Vehicle cleaning

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10189449-B2
Application number	US-201715631038-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 23, 2017
Priority date	Jun 23, 2017
Publication date	Jan 29, 2019
Grant date	Jan 29, 2019

Abstract

A computer is programmed to, upon determining that obstruction of a window exceeds a first threshold and that a fluid level of a reservoir is above both of two level sensors vertically spaced in the reservoir, pump fluid from the reservoir toward the window; and upon determining that obstruction of an external sensor exceeds a second threshold and that the fluid level is above at least one of the level sensors, pump fluid from the reservoir toward the external sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer comprising a processor and a memory storing processor-executable instruction, the processor programmed to:
upon determining that obstruction of a window exceeds a first threshold and a reservoir fluid level is above both of two level sensors vertically spaced in the reservoir, wash the window using fluid from the reservoir; and
upon determining that obstruction of an external sensor exceeds a second threshold and the fluid level is above at least one of the level sensors, wash the external sensor using fluid from the reservoir.

2. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further programmed to, upon determining that obstruction of the window exceeds the first threshold and that the fluid level is below at least one of the level sensors, deactivate a pump supplying the fluid from the reservoir for washing the window.

3. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further programmed to, upon determining that obstruction of the window exceeds the first threshold and that the fluid level is below at least one of the level sensors, close a valve supplying the fluid from the reservoir for washing the window.

4. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further programmed to, upon determining that the fluid level is below at least one of the level sensors and that a window wiper is causing smearing on the window, decrease a speed of the window wiper.

5. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further programmed to, upon determining that the fluid level is below at least one of the level sensors and that a window wiper is causing smearing on the window, deactivate the window wiper.

6. The computer of claim 5 , wherein the computer is further programmed to determine that the window wiper is causing smearing on the window based on data from a camera directed at the window.

7. The computer of claim 5 , wherein the computer is further programmed to determine that the window wiper is causing smearing on the window based on data from a microphone positioned to detect chatter on the window.

8. The computer of claim 1 , wherein the computer is further programmed to, upon determining that the fluid level is below at least one of the level sensors and that precipitation is below a third threshold, deactivate the window wiper.

9. A method comprising:
upon determining that obstruction of a window exceeds a first threshold and a reservoir fluid level is above both of two level sensors vertically spaced in the reservoir, washing the window using fluid from the reservoir; and
upon determining that obstruction of an external sensor exceeds a second threshold and the fluid level is above at least one of the level sensors, washing the external sensor using fluid from the reservoir.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising, upon determining that obstruction of the window exceeds the first threshold and that the fluid level is below at least one of the level sensors, deactivating a pump supplying the fluid from the reservoir for washing the window.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising, upon determining that obstruction of the window exceeds the first threshold and that the fluid level is below at least one of the level sensors, closing a valve supplying the fluid from the reservoir for washing the window.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising, upon determining that the fluid level is below at least one of the level sensors and that a window wiper is causing smearing on the window, decreasing a speed of the window wiper.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising, upon determining that the fluid level is below at least one of the level sensors and that a window wiper is causing smearing on the window, deactivating the window wiper.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising determining that the window wiper is causing smearing on the window based on data from a camera directed at the window.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising determining that the window wiper is causing smearing on the window based on data from a microphone positioned to detect chatter on the window.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising, upon determining that the fluid level is below at least one of the level sensors and that precipitation is below a third threshold, deactivating the window wiper.

17. A system comprising:
a reservoir;
two level sensors vertically spaced relative to each other in the reservoir;
a first pump and a second pump fluidly connected to the reservoir;
a first nozzle directed at a window and fluidly connected to the first pump;
a second nozzle directed at an external sensor and fluidly connected to the second pump; and
a computer in communication with the level sensors and the pumps and programmed to:
upon determining that obstruction of the window exceeds a first threshold and that a fluid level of the reservoir is above both level sensors, activate the first pump to wash the window; and
upon determining that obstruction of the external sensor exceeds a second threshold and that the fluid level is above at least one of the level sensors, activate the second pump to wash the external sensor.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the first pump is horizontally aligned with an uppermost of the level sensors, and the second pump is disposed no higher than a lowermost of the level sensors.

19. The system of claim 17 , further comprising a camera directed at the window and in communication with the computer.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Sykula Andre
• Baldovino Segundo
• Garcia Crespo Jose
• Krishnan Venkatesh

Classifications

• B60S1/485 Primary

  including control systems responsive to external conditions, e.g. by detection of moisture, dirt or the like · CPC title

• G06K9/00832

  Physics · mapped topic

• G01F23/0007

  for discrete indicating and measuring (G01F23/02 - G01F23/28 take precedence) · CPC title

• G06V20/56

  exterior to a vehicle by using sensors mounted on the vehicle · CPC title

• G06V20/59

  inside of a vehicle, e.g. relating to seat occupancy, driver state or inner lighting conditions · CPC title