Patent Abstract:
Methods and systems are provided for monitoring a surface. A method includes: receiving thermographic data captured of a surface of a vehicle; comparing the thermographic data with baseline data to determine a difference; and selectively controlling a spray of fluid to the surface based on the difference.

Full Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present disclosure generally relates to infrared imaging, and more particularly relates to methods and systems for monitoring a surface for soiling and/or fluid concentration using infrared imaging. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Various surfaces of a vehicle, such as windshields, windows, mirrors, headlamps, etc., require cleaning periodic for effective use. Fluid is sprayed on the surface at predefined amounts and at predefined times. In some cases, the fluid sprayed is not sufficient to clean the surface and the surface remains dirty and ineffective. In other cases, more than enough fluid is used to spray the surface and fluid is wasted. 
         [0003]    Accordingly, it is desirable to provide methods and system for monitoring a surface for soils. It is further desirable to provide methods and systems for monitoring fluid concentration on the surface. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description of the invention and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background of the invention. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Methods and systems are provided for monitoring a surface. A method includes: receiving thermographic data captured of a surface of a vehicle; comparing the thermographic data with baseline data to determine a difference; and selectively controlling a spray of fluid to the surface based on the difference. 
         [0005]    A system includes a first module that receives thermographic data captured of a surface of a vehicle. A second module compares the thermographic data with baseline data to determine a difference. A third module selectively controls a spray of fluid to the surface based on the difference. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The present disclosure will hereinafter be described in conjunction with the following drawing figures, wherein like numerals denote like elements, and: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a functional block diagram of a surface monitoring system of a vehicle in accordance with various exemplary embodiments; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a data flow diagram of a control module of the surface monitoring system in accordance with various exemplary embodiments; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart of a method for monitoring the surface for soils and fluid in accordance with various exemplary embodiments. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the application and uses. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. As used herein, the term module refers to an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor (shared, dedicated, or group) and/or memory that executes or stores one or more software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, and/or other suitable components that provide the described functionality. 
         [0011]    Embodiments of the invention may be described herein in terms of functional and/or logical block components and various processing steps. It should be appreciated that such block components may be realized by any number of hardware, software, and/or firmware components configured to perform the specified functions. For example, exemplary embodiments may employ various integrated circuit components, e.g., memory elements, digital signal processing elements, logic elements, look-up tables, or the like, which may carry out a variety of functions under the control of one or more microprocessors or other control devices. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that exemplary embodiments may be practiced in conjunction with any number of control systems, and that the vehicle systems described herein are merely exemplary embodiments. 
         [0012]    For the sake of brevity, conventional techniques related to signal processing, data transmission, signaling, control, and other functional aspects of the systems (and the individual operating components of the systems) may not be described in detail herein. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent example functional relationships and/or physical couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical connections may be present in various embodiments. 
         [0013]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a vehicle  10  is shown to include a surface monitoring system  12  in accordance with various embodiments. As can be appreciated, the vehicle  10  may be any vehicle type including an automobile, an aircraft, a train, a watercraft, or any other vehicle type. For exemplary purposes, the disclosure will be discussed in the context of the vehicle  10  being an automobile. Although the figures shown herein depict an example with certain arrangements of elements, additional intervening elements, devices, features, or components may be present in an actual embodiments. It should also be understood that  FIG. 1  is merely illustrative and may not be drawn to any scale. 
         [0014]    As depicted in  FIG. 1 , the surface monitoring system  12  monitors a surface  14  of the vehicle  10  for soiling and/or monitors the surface  14  for a fluid concentration after the soiled surface  14  has been sprayed with a cleaning fluid. In various embodiments, the surface  14  is a part of the vehicle  10  such as, but not limited to, a headlamp, a windshield, a window, a mirror, or any other surface  14  of the vehicle  10  that may require cleaning. In various embodiments, the surface  14  is a surface associated with the monitoring system  12 , such as, but not limited to a lens or other surface of an imaging device  28  that monitors another surface (not shown) of the vehicle  10 . 
         [0015]    The surface  14  is sprayed with a cleaning fluid  18  stored in a fluid reservoir  20  by way of an electronically controlled spray device  22 . In various embodiments, the spray device  22  may be a single spray device or a collection of spray devices that are selectively controlled to spray a particular amount of cleaning fluid  18 , to spray for a particular duration such that a particular amount of cleaning fluid  18  is sprayed, and/or to spray in a particular direction. A control module  24  generates control signals  26  to control the amount, duration, and/or direction of the spray by the spray device  22 . 
