a vehicle driving condition, e.g. speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/528 the spreading means being moved between a rest position and a working position B60S1/526 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/56 specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior including cleaning devices B60R1/0602
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/34 Route searching; Route guidance
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3415 Dynamic re-routing, e.g. recalculating the route when the user deviates from calculated route or after detecting real-time traffic data or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3602 Input other than that of destination using image analysis, e.g. detection of road signs, lanes, buildings, real preceding vehicles using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30168 Image quality inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30252 Vehicle exterior; Vicinity of vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/0004 Industrial image inspection
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/001 using an image reference approach
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A system including a computer programmed to actuate a spray device on a first vehicle and to receive an image, from a second vehicle, of the actuated spray device. The computer determines whether a spray device fault exists based at least on the image of the actuated spray device, and transmits the spray device fault via a first vehicle communications network.

Claims

1. A system, comprising a computer, programmed to:

actuate a spray device on a first vehicle;

receive a first image of the actuated spray device captured by a camera of a second vehicle and transmitted from the second vehicle to the first vehicle;

determine whether a spray device fault exists or does not exist based at least on the first image; and

upon determining the spray device fault exists, transmit the spray device fault via a first vehicle communications network of the first vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, the computer further programmed to:

navigate the first vehicle to a service facility in response to determining the spray device fault exists.

3. The system of claim 1, the computer further programmed to:

receive a second image of the spray device prior to actuation from the second vehicle;

wherein the determination of whether the spray device fault exists or does not exist is further based at least on the second image of the spray device prior to actuation.

4. The system of claim 1, the computer further programmed to:

determine whether a second image from a camera on the first vehicle is below a predetermined quality threshold; and

transmit an image request to the second vehicle in response to determining the second image from the camera on the first vehicle is below the predetermined quality threshold.

5. The system of claim 4, the computer further programmed to:

transmit a camera fault via the first vehicle communications network in response to determining that the second image from the camera on the first vehicle is below the predetermined quality threshold and upon determining that the spray device fault does not exist.

6. The system of claim 5, the computer further programmed to:

navigate the first vehicle to a service facility in response to determining the second image from the camera on the first vehicle is below the predetermined quality threshold and upon determining that the spray device fault does not exist.

7. The system of claim 1, the computer further programmed to:

transmit an image request to the second vehicle, the image request including a position of the first vehicle relative to the second vehicle.

8. The system of claim 1, the computer further programmed to:

actuate a navigation sensor in response to determining the spray device fault exists.

9. The system of claim 1, the computer further programmed to:

actuate a camera of the first vehicle to capture a second image of the second vehicle; and

transmit the second image from the first vehicle to the second vehicle.

10. The system of claim 9, the computer further programmed to:

actuate the camera of the first vehicle in response to receiving an image request from the second vehicle.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first image is an infrared image.

12. A method comprising:

actuating a spray device on a first vehicle;

receiving a first image of the actuated spray device captured by a camera of a second vehicle and transmitted from the second vehicle to the first vehicle;

determining whether a spray device fault exists or does not exist based at least on the first image; and

upon determining the spray device fault exists, transmitting the spray device fault via a first vehicle communications network.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

navigating the first vehicle to a service facility in response to determining the spray device fault exists.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving a second image of the spray device prior to actuation from the second vehicle;

wherein the determination of whether the spray device fault exists or does not exist is further based at least on the second image of the spray device prior to actuation.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining whether a second image from a camera on the first vehicle is below a predetermined quality threshold; and

transmitting an image request to the second vehicle in response to determining the second image from the camera on the first vehicle is below the predetermined quality threshold.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

transmitting a camera fault via the first vehicle communications network in response to determining that the second image from the camera on the first vehicle is below a predetermined quality threshold and upon determining that the spray device fault does not exist.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

navigating the first vehicle to a service facility in response to determining that the second image from the camera on the first vehicle is below a predetermined quality threshold and that no spray device fault exists.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting an image request to the second vehicle, the image request including a position of the first vehicle relative to the second vehicle.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

actuating a navigation sensor in response to determining the spray device fault exists.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

actuating a camera of the first vehicle to capture a second image of the second vehicle; and

transmitting the second image from the first vehicle to the second vehicle.