JP2020163902A - vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vehicle being advantageous to reduce the occurrence of fogging of a window member and to remove the fogging of the window member.SOLUTION: A vehicle is provided, including a window member that forms a portion of an external surface of the vehicle, a detection part provided in a cabin of the vehicle to detect a peripheral environment of the vehicle through the window member, an anti-fogging layer provided on the surface of the cabin side of the window member to reduce fogging that occurs in the window member, an acquisition part for acquiring state information on a state of the anti-fogging layer, a heating part for heating the surface of the cabin side of the window member, and a control part for controlling the heating part on the basis of the state information acquired by the acquisition part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle.

In recent years, a vehicle equipped with a detection device (camera) that optically detects the outside world (surrounding environment) of the vehicle and assists driving based on the information of the outside world detected by the detection device has attracted attention. The detection device is generally provided inside the windshield (wind member) (vehicle compartment), and detects the outside world of the vehicle through the windshield. In such a vehicle, when the windshield becomes cloudy (condensation, frost, freezing, etc.), the detection accuracy of the outside world by the detection device is lowered and a detection error is caused.

Therefore, in order to reduce the occurrence of fogging of the windshield, a technique of providing an antifogging layer (antifogging film or antifogging coating) on the windshield has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). Patent Document 1 discloses that an antifogging layer is provided in the detection region (field of view) of the detection device, and a dew condensation portion that is more likely to condense than the antifogging layer is provided outside the detection region of the detection device. According to the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, by prioritizing the dew condensation by the dew condensation portion over the moisture absorption by the antifogging layer, the moisture that causes fogging of the windshield is concentrated on the dew condensation portion and absorbed by the antifogging layer. The amount of water produced can be reduced.

JP-A-2018-122634

However, in the technique disclosed in Patent Document 1, since moisture is retained in the region where the antifogging layer is not provided, that is, in the dew condensation portion, such moisture may drip while the vehicle is running, and the window There is room for improvement as a technology to reduce the occurrence of fogging of the shield.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle that is advantageous for reducing the occurrence of fogging of the window member and removing the fogging of the wind member.

According to the present invention, a wind member forming a part of the outer surface of the vehicle, a detection unit provided in the passenger compartment of the vehicle and detecting the surrounding environment of the vehicle via the wind member, and the wind member. An anti-fog layer provided on the surface of the window member on the vehicle interior side to reduce fogging generated on the window member, an acquisition unit for acquiring state information regarding the state of the anti-fog layer, and the vehicle interior side of the wind member. Provided is a vehicle having a heating unit for heating the surface of the vehicle and a control unit for controlling the heating unit based on the state information acquired by the acquisition unit.

Further objections or other aspects of the invention will be manifested in embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a vehicle that is advantageous for reducing the occurrence of fogging of the window member and removing the fogging of the wind member.

It is the schematic which shows the structure of the vehicle as one aspect of this invention. It is the schematic which shows the structure of the vehicle as one aspect of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the optical apparatus provided in the vehicle shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the structure of the optical apparatus provided in the vehicle shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims, and not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential to the invention. Two or more of the plurality of features described in the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined. In addition, the same or similar configuration will be given the same reference number, and duplicate description will be omitted.

1 and 2 are schematic views showing a configuration of a vehicle 1 as one aspect of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a side view of the vehicle 1, and FIG. 2 shows a front view of the vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 is, for example, a 4-door sedan type four-wheeled vehicle. However, the present invention is also applicable to four-wheeled vehicles other than sedans and other types of vehicles. In each figure, the coordinate axis X indicates the front-rear direction of the vehicle, the coordinate axis Y indicates the vehicle width direction of the vehicle 1, and the coordinate axis Z indicates the vertical direction (vertical direction) of the vehicle 1.

As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 is roughly classified into a front portion 1a, a middle portion 1b, and a rear portion 1c. The front portion 1a accommodates, for example, a drive unit such as an engine or a transmission, and an air conditioning unit 3 for air-conditioning the vehicle interior. The front portion 1a is provided with a front hood 4 as an exterior (outer surface) that covers the internal accommodation space. The cowl between the front hood 4 and the windshield 5 is provided with a wiper base and a ventilator intake port. In the front portion 1a of the vehicle 1, a front bumper 6 is provided below the front hood 4 as a cushioning portion for softening and absorbing the impact of a collision. The central portion 1b constitutes a vehicle compartment (guest room). The rear 1c constitutes, for example, a trunk.

The windshield 5 is a wind member provided above the front hood 4 and forms a part of the outer surface of the vehicle 1. The windshield 5 is a translucent material having excellent durability against external impacts and wind and rain in order to function as a partition wall from the outside and to secure the visibility of the driver (user), for example, glass or the like. It is composed of resin and the like.

