Precipitation detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019152477-A1
Application number	US-201715818815-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 21, 2017
Priority date	Nov 21, 2017
Publication date	May 23, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

An amount and type of precipitation, and a speed of a vehicle is determined. A component in the vehicle is actuated based on the amount and type of precipitation, and the speed of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method, comprising:
determining an amount and type of precipitation, and a speed of a vehicle; and actuating a component in the vehicle based on the amount and type of precipitation, and the speed of the vehicle.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a wiper speed based on the amount and type of precipitation, and the speed of a vehicle; wherein actuating the component in the vehicle based on the amount and type of precipitation, and the speed of a vehicle, includes actuating the component based on the wiper speed.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the component is a wiper, and actuating the component includes actuating the wiper according to the wiper speed.

4 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
determining a second wiper speed based on the amount and type of precipitation, and the speed of a vehicle; wherein actuating the component in the vehicle based on the amount and type of precipitation, and the speed of a vehicle, includes actuating the component based on the second wiper speed.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the component is one or both of a vehicle powertrain and a vehicle brake, and actuating the component includes changing the speed of the vehicle based on the amount and type of precipitation, and the speed of a vehicle.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a wind speed relative to the vehicle; wherein actuating the component in the vehicle based on the amount and type of precipitation, and the speed of a vehicle, further includes actuating the component based on the wind speed.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the type of precipitation based on an ambient temperature.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the component is a vehicle steering, and actuating the component includes activating the vehicle steering.

9 . A system, comprising a processor; and a memory, the memory storing instructions executable by the processor to:
determine an amount and type of precipitation, and a speed of a vehicle; and actuate a component in the vehicle based on the amount and type of precipitation, and the speed of the vehicle.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further programmed to determine a wiper speed based on the amount and type of precipitation, and the speed of the vehicle, and to actuate the component based on the wiper speed.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the component is a wiper, and the processor is further programmed to actuate the wiper according to the wiper speed.

12 . The system of claim 10 wherein the processor is further programmed to determine a second wiper speed based on the amount and type of precipitation, and the speed of the vehicle, and to actuate the component based on the second wiper speed.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the component is one or both of a vehicle powertrain and a vehicle brake, and wherein the processor is further programmed to change the speed of the vehicle based on the amount and type of precipitation, and the speed of a vehicle.

14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further programmed to determine a wind speed relative to the vehicle, and to actuate the component based on the wind speed.

15 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is further programmed to determine the type of precipitation based on an ambient temperature.

16 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the component is a vehicle steering, and the processor is further programmed to activate the vehicle steering.

17 . A system comprising;
a wiper; an actuator arranged to move the wiper; and a processor programmed to: determine an amount and type of precipitation, and a speed of a vehicle; and actuate a component in the vehicle based on the amount and type of precipitation, and the speed of the vehicle.

18 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further programmed to determine a wiper speed based on the amount and type of precipitation, and the speed of the vehicle, and actuate the component based on the wiper speed.

19 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the component is one or both of a vehicle powertrain and a vehicle brake, and the processor is further programmed to change the speed of the vehicle based on the amount and type of precipitation, and the speed of a vehicle.

20 . The system of claim 17 , wherein the processor is further programmed to determine the type of precipitation based on an ambient temperature.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Salter Stuart C
• Huebner Annette Lynn
• Buttolo Pietro
• Dellock Paul Kenneth
• Krishnan Venkatesh

Classifications

• B60W60/0059

  Estimation of the risk associated with autonomous or manual driving, e.g. situation too complex, sensor failure or driver incapacity · CPC title

• B60W60/00182

  in response to weather conditions · CPC title

• B60W60/0053

  from vehicle to occupant · CPC title

• B60S1/0818 Primary

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

• G01P5/16

  using Pitot tubes {, e.g. Machmeter} · CPC title