Patent Description:
Vehicles increasingly include cameras to provide information relating to a surrounding environment. Continual and unimpeded operation of the cameras is required to maintain operation and operation of some vehicle systems. Washing systems are therefore often provided to continually clean vehicle cameras to maintain operability. The amount of washing fluid carried in a vehicle is limited and once exhausted can leave a camera covered and ineffective.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting a context of this disclosure. <CIT> describes a vehicle cleaner system comprising a plurality of cleaners capable of, respectively, cleaning a plurality of sensors which are configured such that at least one of a detection method, a detection target, a detection direction, and a detection timing is different between the sensors. <CIT> describes a vehicle cleaner system with a cleaner unit, which is mounted on a vehicle and discharges a cleaning medium to the external sensor for acquiring information about the outside of the vehicle. <CIT> describes a system and method for automated cleaning. <CIT> describes a vehicle cleaner system for cleaning an object to be cleaned and a vehicle provided with a vehicle cleaner system.

A vehicle camera washing system according to the invention includes, among other possible things, a nozzle for directing washer fluid to clean a blockage over a lens of a camera, a washer fluid storage container, a pump for propelling washer fluid through the nozzle, a control valve controlling communication of washer fluid to the nozzle and a controller configured to control the pump and valve according to a selected mode of operation and a detected blockage of the lens.

According to the invention, the selected mode of operation comprises an off-road mode, an automatic mode, a time restricted mode and a speed restricted mode.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing vehicle camera washing systems, a selector is included that is actuatable by a vehicle operator for selecting one of the selected modes of operation.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing vehicle camera washing systems, in the off-road mode, the controller does not actuate the valve to clean the lens in response to a detected blockage of the lens.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing vehicle camera washing systems, the controller operates according to the off-road mode in response to detecting a vehicle operating condition that is indicative of operation of the vehicle in an off-road environment.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing vehicle camera washing systems, the vehicle operating condition that is indicative of operation of the vehicle in an off-road environment comprises a suspension system being set to an off-road ride height, a four-wheel drive powertrain setting or detected suspension operation that is indicative of operation in an off-road environment.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing vehicle camera washing systems, the speed restricted mode comprises the controller discontinuing actuation of the valve to direct washer fluid to clean a blockage over the lens of the camera in response to a vehicle speed being below a threshold value.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing vehicle camera washing systems, the controller switches to the speed restricted mode in response to a vehicle operating condition that is indicative of off-road operation in addition to the vehicle speed being below the threshold value.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing vehicle camera washing systems, the time restricted mode comprises the controller actuating the valve to direct washer fluid to clean a blockage over the lens of the camera after expiration of a predefined time interval.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing vehicle camera washing systems, the camera comprises a plurality of cameras and a corresponding plurality of nozzles, valves and pumps and wherein, the selected mode of operation further comprises selection of a subgroup of the plurality of cameras for cleaning and a subgroup of the plurality of cameras that are not cleaned.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing vehicle camera washing systems, the plurality of cameras comprises a front camera, a side camera and a rear camera and the selected subgroup of the plurality of cameras comprises only the front camera and the subgroup of the plurality of cameras that are not cleaned comprises the side camera and the rear camera.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing vehicle camera washing systems, the plurality of cameras comprises a front camera, a side camera and a rear camera and the selected subgroup of the plurality of cameras comprises less than all of the front camera, the side camera and the rear camera.

A method of operating a vehicle camera washing system according to the invention includes, among other possible things, selecting a mode of operation of the camera washing system by actuating a selector, wherein the mode of operation includes one of an off-road mode, an automatic mode, a time restricted mode and a speed restricting mode and actuating a pump and valve with a controller to expel washer fluid from a fluid storage container through a nozzle to direct washer fluid to clean a blockage over a lens of a camera according to the selected mode of operation.

In a further embodiment of the foregoing method of operating a vehicle camera washing system, in the off-road mode, the controller does not actuate the valve to clean the lens in response to a detected blockage of the lens.

According to the invention, a vehicle operating condition is detected that is indicative of operation of the vehicle in an off-road environment and the controller operates to actuate the valve according to the off-road mode in response to detecting operation of the vehicle in the off-road environment.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing methods of operating a vehicle camera washing system, detecting that the vehicle is operating in an off-road environment is indicated in response to a suspension system being set to an off-road ride height, a vehicle powertrain being set to a four-wheel drive setting or detecting operation of a suspension system in a way that is indicative of operation in an off-road environment.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing methods of operating a vehicle camera washing system, when in the time restricted mode, the controller actuates the valve to direct washer fluid to clean a blockage over the lens of the camera after expiration of a predefined time interval.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing methods in the speed restricted mode, the controller discontinuing actuation of the valve to direct washer fluid to clean a blockage over the lens of the camera in response to a vehicle speed being below a threshold value.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing methods of operating a vehicle camera washing system, the camera comprises a plurality of cameras and a corresponding plurality of nozzles and valves and selecting the mode of operation further comprises selecting a subgroup of the plurality of cameras for cleaning and a subgroup of the plurality of cameras that are not cleaned.

