Window glass heating device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11912243-B2
Application number	US-202117228914-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2021
Priority date	Aug 29, 2016
Publication date	Feb 27, 2024
Grant date	Feb 27, 2024

Abstract

A window glass heating device for a vehicle is provided with a window heater configured to heat a whole area of a window glass, a window heater control unit configured to control the window heater, a camera heater that is an electric heater which heats a camera-imaging window area which is a part of the window glass included in an imaging area of a camera that images a vehicle exterior from a vehicle interior via the window glass, and a camera heater control unit configured to control supply of power to the camera heater. The camera heater control unit is configured to acquire window heater operation information, acquire a temperature of the camera heater, and control supply of power to the camera heater such that the temperature of the camera heater is within a predetermined temperature range based on the window heater operation information.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A window glass heating device for a vehicle, comprising:
a deicer configured to heat a whole area of a window glass of the vehicle to defog the window glass, wherein the deicer includes an electric heating wire disposed on the whole area of the window glass and defogs the window glass by heat generated from the electric heating wire;
a first processor configured to control the deicer by turning on or off a deicer relay to supply power or cut off the supply of power to the electric heating wire when an on or off signal is input from a deicer switch operated by a user;
a camera heater including a camera electric heating wire and a camera heater relay, wherein the camera heater heats a camera-imaging window area which is a part of the window glass included in an imaging area of a camera that images a vehicle exterior from a vehicle interior via the window glass, and a heating area of the camera heater being included in a heating area of the deicer; and
a second processor configured to:
acquire deicer operation information which is information on operation of the deicer including an operating time of the deicer,
calculate an estimated temperature of the camera heater based on the deicer operation information, and
control supply of power to the camera heater, by turning on or off the camera heater relay to supply power or cut off the supply of power to the camera electric heating wire, such that the estimated temperature of the camera heater is within a predetermined temperature range.

2. The window glass heating device according to claim 1 , wherein
the second processor is configured to
acquire the deicer operation information including information for determining whether the deicer operates, and
limit supply of power to the camera heater in a period in which the deicer operates based on the deicer operation information.

3. The window glass heating device according to claim 1 , wherein
the second processor is configured to control supply of power to the camera heater such that a power-supply period in which power is supplied to the camera heater and a non-power-supply period in which power is not supplied to the camera heater are alternately repeated in a period in which an ignition switch is turned on, and
the second processor is configured to
acquire the deicer operation information including information for determining whether the deicer operates, and
set the power-supply period of the camera heater to be shorter when the deicer operates than when the deicer does not operate.

4. The window glass heating device according to claim 3 , wherein
the second processor is configured to
acquire outside air temperature information indicating an outside air temperature, and
set the power-supply period of the camera heater to be shorter as the outside air temperature becomes higher.

5. The window glass heating device according to claim 3 , wherein
the second processor is configured to
acquire source voltage information indicating a source voltage which is an output voltage of an on-board power supply device that supplies power to the camera heater, and
set the power-supply period of the camera heater to be shorter as the source voltage becomes higher.

6. The window glass heating device according to claim 3 , wherein
the second processor is configured to
acquire vehicle speed information indicating a running speed of the vehicle, and
set the power-supply period of the camera heater to be shorter as the running speed becomes lower.

7. The window glass heating device according to claim 1 , wherein
the second processor is configured to
acquire outside air temperature information indicating an outside air temperature, and
set a power-supply period of the camera heater to be shorter as the outside air temperature becomes higher.

8. The window glass heating device according to claim 1 , wherein
the second processor is configured to
acquire source voltage information indicating a source voltage which is an output voltage of an on-board power supply device that supplies power to the camera heater, and
set a power-supply period of the camera heater to be shorter as the source voltage becomes higher.

9. The window glass heating device according to claim 1 , wherein
the second processor is configured to
acquire vehicle speed information indicating a running speed of the vehicle, and
set a power-supply period of the camera heater to be shorter as the running speed becomes lower.

10. The window glass heating device according to claim 1 , wherein
when viewed from front of the vehicle, the electric heating wire of the deicer overlaps the camera.

11. The window glass heating device according to claim 1 , further comprising
a camera unit that includes a bracket being fixed to the vehicle and the camera being attached to the bracket, wherein
when viewed from front of the vehicle, the electric heating wire of the deicer overlaps the camera unit.

12. The window glass heating device according to claim 1 , wherein
the operating time of the deicer is an accumulated time in which the deicer operates after an ignition switch is turned off,
the second processor stores a map in which a relationship between the operating time of the deicer and a temperature increase of the camera heater, and
the second processor is configured to calculate the estimated temperature of the camera heater based on the map.

13. The window glass heating device according to claim 1 , wherein
the second processor is configured to set, immediately after an ignition switch is turned on, a non-operating period in which supply of power to the camera heater is prohibited.

14. The window glass heating device according to claim 1 , wherein
the second processor is configured to control supply of power to the camera heater such that the estimated temperature of the camera heater is within the predetermined temperature range, when power is supplied to the electric heating wire of the deicer.

15. The window glass heating device according to claim 1 , wherein
the second processor is configured to output a prohibition command for prohibiting operation of the deicer to the first processor when it is determined that a predefined condition on an operation state of the deicer and an operation state of the camera heater is met.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Oikawa Yoshitaka

Classifications

• H05B3/84

  Heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows, mirrors or vehicle windshields · CPC title

• B60S1/026 Primary

  using electrical means · CPC title

• B60R1/00

  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 title

• B60R16/03

  for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems {or for (circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00)} · CPC title

• B60S1/586

  including defroster or demisting means · CPC title