Abstract:
Apparatus and method are provided for avoiding penetration of foreign particles into a vehicle interior. An apparatus for avoiding penetration of foreign particles into a vehicle interior including, but not limited to a monitoring device, which detects an expected opening of a vehicle door. In this case an overpressure generating device generates an air overpressure in the vehicle interior.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 102010033515.0, filed Aug. 5, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
       TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    The technical field relates to an apparatus and a method for avoiding penetration of foreign particles into a vehicle interior. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Foreign particles are to be understood within the framework of the present invention, for example, as accumulations of snow, snow fall, accumulations of dirt particles, pollen, and other accumulations of small particles. A vehicle interior can, for example, be a so-called passenger cell or another interior of the vehicle to be protected, for which the avoidance of any penetration of foreign particles is desirable. The foreign particles can be located outside the vehicle, for example, on a vehicle roof, a trunk door, or the covering hood of the vehicle drive (engine hood). 
         [0004]    A method and an apparatus for avoiding a rapid variation of the air pressure in a closed space, which is induced by an external environment, can be deduced from German Unexamined Laid-Open Patent Application DE 10 2007 019 014 A1. Here the internal pressure in the space is monitored by a sensor. Rapid variations of the internal pressure are at least partially compensated by specific supply or removal of air. The supply and removal of air is accomplished by opening an overpressure or reduced pressure container. 
         [0005]    An air-conditioning device for a vehicle comprising two fans can be deduced from the International Patent Application PCT/EP89/00582 published under the publication number WO 90/01428. The two fans can be controlled by a regulating device in normal operation in such a manner that the air pressure in the passenger compartment is always somewhat higher than the ambient pressure. By means of this air-conditioning device it should be achieved that when doors, windows or sliding roof are closed, any inflow of external air through cracks and joints of the vehicle is counteracted. 
         [0006]    Against this background, it is at least one object to provide an apparatus and a method whereby when opening a vehicle door, particles or foreign substances located on the vehicle outer surface or in the vicinity of the vehicle such as snow, dust, droplets and/or accumulations of dirt are prevented from entering into the vehicle interior so that, for example, the vehicle seats are not dirtied or become wet. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    An apparatus is provided for avoiding penetration of foreign particles into a vehicle interior is provided with a monitoring device, which detects an expected opening of a vehicle door, wherein in this case an overpressure generating device generates an air overpressure in the vehicle interior. 
         [0008]    An advantage is in the simple structure for the automatic avoidance of the penetration of foreign particles into the vehicle interior. At the same time, it is additionally avoided that the surfaces of the vehicle interior become dirtied or wet due to the deposition and accumulation of foreign particles. Upon opening a vehicle door, a reduced pressure is usually generated in the vehicle interior through the pivoting movement of the vehicle door so that accumulations of snow, accumulations of dirt, pollen, snowfall etc. located on the vehicle roof, in particular in the gap between the vehicle roof and vehicle door, can enter into the vehicle interior and in particular can dirty or wet the vehicle seats, which can be unpleasant for a person who would like to sit in the vehicle. The overpressure generated in the interior in good time shortly before effectively counteracts this and as it were generates an air flow which emerges from the door frame when the vehicle door is opened. This air thrust very effectively counteracts the entry of foreign particles through the door frame. The term air overpressure is to be understood within the framework of the present invention as an air pressure which is higher than the air pressure of the vehicle environment. 
         [0009]    The monitoring device can be formed by a monitoring device already provided in the vehicle, which, for example, by reference to predefined operating parameters detects an expected opening of a vehicle door. It is feasible, for example, that the monitoring device detects when a person is approaching the vehicle or when a person who can be identified as the vehicle driver, for example, by a wireless key, is approaching the vehicle. The overpressure generating device can be designed as an air-filled overpressure tank, which can be disposed both inside the vehicle interior and outside the vehicle interior, e.g., in another vehicle interior. If the overpressure tank is disposed outside the vehicle interior under study, this is connected to the vehicle interior by means of an air-guiding device. The overpressure tank has a particularly high air pressure compared to the vehicle interior. For generating the air overpressure in the vehicle interior, the connection of the overpressure tank to the vehicle interior is opened so that the air flows from the overpressure tank into the vehicle interior and generates an air overpressure there. Further details, aspects, are the subject matter of the dependent claims, the drawings, and the respective description thereof. 
         [0010]    In an advantageous embodiment, the generation of the air overpressure takes place subject to the condition that a detection device has detected a foreign particle accumulation located outside the vehicle interior. The overpressure is therefore only generated when the entry of foreign particles into the vehicle interior is to be expected, i.e., when foreign particles are located outside the vehicle interior. The detection device in this case detects, for example, foreign particle accumulations on the vehicle outer surface, in particular foreign particle accumulations on the roof, the windshield, or the hood of the vehicle. In one practical embodiment, the detection device can, for example, be designed as a camera or sensor system for the detection of foreign particle accumulations outside the vehicle interior. 