In a further embodiment of any of the foregoing methods of operating a vehicle camera washing system, the plurality of cameras comprises a front camera, a side camera and a rear camera and selecting a subgroup of the plurality of cameras that are not cleaned comprises selecting less than all of the front camera, the side camera and the rear camera.

Referring to <FIG>, a vehicle <NUM> includes cameras <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> and a camera washing system <NUM>. The camera washing system <NUM> is controllable to adapt operation to current vehicle operating conditions to conserve washing fluid. The system <NUM> includes valves 22A-C that are operable to control a flow of washer fluid to a corresponding one of the cameras <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. At least one pump <NUM> is provided to generate a flow of washer fluid from a reservoir <NUM> to each of a plurality of nozzles 20A-C. The nozzles 20A-C are orientated proximate a corresponding one of the cameras <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>. A controller <NUM> governs operation of the pump <NUM> and the valves 22A-C to control when and which ones of the cameras <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are cleaned.

The system <NUM> is operable in several different modes that can be identified either by operator selection or automatically based on predefined vehicle operation. In one disclosed example, a mode of operation of the system <NUM> is determined by an operator input by way of a selector switch <NUM>. The selector switch <NUM> may be a knob accessible within the vehicle or a selection that is made through an operator control panel such as touch screen display.

The example controller <NUM> relates to a device and system for performing necessary computing, calculations and control of system devices. The example controller <NUM> may be specially constructed for the system <NUM>, or it may comprise at least a general-purpose vehicle controller selectively activated and configured by a stored program.

The pump <NUM> may be one pump as illustrated or a series of pumps distributed at different locations to pressurize and drive washer fluid to a corresponding nozzle 20A-C. The valves 22A-C may be of any controllable valve configuration that provides for selective communication of washer fluid to a corresponding nozzle 20A-C.

In one disclosed example, the vehicle <NUM> includes a front camera <NUM>, a side camera <NUM> and a rear camera <NUM>. Each of the cameras <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> include a lens <NUM> (<FIG>). Although only one camera is illustrated for each of the front camera <NUM>, side camera <NUM> and rear camera <NUM>, it is within the contemplation of this disclosure that more than one camera is disposed at each of the front, side and rear of the vehicle <NUM>. Moreover, it is also within the scope and contemplation of this disclosure that cameras may be located at other locations on the vehicles along with a corresponding nozzle for cleaning.

The controller <NUM> receives information from each camera <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> that is utilized to determine if a blockage is present over the lens <NUM>. If a blockage over the lens <NUM> is detected, the controller <NUM> will command operation of the system <NUM> to spray washer fluid to clean the lens <NUM>. In a default mode, the system <NUM> automatically initiates operation to spray washer fluid and clean the lens <NUM> upon detection of a blockage. However, in some vehicle operating modes, automatic operation is not desired as little to no benefit is provided and/or it may result in depletion of washer fluid. For example, off-road operation of the vehicle <NUM> may result in all the cameras continually being exposed to dirt and mud to the point that automatic operation of the system <NUM> would soon exhaust all washer fluid.

The example system <NUM> is operable according to a plurality of selectable operating modes tailored to vehicle operating conditions. In one disclosed example, the system <NUM> is operable according to an automatic mode, a time restricted mode and an off-road mode. In each of the modes, the system <NUM> will operate to clean the cameras <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> according to predefined and selected criteria. In the disclosed example, the system <NUM> is operable to clean the rear camera <NUM> regardless of which of the operating modes is selected in response to the vehicle being placed in a reverse gear. Cleaning the rear camera <NUM> when the vehicle is operating in reverse provides the vehicle operator has a clear view of at the rear of the vehicle to enable safe operation.

Referring to <FIG>, with continued reference to <FIG>, one example set of operating modes and settings for the system <NUM> is schematically shown and indicated at <NUM>. The example settings include a sport setting <NUM>, a normal setting <NUM>, a comfort setting <NUM> and an off-road mode <NUM>. The system <NUM> may also be turned off as indicated at <NUM>.

Each of the settings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> can be selected to an automatic mode as is indicated at <NUM>. In the automatic mode <NUM>, the controller <NUM> actuates one of the valves 22A-C corresponding to one of the cameras <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> in response to detection of blockage over the corresponding lens <NUM>. In this example, each of the settings <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are shown as operating in the automatic mode <NUM>.