The air conditioning unit 3 can apply any technique well known in the art. The air conditioning unit 3 includes, for example, an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, a pipe forming a flow path for a refrigerant, various valves provided in the pipe, and the like. Further, the air conditioning unit 3 includes a blower fan that generates a predetermined air flow, a fan motor that drives the blower fan, a heater core that heats a gas for air conditioning, and the like.

The air conditioner unit 3 includes a defroster duct 31 and an air conditioner duct (not shown) as a supply port for supplying gas for air conditioning to the vehicle interior. The defroster duct 31 is mainly used for removing the fogging of the windshield 5 and reducing (suppressing) the fogging generated in the windshield 5 (anti-fog). The defroster duct 31 is provided in the vicinity of the windshield 5 on the upper surface of the dashboard panel, for example, and air-conditions the windshield 5 so that an air flow from the lower side to the upper side is formed along the windshield 5. To send or blow gas for. The air conditioner duct is mainly used for air conditioning (temperature control) in the passenger compartment. The air conditioner duct is provided, for example, on the front surface of the dashboard panel, and sends out or blows a gas for air conditioning toward the driver and its surroundings.

As shown in FIG. 2, an antifogging layer 8 for reducing fogging generated on the windshield 5 is provided on the surface of the windshield 5 on the vehicle interior side. The antifogging layer 8 is made of a hygroscopic translucent material that absorbs moisture in the vehicle interior (particularly, moisture existing in the vicinity of the windshield 5). The antifogging layer 8 may be formed by attaching an antifogging film to the windshield 5, or may be formed by coating the windshield 5 with a material having the above-mentioned characteristics.

As shown in FIG. 2, the vehicle 1 has an optical device 7 provided in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1. The configuration of the optical device 7 will be specifically described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 is a front view showing the configuration of the optical device 7, and FIG. 4 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of the optical device 7. The optical device 7 includes a detection unit 71, a fixing member 72, and a heating unit 73.

The detection unit 71 is provided in the passenger compartment of the vehicle 1 and functions as an outside world detection device that detects the outside world (surrounding environment) of the vehicle 1 via the antifogging layer 8 and the windshield 5. The detection unit 71 includes, for example, a camera that captures an image of the front of the vehicle 1 through the anti-fog layer 8 and the windshield 5 to acquire an image.

The fixing member 72 is attached to the surface of the windshield 5 on the vehicle interior side by an adhesive or the like, and is a bracket for fixing the detection unit 71 and the heating unit 73 to the vehicle 1. As shown in FIG. 4, the fixing member 72 fixes the detection unit 71 so that the detection unit 71 is arranged close to the surface of the windshield 5 on the vehicle interior side. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the fixing member 72 includes a portion 72A that overlaps (overlaps) the antifogging layer 8 on the lower side in the vertical direction of the antifogging layer 8, and the antifogging layer 8 sandwiches the portion 72A. The heating portion 73 is fixed so that the heating portion 73 is arranged on the opposite side of the above. The anti-fog layer 8 is provided at least on the vehicle interior side surface of the windshield 5, in a region that overlaps (overlaps) the field of view of the detection unit 71 (the region where the detection unit 71 detects the outside world). As a result, it is possible to reduce the fogging that occurs in the region of the windshield 5 corresponding to the field of view of the detection unit 71, and it is possible to secure the field of view of the detection unit 71. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the fixing member 72 is stray light for preventing stray light from incident on the detection unit 71 (the stray light is detected by the detection unit 71) according to the position of the detection unit 71. The prevention structure 72B may be formed.

The heating unit 73 is composed of, for example, a heating wire and a heater including a heater driver that energizes the heating wire to generate heat, and the windshield 5 and the antifogging layer 8 are provided via the portion 72A of the fixing member 72. Heat. By heating the windshield 5 and the antifogging layer 8 by the heating unit 73 in this way, it is possible to remove the fogging of the windshield 5 and reduce the fogging generated in the windshield 5.

The control unit 9 is an ECU (electronic control unit) including a CPU, a memory, and the like, and controls each part of the vehicle 1 in an integrated manner according to a predetermined program. A PLD (programmable logic device), an ASIC (integrated circuit for a specific application), or the like may be used for the control unit 9. The function of the control unit 9 can be realized by both hardware and software.