         [0016]    At at least one imaging device  28  is associated with the surface  14  and the control module  24 . The imaging device  28  is, for example, an infrared camera that captures thermographic data  30  associated with the surface  14 . The imaging device  28  provides the thermographic data  30  to the control module  24 . The control module  24  assembles the thermographic data  30  into an image map representing thermographic values of the surface  14 . The control module  24  evaluates the image map to determine whether the surface  14  is soiled enough to clean the surface  14 , and/or to determine whether or not the spray of the cleaning fluid  18  is sufficient to clean the soiled areas of the surface  14 . 
         [0017]    In various embodiments, if the spray of the cleaning fluid  18  is not sufficient to clean the surface  14  (e.g., the spray device  22  has a defect or is clogged, or other reason), the control module  24  generates notification data  32 . A notification device  34 , such as an audio device, a display device, and/or a haptic device, receives the notification data  32  and notifies a user of the vehicle  10  of the inability to sufficiently clean the surface  14 . As can be appreciated, the notification can be any type of notification including an audio notification, a visual notification, and/or a haptic notification and the notification data  32  can include any data sufficient to notify the user visually, haptically, or by audio. 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 2  and with continued reference to  FIG. 1 , a dataflow diagram illustrates various embodiments of the control module  24  in greater detail. Various embodiments of the control module  24  according to the present disclosure may include any number of sub-modules. As can be appreciated, the sub-modules shown in  FIG. 2  may be combined and/or further partitioned to similarly monitor the surface  14  for soils and the fluid concentration. Inputs to the control module  24  may be received from the imaging device  28  and/or other sensors, received from other control modules (not shown) of the vehicle  10 , and/or determined by other sub-modules (not shown) of the control module  24 . In various embodiments, the control module  24  includes an image capture module  40 , an image comparator module  42 , a fluid control module  44 , and a map data datastore  46 . 
         [0019]    The image capture module  40  receives the thermographic data  30  generated by the imaging device  28  and assembles the thermographic data  30  into a thermographic image map  48 . The thermographic image map  48  represents the thermal image of the surface  14 . In various embodiments, the thermographic data  30  is received periodically and/or based on a request  50  for data generated by the image capture module  40 . The request for data can be based on a surface status  51  that is generated by the fluid control module  44 . 
         [0020]    The image comparator module  42  receives as input the image map  48 . The image comparator module  42  compares the image map  48  with another image map that is retrieved from the map data datastore  46 . In various embodiments, the image maps stored in the image map datastore  46  include baseline image maps that represent a clean surface given various ambient conditions. In various embodiments, the image maps stored in the image map datastore  46  include baseline image maps that represent a sprayed surface given various ambient conditions. In various embodiments, the image maps stored in the image map datastore include the image maps  48  that were previously captured and stored. 
         [0021]    The image comparator module  42  determines which image map to retrieve and compare based on a status  51  of the surface  14  received from the fluid control module  44 . For example, when the status  51  indicates that fluid has not just been sprayed, then a baseline image map representing a clean surface may be retrieved. In another example, when the status  51  indicates that the fluid has just been sprayed, then either a baseline image map or a previously stored image map may be retrieved. 
         [0022]    The image comparator module  42  compares the image maps to determine thermal differences  5  (e.g., differences. The image comparator module  42  generates a difference map  54  representing the thermal differences (e.g., at each of the x, y coordinates) of the surface  14 . 
         [0023]    The fluid control module  44  receives as input the difference map  54  that was generated by the comparator module  42 . The fluid control module  44  evaluates the difference map  54  and generates the control signals  26  and/or the notification data  32  based on the evaluation. For example, when the differences in an area of the surface exceed a threshold (e.g., indicate that an areas is soiled), then the fluid control module  44  generates fluid control signals  26  to control an amount of fluid, a duration of spray, and/or a direction of fluid to be sprayed on the surface. The fluid control module  44  determines the amount and/or the direction based on the number of differences, and/or the areas where the differences exist. 
         [0024]    In various embodiments, the fluid control module  44  generates notification data  32  when, after repeated attempts to clean the surface  14  by generating X number of control signals  26 , and it is determined that the surface  14  is unable to be cleaned, the fluid control module  44  generates notification data  32  to notify a user of the inability to clean the surface  14 . The notification data  32  may include a message or other indication (e.g., audio or haptic) that the surface  14  is unable to be cleaned or that the spray device  22  is unable to clean the surface  14 . 