Selection of the off-road mode <NUM> enables further options to tailor operation of the system <NUM> to vehicle operation. In this example, the off-road mode <NUM> may be operated according to a modified automatic mode <NUM>. The modified automatic mode <NUM> provides for selection of the specific one and/or group of the cameras <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> that are automatically cleaned responsive to detection of a blockage. In some instances, operation of the front camera <NUM> may be important, but the side camera <NUM> and rear camera <NUM> are not so critical. The example system <NUM> therefore enables selection of which cameras <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are cleaned. In this example, only the front camera <NUM> is automatically cleaned as is indicated at <NUM>. The side camera <NUM> and rear camera <NUM> are turned off as is indicated at <NUM>.

The example off-road mode <NUM> may also be operated according to a time restricted mode <NUM>. In the time restricted mode <NUM>, the system <NUM> operates intermittently to clean the selected camera once over a predefined time. For example, the system <NUM> may be set to wash the front camera <NUM> once every few minutes if a blockage is detected. Accordingly, the system <NUM> would detect if a blockage is present and prompt cleaning of the lens <NUM>. The system <NUM> would then wait the predefined time and again check for a blockage. If a blockage is present, then the lens <NUM> is cleaned, if no blockage is present, the system remains active and waits another predefined period of time. The time restricted cleaning could be applied to all the cameras <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> or to a limited group of cameras such as the front camera <NUM> as indicated. In one disclosed example, the predefined time is <NUM> minutes. In another disclosed example, the predefined time is <NUM> minutes.

It should be appreciated, that although only the off-road mode <NUM> is shown as including optional modes of operation, the sport setting <NUM>, normal setting <NUM> and comfort setting <NUM> could be operated according to the modified automatic mode <NUM> and the time restricted mode <NUM> within the scope and contemplation of this disclosure.

Additionally, the specific operating mode could be selected automatically based on vehicle operation. In one disclosed example, the system <NUM> is automatically operable according to the off-road mode <NUM> in response to detection of a vehicle operating condition that is indicative of operation of the vehicle in an off-road environment. This operation is schematically shown as a speed restricted mode <NUM>. In the speed restricted mode <NUM>, the system <NUM> will automatically turn off all of the valves 22A-C to prevent cleaning of all of the cameras <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> in response to indications that the vehicle is operating in an off-road environment.

The vehicle <NUM> includes suspension system <NUM>, and a powertrain <NUM>, both shown schematically in <FIG>. Off-road operation may be indicated based on an operator setting the powertrain <NUM> to four-wheel or all-wheel operation along with a vehicle speed that is below a threshold value. In one disclosed example embodiment, the vehicle speed threshold is less than about <NUM> kilometers/hour (<NUM> miles/hour). Moreover, off-road operation may be indicated based on setting the suspension system <NUM> to an off-road ride height. The controller <NUM> recognizes the setting of the powertrain <NUM> and/or the suspension system <NUM> and automatically adjust operation according to the predefined off-road operating mode <NUM>. In this disclosed example, the speed restricted mode <NUM> is selected.

It should be appreciated, that other vehicle operating settings could also be utilized as an indicator to prompt operation of the system <NUM> according to a predefined mode. In this example, the predefined mode pertains to off-road operation, however other vehicle operating conditions may be utilized to prompt a specifically tailored operation of the camera washer system <NUM>.

Additionally, the controller <NUM> may automatically initiate operation of the system <NUM> based only on sensed vehicle operations. For example, high wheel accelerations, larger than normal vertical wheel movements, vehicle speed and/or sensed vehicle angular orientations that are indicative of operation of a roadway may be predefined to prompt automatic switching of the camera washing system <NUM> to the off-road mode <NUM>. Moreover, other sensed vehicle operating conditions could be utilized to prompt other operating modes of the system <NUM> and are within the scope and contemplation of this disclosure.

Accordingly, the disclosed example vehicle camera washing system <NUM> is operable according to a plurality of operating modes to specifically tailor washing of each of the cameras to vehicle operating conditions.

It should be understood that although a particular component arrangement is disclosed and illustrated in these exemplary embodiments, other arrangements could also benefit from the teachings of this disclosure.

Although the different non-limiting embodiments are illustrated as having specific components or steps, the embodiments of this disclosure are not limited to those particular combinations. It is possible to use some of the components or features from any of the non-limiting embodiments in combination with features or components from any of the other non-limiting embodiments.

Claim 1:
A vehicle camera washing system (<NUM>) comprising:
a nozzle (20A-C) that directs washer fluid to clean a blockage over a lens (<NUM>) of a camera (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>);
a washer fluid storage container;
a pump (<NUM>) propelling washer fluid from the washer fluid storage container through the nozzle (20A-C);
a control valve (22A-C) controlling communication of washer fluid to the nozzle (20A-C);
a controller (<NUM>) that controls operation of the pump (<NUM>) and valve according to a selected mode of operation and a detected blockage of the lens (<NUM>); and
characterized in that the selected mode of operation comprises an off-road mode, an automatic mode (<NUM>), a time restricted mode (<NUM>) and a speed restricted mode (<NUM>).