Here, as shown in FIG. 4, a minute gap is formed between the portion 72A of the fixing member 72 and the surface of the windshield 5 on the vehicle interior side. In other words, the space SP defined between the fixing member 72 and the surface of the windshield 5 on the vehicle interior side is not a strictly closed space but a space communicating with the vehicle interior. In such a space SP, gas tends to stagnate, so even if the antifogging layer 8 is provided, depending on the environment (temperature and humidity) of the vehicle 1, the windshield 5, specifically, the detection unit 71 Fogging may occur in the area of the windshield 5 corresponding to the field of view. In addition, the antifogging layer 8 may absorb a large amount of water (that is, exceed the absorption limit), and its hygroscopicity may decrease.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, the state information regarding the state of the anti-fog layer 8 is acquired, and the heating of the windshield 5 and the anti-fog layer 8 by the heating unit 73 is controlled based on the state information.

Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the vehicle 1 is provided with an acquisition unit 10 for acquiring state information regarding the state of the antifogging layer 8. In the present embodiment, the acquisition unit 10 includes the sensor 101 and the prediction unit 102. The sensor 101 includes a thermometer and a hygrometer provided in the vicinity of the antifogging layer 8 or the antifogging layer 8, and uses at least one of the humidity or the temperature of the antifogging layer 8 as state information regarding the state of the antifogging layer 8. The information indicating at least one of the humidity and the temperature of the antifogging layer 8 is acquired by measuring. The prediction unit 102 includes at least one of the humidity or temperature of the anti-fog layer 8 and the anti-fog layer 8 from the information indicating at least one of the humidity or temperature of the anti-fog layer 8 acquired by the sensor 101, including the CPU and the memory. It is predicted whether or not the anti-fog layer 8 becomes cloudy with reference to a table or the like showing the relationship with the degree of cloudiness generated in. Then, when the prediction unit 102 predicts that the windshield 5 will be cloudy, the control unit 9 controls the heating unit 73 so that the heating unit 73 heats (the surface on the vehicle interior side) of the windshield 5. In this way, when the windshield 5 is predicted to be cloudy, by heating the windshield 5, it is possible to efficiently reduce (prevent) the occurrence of cloudiness in the antifogging layer 8 provided on the windshield 5. This makes it possible to secure the field of view of the detection unit 71 and maintain the detection performance of the outside world by the detection unit 71. Further, by controlling the heating of the windshield 5 and the antifogging layer 8 by the heating unit 73 based on the state of the antifogging layer 8, it is possible to heat according to the state of the antifogging layer 8, and the heating unit 73 is excessively heated. It is possible to prevent such use and reduce the thermal influence on the detection unit 71.

Further, the state information regarding the state of the antifogging layer 8 is not limited to the information indicating at least one of the humidity and the temperature of the antifogging layer 8, and it is possible to predict whether or not the antifogging layer 8 becomes cloudy. Information is sufficient. Further, the state information regarding the state of the anti-fog layer 8 may be information indicating whether or not the anti-fog layer 8 is cloudy. In this case, the acquisition unit 10 (prediction unit 102) is, for example, from an image acquired by the detection unit 71, that is, an image acquired by photographing the front of the vehicle 1 via the antifogging layer 8 and the windshield 5. It is determined whether or not the antifogging layer 8 is cloudy. A pattern matching method is used for such determination. Specifically, when the anti-fog layer 8 is not cloudy, the detection unit 71 takes an image of the front of the vehicle 1 through the anti-fog layer 8 and the windshield 5, and uses an image acquired in advance as a reference image. By comparing the reference image with the current image (for example, an image acquired by the detection unit 71 while the vehicle 1 is traveling), it is determined whether or not the antifogging layer 8 is cloudy. Then, the control unit 9 controls the heating unit 73 so that the heating unit 73 heats the windshield 5 (the surface on the vehicle interior side) when the acquisition unit 10 determines that the anti-fog layer 8 is cloudy. To do. In this way, when the anti-fog layer 8 is cloudy, the fogging of the anti-fog layer 8 can be efficiently removed by heating the windshield 5, and the field of view of the detection unit 71 is secured for detection. The detection performance of the outside world by the unit 71 can be maintained.

Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the anti-fog layer 8 is provided above the heating unit 73 in the vertical direction (vertical direction) of the vehicle 1. Therefore, in the space SP, the anti-fog layer 8 is heated by the air heated (warmed) by the heating unit 73 in the process of rising. As a result, the water absorbed by the antifogging layer 8 is removed (evaporated), and the hygroscopicity of the antifogging layer 8 can be restored.

Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the heating unit 73 is below the detection unit 71 in the vertical direction (vertical direction) of the vehicle 1 and faces the antifogging layer 8 of the fixing member 72 as described above. It is arranged on the opposite side of the antifogging layer 8 with the portion 72A interposed therebetween. In other words, the heating unit 73 is arranged so as to avoid the field of view of the detection unit 71. Therefore, the heating unit 73 can heat the windshield 5 and the anti-fog layer 8 without obstructing the field of view of the detection unit 71.