         [0025]    The fluid control module  44  updates the status  54  based on the generation of the control signals  26  and/or the notification data  32 . For example, if the fluid control signals  26  were just generated then, the fluid control module  44  updates status  51  to indicate that the surface  14  has just been sprayed. In another example, if the fluid control signals  26  have not been generated for a predetermined time (e.g., a defined time between cleanings), the fluid control module  44  updates the status  51  to indicate that information is needed. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , and with continued reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a flowchart illustrates a control method that can be performed by the surface monitoring system  12  in accordance with various embodiments. As can be appreciated in light of the disclosure, the order of operation within the method is not limited to the sequential execution as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , but may be performed in one or more varying orders as applicable and in accordance with the present disclosure. 
         [0027]    As can further be appreciated, the method of  FIG. 3  may be scheduled to run at predetermined time intervals during operation of the vehicle  10  and/or may be scheduled to run based on predetermined events. 
         [0028]    In one example, the method may begin at  200 . It is determined whether the surface  14  is to be evaluated before cleaning at  210 . If it is desired to evaluate the surface  14  before a cleaning at  210 , the method may proceed to step  280 . 
         [0029]    Otherwise, if it is desired that the surface  14  be evaluated before cleaning at  210 , thermographic data  30  of the surface  14  is captured at  220  and an image map  48  is generated based on the thermographic data  30  at  230 . The baseline “clean” image map  52  is retrieved from the map data datastore  46  at  240 . The baseline image map  52  and the current image map  48  are evaluated at  250  and  260 . In particular, differences are computed between corresponding areas of the baseline image map  52  and the current image map  48  at  250 . If a difference or a certain number of differences do not exceed a threshold value (e.g., a thermal value indicating that the soil exists) at  260 , then it is concluded that the surface  14  does not need cleaning and the method ends at  270 . 
         [0030]    If, however, a difference or a certain number of differences exceed the threshold value (e.g., the thermal value indicating that the soil exists) at  260 , then the fluid control signals  26  are generated at  280  to control an amount of spray and/or a direction of the spray. In various embodiments, the amount and/or direction is based on the area of the surface  14  that has the difference that exceeds the threshold value. 
         [0031]    Thereafter, the cleaning of the surface  14  may optionally be evaluated at  290 - 340 . If it is not desired that the cleaning be evaluated at  290 , the method may end at  270 . If it is desired that the cleaning be evaluated at  290 , the thermographic data  30  of the surface  14  is captured again after the control signals  26  are generated and the fluid  18  has landed on the surface  14  at  300 . A current image map  48  representing the fluid  18  on the surface  14  is generated based on the thermographic data  30  at  310 . A baseline image map  52  representing either a desired spray, or the soiled areas of the surface  14  (e.g., the previously captured image map  48 ) is retrieved from the map datastore  46  at  320 . The current image map  48  is compared with the baseline image map at  330  and  340 . In particular, differences are computed between corresponding areas of the current image map  48  and the baseline image map  52  at  330 . If a difference or a certain number of differences do not exceed a threshold value (e.g., a thermal value indicating that the fluid exists in the area) at  340 , then it is concluded that the spray concentration was sufficient to clean the soiled areas and the method ends at  270 . If, however, a difference or a certain number of differences exceed a threshold value (e.g., a thermal value indicating that the fluid exists in the area) at  340 , then it is concluded that the spray concentration was not sufficient to clean the soiled areas and the number of spray repetitions is evaluated at  350 . If the number of spray repetitions does not exceed a threshold at  350 , the method continues with generating the control signals  26  to control an amount of spray and/or a direction of the spray at  280 . In various embodiments, the amount and/or direction is based on the area of the surface  14  that has the difference that exceeds the threshold value. 
         [0032]    If, however, the number of spray repetitions does exceed a threshold at  350 , the notification data  32  is generated to notify a user that the surface  14  is not clean or that the spray device  22  is unable to effectively clean the soiled surface  14  at  360  and the method may end at  270 . 
         [0033]    While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing 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 of the invention in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments. It should be understood that various changes can be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims and the legal equivalents thereof.

Technology Classification (CPC): 6