         [0011]    According to a further embodiment, the generation of the air overpressure takes place if the apparatus is set into an avoidance mode. The vehicle driver can thereby specify when the apparatus for avoidance of penetration of foreign particles into the vehicle interior is in operation, i.e., whether avoidance of the penetration of foreign particles is accomplished, as soon as the vehicle door is opened. For example, the apparatus can expediently be put out of operation when the vehicle is parked in a protected area, e.g., in a garage. On the other hand, a vehicle driver can set the apparatus into the avoidance mode, for example, in winter when snow fall is to be expected or when parking the vehicle in a wooded area where increased accumulations of snow can form on the vehicle roof. In this case, the apparatus is so-to-speak activated by setting into the avoidance mode and deactivated (switched off) by taking out of the avoidance mode. The activation or deactivation of the avoidance mode can be accomplished, for example, by actuating a control unit. 
         [0012]    According to an embodiment, the monitoring device detects by means of an unlocking of a vehicle door that an opening of the vehicle door is to be expected. By this means, an expected opening of the vehicle door can be identified in a particularly simple manner. The detection can be coupled to a mechanical lock which is opened with a mechanical key or to a wireless lock which is opened by wireless connection by actuating a wireless key. 
         [0013]    According to another embodiment, the overpressure generating device comprises a ventilation device. By using, for example, a ventilation device already provided in the vehicle, the generation of the air overpressure can be accomplished at particularly low expense. As soon as the opening of a vehicle door is to be expected or shortly before the opening, the ventilation device increases the air supply and thereby generates the desired air overpressure in the vehicle. The supply of air can, for example, be retained for a predefined time period after the door is opened. This can be advantageous, for example, in the case of snow fall with corresponding wind, since snow could then enter into the vehicle interior for a longer period of time as long as the door is opened. 
         [0014]    According to a further embodiment, the ventilation device comprises outlet nozzles which generate a directional air flow. Due to an air flow directed in the direction of the opening vehicle door, the penetration of foreign particles into the vehicle interior is avoided in a particularly optimized manner and with low power consumption of the ventilation device. In this embodiment, outlet nozzles of a ventilation device which are present in the vehicle in any case can advantageously be utilized. 
         [0015]    According to a further embodiment, the ventilation device comprises an air supply opening and an air removal opening, wherein the generation of the air overpressure takes place when the air removal opening is closed. The air overpressure in the vehicle interior can thereby be generated in a particularly optimized manner with minimized power consumption of the ventilation device at the same time. In particular, in vehicles having ventilation equipment comprising an air supply opening and an air removal opening, the air overpressure can be produced particularly simply by simply closing the air removal opening. 
         [0016]    In a further embodiment, the detection device comprises a rain sensor. Thus, a rain sensor already provided in the vehicle can be used in a particularly expedient manner to detect foreign particles outside the vehicle interior. At the same time, the rain sensor detects accumulations of snow (i.e., ice crystals) located on the outer surface of the vehicle or fine droplets in the same way as liquid accumulations of water caused by rain. 
         [0017]    In a further expedient embodiment of the invention, the detection device comprises a temperature sensor. The use of a temperature sensor to detect accumulations of snow outside the vehicle or snow fall is a particularly simple detection variant. The temperature sensor detects, for example, particularly low temperatures and in this case, deduces a high probability of snow accumulations outside the vehicle or snow fall, for example, at temperatures below about 0° Celsius. 
         [0018]    According to a further embodiment, the detection device comprises a light sensor. The use of a light sensor as a detection device is advantageous because this can easily be aligned in such a manner that foreign particle accumulations collect between the sun&#39;s rays to be detected and the sensor. The sensor detects that the light or sun&#39;s rays are broken at the foreign particles or are obscured from the view of the sensor by these, whereby the presence of foreign particles can be concluded. In this case, a sensor already provided in the vehicle, for example, a light-sensitive sensor, can be used to detect foreign particle accumulations. 
         [0019]    The method for avoiding the penetration of foreign particles into a vehicle interior provides that an expected opening of a vehicle door is detected, wherein in this case an air overpressure is generated in the vehicle interior. A particularly expedient and simple method is therefore provided, which avoids the penetration of foreign particles into a vehicle interior. 