Further, the heating unit 73 may be arranged between the defroster duct 31 and the antifogging layer 8 in the direction of the airflow AR (see FIG. 4) extending from the lower side to the upper side along the windshield 5. As described above, the defroster duct 31 sends out or blows a gas for air-conditioning to the windshield 5 so that the airflow AR from the lower side to the upper side is formed along the windshield 5. Therefore, the gas supplied from the defroster duct 31 is heated by the fixing member 72 heated by the heating unit 73 before reaching the anti-fog layer 8, so that the windshield 5 and the anti-fog layer 8 are further added. It becomes possible to heat efficiently, which is advantageous in suppressing the occurrence of fogging of the antifogging layer 8 and removing the fogging of the antifogging layer 8.

<Summary of Embodiment>
1. 1. The vehicle of the above-described embodiment (for example, 1)
A wind member (eg, 5) that forms part of the outer surface of the vehicle,
A detection unit (for example, 71) provided in the passenger compartment of the vehicle and detecting the surrounding environment of the vehicle via the window member, and
An anti-fog layer (for example, 8) provided on the surface of the wind member on the vehicle interior side to reduce fogging generated on the wind member, and
An acquisition unit (for example, 10) for acquiring state information regarding the state of the anti-fog layer, and
A heating unit (for example, 73) that heats the surface of the window member on the vehicle interior side, and
A control unit (for example, 9) that controls the heating unit based on the state information acquired by the acquisition unit, and
It is characterized by having.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to efficiently reduce (prevent) the occurrence of fogging on the antifogging layer and efficiently remove the fogging on the antifogging layer, thereby ensuring the field of view of the detection unit. Therefore, the detection performance of the vehicle's surrounding environment (outside world) by the detection unit can be maintained. In addition, heating can be performed according to the state of the anti-fog layer, excessive use of the heating unit can be prevented, and the thermal effect on the detection unit can be reduced.

2. In the vehicle mentioned above (eg 1)
The anti-fog layer (for example, 8) is provided on the surface of the window member (for example, 5) on the vehicle interior side in a region overlapping the detection region of the surrounding environment by the detection unit (for example, 71). It is characterized by being.

According to this embodiment, it is possible to suppress fogging generated in the region of the antifogging layer corresponding to the detection region of the surrounding environment by the detection unit, and it is possible to secure the detection region of the surrounding environment by the detection unit.

3. 3. In the vehicle mentioned above (eg 1)
The state information includes information indicating whether or not the anti-fog layer (for example, 8) is cloudy.
When the state information includes information indicating that the antifogging layer is cloudy, the control unit (for example, 9) has the heating unit (for example, 73) on the passenger compartment side of the window member. The heating unit is controlled so as to heat the surface of the surface.

According to this embodiment, the fogging of the anti-fog layer can be efficiently removed, and the detection performance of the surrounding environment by the detection unit can be maintained.

4. In the vehicle mentioned above (eg 1)
The state information includes information indicating at least one of the humidity and temperature of the anti-fog layer (for example, 8).
The acquisition unit (for example, 10) includes a prediction unit (for example, 102) for predicting whether or not the anti-fog layer becomes cloudy from the information.
The control unit (for example, 9) causes the heating unit (for example, 73) to heat the surface of the window member on the vehicle interior side when the antifogging layer is predicted to be cloudy by the prediction unit. It is characterized in that the heating unit is controlled.

According to this embodiment, fogging of the antifogging layer can be efficiently removed according to at least one of the humidity and the temperature of the antifogging layer, and the detection performance of the surrounding environment by the detection unit can be maintained. ..

5. In the vehicle mentioned above (eg 1)
The acquisition unit (eg, 10) includes a sensor (eg, 101) that measures at least one of the humidity and temperature of the antifogging layer (eg, 8).

6. In the vehicle mentioned above (eg 1)
The detection unit (for example, 71) includes a camera that captures an image of the front of the vehicle through the window member (for example, 5) to acquire an image.
The acquisition unit (for example, 10) acquires the image acquired by the camera as the state information, determines whether or not the anti-fog layer is cloudy from the image, and determines whether or not the anti-fog layer is cloudy.
When the acquisition unit determines that the antifogging layer is cloudy, the control unit (for example, 9) heats the surface of the window member on the vehicle interior side. It is characterized in that the heating part is controlled as described above.

According to this embodiment, the fogging of the antifogging layer can be efficiently removed according to the image acquired by the camera, and the detection performance of the surrounding environment by the detection unit can be maintained.

7. In the vehicle mentioned above (eg 1)
The anti-fog layer (for example, 8) is provided above the heating portion (for example, 73) in the vertical direction.

According to this embodiment, in the process of ascending (warmed) air by the heating unit 73, the antifogging layer is heated by such air, and the moisture absorbed by the antifogging layer is removed ( Evaporates), and the hygroscopicity of the antifogging layer can be restored.

8. In the vehicle mentioned above (eg 1)
Further having a fixing member (for example, 72) attached to the vehicle interior side surface of the window member (for example, 5) and fixing the detection portion (for example, 71) and the heating portion (for example, 73). ,
The fixing member includes a portion (for example, 72A) that overlaps with the anti-fog layer on the lower side in the vertical direction of the anti-fog layer (for example, 8).
The heating portion is characterized in that it is arranged on the opposite side of the anti-fog layer with the portion interposed therebetween.

According to this embodiment, the heating unit can heat the window member and the anti-fog layer without interfering with the detection region of the surrounding environment by the detection unit.

9. In the vehicle mentioned above (eg 1)
Further having an air-conditioning unit (for example, 3) for air-conditioning the passenger compartment,
The air-conditioning unit provides a supply port (for example, 31) for supplying a gas for performing the air-conditioning to the passenger compartment so that an air flow (for example, AR) along the window member (for example, 5) is formed. Including
The heating unit (for example, 73) is characterized in that it is arranged between the supply port and the anti-fog layer (for example, 8) in the direction of the air flow.

According to this embodiment, the gas supplied from the supply port is heated by the heating unit before reaching the anti-fog layer, so that the window member and the anti-fog layer can be heated more efficiently. This makes it possible, which is advantageous in suppressing the occurrence of fogging in the antifogging layer and removing fogging in the antifogging layer.

The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and changes can be made within the scope of the gist of the invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the windshield has been described as an example of the window member, but the window member may be a rear window or a side window.

1: Vehicle 5: Windshield 8: Anti-fog layer 9: Control unit 10: Acquisition unit 71: Detection unit 73: Heating unit

Claims (9)

Wind members that form part of the outer surface of the vehicle,
A detection unit provided in the passenger compartment of the vehicle and detecting the surrounding environment of the vehicle via the window member.
An anti-fog layer provided on the vehicle interior side surface of the wind member to reduce fogging generated on the wind member,
An acquisition unit that acquires state information regarding the state of the anti-fog layer, and
A heating unit that heats the surface of the window member on the passenger compartment side,
A control unit that controls the heating unit based on the state information acquired by the acquisition unit, and
A vehicle characterized by having. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the anti-fog layer is provided on a surface of the window member on the vehicle interior side in a region overlapping the detection region of the surrounding environment by the detection unit. The state information includes information indicating whether or not the anti-fog layer is cloudy.
When the state information includes information indicating that the antifogging layer is cloudy, the control unit heats the heating unit so that the heating unit heats the surface of the window member on the vehicle interior side. The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the vehicle is controlled. The state information includes information indicating at least one of the humidity and the temperature of the antifogging layer.
The acquisition unit includes a prediction unit that predicts whether or not the anti-fog layer becomes cloudy from the information.
The control unit is characterized in that when the prediction unit predicts that the antifogging layer will be cloudy, the heating unit controls the heating unit so that the heating unit heats the surface of the window member on the vehicle interior side. The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2. The vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the acquisition unit includes a sensor that measures at least one of the humidity and the temperature of the anti-fog layer. The detection unit includes a camera that captures an image of the front of the vehicle via the window member and acquires an image.
The acquisition unit acquires the image acquired by the camera as the state information, determines whether or not the antifogging layer is cloudy from the image, and determines whether or not the antifogging layer is cloudy.
When the acquisition unit determines that the anti-fog layer is cloudy, the control unit controls the heating unit so that the heating unit heats the surface of the window member on the vehicle interior side. The vehicle according to claim 1 or 2. The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the anti-fog layer is provided above the heating portion in the vertical direction. Further having a fixing member attached to the vehicle interior side surface of the window member and fixing the detection unit and the heating unit.
The fixing member includes a portion of the antifogging layer on the lower side in the vertical direction and overlaps with the antifogging layer.
The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the heating portion is arranged on the opposite side of the antifogging layer with the portion interposed therebetween. It also has an air-conditioning unit that air-conditions the passenger compartment.
The air-conditioning unit includes a supply port that supplies a gas for performing the air-conditioning to the passenger compartment so that an air flow along the window member is formed.
The vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the heating unit is arranged between the supply port and the antifogging layer in the direction of the air flow.

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