         [0020]    In an advantageous embodiment, an air overpressure is generated when a foreign particle accumulation is detected outside the vehicle interior. This constitutes a particularly expedient further development of the method in which an air overpressure in the vehicle interior is only generated when the penetration of foreign particles into the vehicle interior is to be expected when opening the vehicle door. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0021]    The present invention will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and: 
           [0022]      FIG. 1  shows an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  shows an exemplary embodiment of an apparatus according to the invention, and 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  shows schematically an embodiment of the sequence of the method according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit application and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any theory presented in the preceding background or summary or the following detailed description. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1  shows an apparatus  1  according to an embodiment in a vehicle  2 , which is at a standstill in the situation shown, wherein foreign particles  3  are located on the roof  4  of the vehicle  2 . The foreign particles  3  form a foreign particle accumulation  5  in the form of a snow accumulation  6 . The snow accumulation  6  is additionally located in a gap  7  between the roof  4  and the vehicle door  8 . In this case, the vehicle door  8  is closed and the snow accumulation  6  does not enter into a vehicle interior  9  in the situation shown. 
         [0027]    Located in the vehicle environment  10  is a vehicle driver  11 , who sets the apparatus  1  into an avoidance mode by actuating a radio control element  13 , i.e., activates the apparatus. The vehicle driver  11  then unlocks the vehicle door  8  by actuating the radio control unit  13 . A monitoring device  14  detects that the vehicle door  8  has been unlocked and thereby deduces an expected opening  15  of the vehicle door  8 . In this case, an overpressure generating device  16  generates an air overpressure  17  in the vehicle interior  9  by supplying air  18  into the vehicle interior  9  via a ventilation device  19 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  shows an apparatus  30  according to an embodiment of the invention in a vehicle  31  viewed from above (e.g., a bird&#39;s eye view), which is at a standstill in the situation  32  shown (in  FIG. 2  below). In this case, a detection device  33  comprises a rain sensor  34 , a temperature sensor  35 , and a light sensor  36 , which each detect a foreign particle accumulation  38  located outside the vehicle interior  37 . 
         [0029]    The rain sensor  34  thereby detects precipitation in the form of rain or snow fall, accumulations of water and snow outside the vehicle interior  37 , and in this case emits a detection signal. The temperature sensor  35  in particular detects temperatures below about 0° Celsius which gives reason to expect snow accumulations located outside the vehicle interior  37  or snow fall. Upon detecting these temperatures, the temperature sensor  35  emits a detection signal. The light sensor  36  additionally detects foreign particle accumulations  38  located between light or sun&#39;s rays to be detected and the light sensor  36 . This is accomplished by the light sensor  36  detecting that light or sun&#39;s rays are broken at the foreign particles or are obscured from the view of the light sensor  36  by these particles. In this case, the presence of foreign particle accumulations  38  outside the vehicle interior  37  can be deduced so that the light sensor  36  emits a detection signal. The emitted detection signal of the rain sensor  34 , temperature sensor  35 , and/or light sensor  36  have the result, for example, in an automatic mode of the apparatus  30 , that the apparatus  30  is set into an avoidance mode, i.e., is activated. If the rain sensor  34  and the light sensor  36  detect no foreign particle accumulations  38  and if the temperature sensor  35  detects temperature above about 0° C., a corresponding signal is emitted so that the apparatus does not enter into the avoidance mode and/or this is deactivated again. 
         [0030]    Located in the environment  39  of the vehicle  31  is a vehicle driver  40 , who unlocks a vehicle door  41  using a vehicle key  42 . The vehicle key  42  is thereby connected by radio to the door lock and to a monitoring device  43 . The monitoring device  43  detects an expected opening  45  (shown at the top in  FIG. 2 ) of the vehicle door  41  by means of the unlocking  44  of the vehicle door  41 . An overpressure generating device  46  then generates an air overpressure  47 , i.e., a higher air pressure compared to the air pressure in the vehicle environment, in the vehicle interior  37 . The overpressure generating device  46  in this case is a ventilation device  49 . The ventilation device  49  has an air supply opening  50  and an air removal opening  51 , and generate the air overpressure  47  in the vehicle interior  37  by supplying air  52 , the air removal opening  51  being closed. 
         [0031]    At the top of  FIG. 2  the vehicle  31  is shown at a later time after the vehicle driver  40  has opened the vehicle door  41 . At this moment foreign particle accumulations  38  fall down and are blown away from the vehicle interior  37  by the air flow  60 , which emerges from the opening  61  of the vehicle door  41  through a vehicle door frame. For this purpose the ventilation device  49  generates a directed air flow  63  through outlet nozzles  62 , which is directed toward the opening  61  of the vehicle door  41  when viewed from the vehicle interior  37 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  shows schematically a possible sequence of the method  70  according to an embodiment of the invention. The method begins in process step A, in which a foreign particle accumulation is detected outside the vehicle interior. In a further process step B the vehicle door is unlocked. By means of the unlocking of the vehicle door, an expected opening of the vehicle door is detected in a further process step C. In this case, an air overpressure in the vehicle interior is generated in a following process step D. 
         [0033]    While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing summary and the detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing an exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents.