DE102023201132A1 - Method for controlling window lifters of a vehicle and vehicle for carrying out the method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling window lifters of a vehicle, the vehicle having a driver assistance system with a device for recording and evaluating the traffic situation and several windows, each with associated window lifters, the windows being arranged on the left and right sides and in rows with respect to a vehicle coordinate system, at least one operating unit with at least one switch for row-by-row selection and at least two switches for side-by-side operation of the window lifter to be controlled being provided for the clear manual control of a window lifter. The invention also relates to a vehicle that is designed to carry out the method. In order to simplify the manual and situation-dependent opening and closing of vehicle windows and to avoid incorrect operation, the following steps are proposed:
- Recording and evaluating the traffic situation;
- Predict whether and in which row a vehicle window needs to be opened or closed depending on the recorded and evaluated traffic situation;
- Deactivating the at least one switch in such a way that when at least one switch is operated manually, only the window lifters of the predicted row are controlled regardless of the current setting of the at least one switch.

Description

The invention relates to a first method for controlling window lifters of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle has an assistance system with a device for detecting and evaluating the traffic situation and several windows, each with associated window lifters, wherein the windows are arranged on the left and right sides and in rows with respect to a vehicle coordinate system, wherein at least one operating unit with at least one switch for row-by-row selection and at least two switches for side-by-side operation of the window lifter to be controlled is provided for the clear manual control of a window lifter.

The invention further relates to a second method for controlling window lifters of a vehicle, wherein the vehicle has an assistance system with a device for detecting and evaluating the traffic situation and several windows with associated window lifters, wherein the windows are arranged on the left and right sides and in rows with respect to a vehicle coordinate system, wherein at least one operating unit with at least two switches for row-by-row and side-by-side selection and at least one switch for operating the window lifter to be controlled is provided for the clear manual control of a window lifter.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a first vehicle with a driver assistance system and a device for detecting and evaluating the traffic situation and a plurality of windows, each with associated window lifters, wherein the windows are arranged on the left and right sides and in rows with respect to a vehicle coordinate system, wherein at least one operating unit with at least one switch for row-by-row selection and at least two switches for side-by-side operation of the window lifter to be controlled is provided for the clear manual control of a window lifter.

Finally, the invention relates to a second vehicle with an assistance system and a device for detecting and evaluating the current traffic situation and several windows with associated window lifters, wherein the windows are arranged on the left and right sides and in rows with respect to a vehicle coordinate system, wherein at least one operating unit with at least two switches for row-by-row and side-by-side selection and at least one switch for operating the window lifter to be controlled is provided for the clear manual control of a window lifter.

In the 1a , b is a vehicle 1 known from the state of the art in a partially sectioned side view ( 1a) and a partially sectioned plan view ( 1b) shown. Such vehicles 1 are usually designed as combustion engines, hybrid vehicles or electric vehicles and have a device 2 for recording and evaluating the traffic situation, for which a suitable sensor system 21 and a computing unit 22 are provided. The sensor system 21 is in particular cameras, LIDAR systems, car2car communication and/or car2X communication, which are known in detail in each case and are therefore not shown in detail. Furthermore, such vehicles 1 have two rows of seats 31, 32 arranged one behind the other with a left-hand and a right-hand seat in relation to a vehicle coordinate system. Windows 411, 412, 421, 422 are assigned to the seats, which can be opened and closed in the direction of arrow 8, 9 using electronic window lifters (not shown). All window lifters of the vehicle 1 can usually be controlled from the driver's seat, for which purpose an operating unit 5 with several operating elements 6 is provided, as shown by way of example in 1c is shown. Firstly, the operating unit 5 has a changeover switch 61 with which it can be selected in which row a window lifter is to be controlled. Such changeover switches 61 are usually designed as toggle or slide switches with two settings, which allow a clear assignment of the control to the front row of seats 31 or to the rear row of seats 32. Furthermore, two switches 621, 622 are provided as operating elements 6, which in the embodiment shown are designed as toggle switches and are each assigned to the left-hand window lifters or the right-hand window lifters. When the operating unit 5 is used as intended, the driver must first select row 31, 32 using the changeover switch 61 to open the desired window 411, 412, 421, 422 and then operate the desired right-hand or left-hand switch 621, 622.

In practice, it is regularly observed that the correct setting of the changeover switch 61 is inadvertently not checked when a switch 621, 622 is operated, or that the setting of the changeover switch 61 has inadvertently changed, so that when a switch 621, 622 is intentionally operated, a window 411, 412, 421, 422 of the wrong row of seats 31, 32 is opened or closed. In such a situation, the accidentally opened/closed window 411, 412, 421, 422 must first be closed/opened again, the changeover switch 61 must be operated, and the correct window 411, 412, 421, 422 must be opened by operating the correct switch 621, 622. In particular in stressful traffic situations, such as before a closed parking garage barrier, during a traffic check or in front of a toll station, the conventional control unit 5 has proven to be cumbersome and error-prone.

To simplify the operation of such a control unit, EP 1 366 939 A1 It has been suggested that the rear row(s) can only be controlled within a defined time window after a switch has been activated. After the time window has expired, the window control switches automatically only control the window lifts of the front row of seats. However, incorrect operation cannot be ruled out, as the temporary assignment can be accidentally activated when approaching a parking garage barrier, a traffic control and/or a toll station, which means that incorrect operation cannot be ruled out.

Out of US 2016/0221420 A1 A method is known in which windows are opened and/or closed depending on the speed. The method disclosed here does not have a positive effect on the manual and traffic situation-dependent opening/closing of windows.

Finally, WO 2020/233210 A1 A device for automatically opening and closing a window is known, which also does not eliminate the present disadvantages.

It is therefore the object of the invention to simplify the manual and situation-dependent opening and closing of vehicle windows and to avoid incorrect operation.

This object is firstly achieved by the method according to claim 1 and by the vehicle according to claim 7.

According to the invention, the traffic situation is recorded and evaluated. Depending on the recorded and evaluated traffic situation, it is predicted whether and in which row a window of the vehicle must be opened or closed. In the event that, after the evaluation of the traffic situation, a row in which a window must be opened or closed is clearly predicted, the at least one switch is deactivated in such a way that when at least one switch is manually operated, only the window lifters of the predicted row are controlled, regardless of the current setting of the at least one switch. This makes the situation-dependent opening and closing of vehicle windows considerably easier because accidental misallocations due to an incorrect setting of the switch are prevented. In stressful traffic situations, for example in front of a parking garage barrier, at a traffic checkpoint or in front of a toll station, incorrect and time-consuming opening of the wrong window is thus prevented.

The object is further achieved by the method according to claim 3 and by the vehicle according to claim 8.

According to the invention, the traffic situation is recorded and evaluated. Depending on the recorded and evaluated traffic situation, it is predicted whether and which window of the vehicle needs to be opened or closed. In the event that, after the evaluation of the traffic situation, a window needs to be opened or closed and it is clearly predicted, the switch is deactivated in such a way that when the switch is operated manually, only the window lifter of the predicted window is controlled, regardless of the current setting of the switch. This makes it considerably easier to open and close vehicle windows depending on the situation, because accidental misallocations due to an incorrect setting of the switch are prevented. In stressful traffic situations, for example in front of a parking garage barrier, at a traffic checkpoint or in front of a toll station, this prevents incorrect and time-consuming opening of the wrong window.

Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are specified below and in the subclaims.

According to an advantageous development of the first method, it is provided that it is predicted which window of the predicted row must be opened or closed. In the event that a window to be opened/closed is predicted in a clear manner, the left and right-hand assignment between the switches and the window lifters arranged on the right and left sides is deactivated in such a way that when a switch is operated manually, only the window lifter of the predicted window is controlled. In this case, the driver only has to operate one of the switches in such a way that the window opens or closes. In this case, there is no need to find the switch, which is usually clearly assigned, which further reduces operating errors.

According to an advantageous development of both methods, the automatic deactivation can be manually cancelled. This allows a window to be opened/closed, which should not normally be opened or closed in the existing traffic situation.

Preferably, the method is carried out exclusively below a speed threshold, which is preferably 30 km/h.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the vehicle has a seat recognition system and at least partial deactivation takes place in such a way that window lifters of the vehicle that are assigned to a passenger-free row or a passenger-free seat cannot be controlled. This also makes it possible to rule out incorrect operation.

• 1a eine Seitenansicht eines Fahrzeugs nach dem Stand der Technik;
• 1b eine Draufsicht eines Fahrzeugs nach dem Stand der Technik;
• 1c eine schematische Darstellung einer Bedieneinheit nach dem Stand der Technik;
• 2a eine Seitenansicht eines Fahrzeugs;
• 2b eine Draufsicht eines Fahrzeugs;
• 3 ein Ablaufdiagramm des Verfahrens.

Specific applications and further advantageous embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to the figures. They show:

• 1a a side view of a vehicle according to the state of the art;
• 1b a plan view of a vehicle according to the state of the art;
• 1c a schematic representation of a control unit according to the state of the art;
• 2a a side view of a vehicle;
• 2b a plan view of a vehicle;
• 3 a flow chart of the procedure.

The 2a , b show a vehicle 1' which differs from the vehicle 1 (known according to the state of the art) according to the 1a , b by a control device 7 which prepares the vehicle 1' to carry out the method.

3 shows a concrete sequence of the method. First, the traffic situation is recorded 100 and evaluated 101. Depending on the recorded and evaluated traffic situation, a prediction 102 is made as to whether and in which row of seats 31, 32 a window 411, 412, 421, 422 of the vehicle 1' must be opened or closed. In the event that, after the evaluation 101 of the traffic situation, a row of seats 31, 32 in which a window 411, 412, 421, 422 must be opened or closed is clearly predicted, the deactivation 103 of the at least one switch 61 takes place in such a way that when at least one switch 621, 622 is manually operated, only the window lifters of the predicted row of seats 31, 32 are controlled, regardless of the current setting of the at least one switch 61.

According to a specific development of the method, the prediction 104 is provided as to which window 411, 412, 421, 422 of the predicted row of seats must be opened or closed. In the event that a window 411, 412, 421, 422 to be opened/closed is predicted in a clear manner, the deactivation 105 of the left and right-hand side assignment between the switches 621, 622 and the window lifters arranged on the right and left sides takes place in such a way that when a switch 621, 622 is manually operated, only the window lifter of the predicted window 411, 412, 421, 422 is controlled. In this case, the driver only has to operate one of the switches 621, 622 in such a way that the window 411, 412, 421, 422 opens or closes. Finding the usually uniquely assigned switch 621, 622 is not necessary in this case.

The automatic deactivation 103 of the at least one changeover switch and/or the automatic deactivation 105 of the left and right-hand assignment between the switches 621, 622 and the window lifters arranged on the right and left can be manually canceled (arrow 106, 107). This allows a window to be opened/closed that should not normally be opened or closed in the existing traffic situation.

The vehicle 1' has a seat detection 108 and a partial deactivation 103 of the at least one switch 61 takes place in such a way that window lifters of the vehicle 1' cannot be controlled which are assigned to a passenger-free row of seats 31, 32.

• Szenario 1:
  • - Der Umschalter aktiviert die Fensterheber der hinteren Sitzreihe und die vorderen Fenster sind geschlossen.
  • - Es wird eine Verkehrssituation erkannt, bei der die Fenster der vorderen Sitzreihen geöffnet werden müssen, wie beispielsweise bei einer Einfahrt in ein Parkhaus zum Ziehen des Parktickets oder der Einfahrt in einen Drive-in zum Aufgeben einer Bestellung oder zum Entgegennehmen der bestellten Ware.
  • - Die Fahrzeuggeschwindigkeit unterschreitet eine Grenzgeschwindigkeit von 30 km/h.
  • - Das Verfahren deaktiviert den Umschalter, so dass der Fahrer unmittelbar das richtige Fenster öffnet.
• Szenario 2:
  • - Der Umschalter aktiviert die Fensterheber der hinteren Sitzreihe und die vorderen Fenster sind geöffnet.
  • - Einsetzender Regen wird erkannt und mithin eine Verkehrssituation, bei der die offenen Fenster der vorderen Sitzreihe zu schließen sind.
  • - Das Verfahren deaktiviert den Umschalter, so dass der Fahrer unmittelbar die richtigen Fenster schließt.
• Szenario 3:
  • - Der Umschalter ist deaktiviert, womit durch die Bedienung eines der Schalter eines der vorderen Fenster geöffnet wird.
  • - Der Temperatur innerhalb der Fahrzeugkabine überschreitet eine festgelegte oder vorgebbare Grenzwerttemperatur.
  • - Die beiden vorderen Fenster sind geöffnet oder werden momentan durch das Bedienen der/der Schalter geöffnet.
  • - Das Fahrzeug fährt langsamer als eine festgelegte oder vorgebbare Grenzgeschwindigkeit von beispielsweise 30 km/h.
  • - Der Umschalter wird automatisiert aktiviert, insbesondere für einen festgelegten oder vorgebbaren Zeitraum von beispielsweise 5 s, falls der Fahrer auch die hinteren Fenster öffnen möchte. Damit erfolgt das Öffnen der hinteren Fenster bei einer Bedienung eines der Schalter unabhängig von der Einstellung des Umschalters.

The procedure has proven to be particularly advantageous in the following scenarios, which are explained as examples:

• Scenario 1:
  • - The switch activates the rear seat window lifters and the front windows are closed.
  • - A traffic situation is detected in which the windows of the front rows of seats must be opened, such as when entering a parking garage to take a parking ticket or entering a drive-in to place an order or to receive the ordered goods.
  • - The vehicle speed falls below a limit speed of 30 km/h.
  • - The procedure deactivates the switch so that the driver immediately opens the correct window.
• Scenario 2:
  • - The switch activates the rear seat window lifters and the front windows are opened.
  • - The onset of rain is detected, which means that a traffic situation in which the open windows of the front row of seats must be closed.
  • - The procedure deactivates the switch so that the driver immediately closes the correct windows.
• Scenario 3:
  • - The switch is deactivated, which means that operating either switch will open one of the front windows.
  • - The temperature inside the vehicle cabin exceeds a specified or preset limit temperature.
  • - The two front windows are open or are currently being opened by operating the switch(es).
  • - The vehicle is driving slower than a set or preset speed limit of, for example, 30 km/h.
  • - The switch is activated automatically, in particular for a fixed or predeterminable period of time, for example 5 seconds, if the driver also wants to open the rear windows. This means that the rear windows are opened when one of the switches is operated, regardless of the setting of the switch.

Preferably, one of the rear windows is opened if none of the front windows is currently open.

List of reference symbols

1

vehicle

1'

vehicle

2

Furnishings

21

Sensor technology

22

Computing unit

31

Seat row (front)

32

Seat row (rear)

411

Window

412

Window

421

Window

422

Window

5

Control unit

6

Control element

61

Switch

621

Switch

622

Switch

7

Control device

8

Arrow direction

9

Arrow direction

100

Capture

101

Evaluate

102

Predict

103

Deactivate

104

Predict

105

Deactivate

106

Manually cancel the assignment

107

Manually cancel the assignment

108

Seat detection

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP1366939A1 [0007]
• US 20160221420 A1 [0008]
• WO 2020233210 A1 [0009]

Claims (8)

Method for controlling window lifters of a vehicle (1'), wherein the vehicle (1') has an assistance system with a device (2) for detecting (100) and evaluating (101) the traffic situation and a plurality of windows (411, 412, 421, 422) each with associated window lifters, wherein the windows (411, 412, 421, 422) are arranged on the left and right sides and in rows with respect to a vehicle coordinate system, wherein at least one operating unit (5) with at least one changeover switch (61) for row-by-row selection and at least two switches (621, 622) for side-by-side operation of the window lifter to be controlled is provided for the clear manual control of a window lifter, characterized by the steps: - detecting (100) and evaluating (101) the traffic situation; - Predicting (102) whether and in which row a window (411, 412, 421, 422) of the vehicle (1') must be opened or closed depending on the detected and evaluated traffic situation; - Deactivating (103) the at least one switch (61) in such a way that when at least one switch (621, 622) is manually operated, only the window lifters of the predicted row are controlled regardless of the current setting of the at least one switch (61). Procedure according to Claim 1 , characterized by the steps: - predicting (104) which window (411, 412, 421, 422) of the predicted row must be opened or closed; - deactivating (105) the left and right side assignment between the switches (621, 622) and the window lifters arranged on the right and left sides in such a way that when a switch (621, 622) is manually operated, only the window lifter of the predicted window (411, 412, 421, 422) is controlled. Method for controlling window lifters of a vehicle (1'), wherein the vehicle (1') has an assistance system with a device (2) for detecting (100) and evaluating (101) the traffic situation and a plurality of windows (411, 412, 421, 422) with respective associated window lifters, wherein the windows (411, 412, 421, 422) are arranged on the left and right sides and in rows with respect to a vehicle coordinate system, wherein at least one operating unit (5) with at least two changeover switches (61a, 61b) for row-by-row and side-by-side selection and at least one switch (621) for operating the window lifter to be controlled is provided for the clear manual control of a window lifter, characterized by the steps: - detecting (100) and evaluating (101) the traffic situation; - Predicting (102) whether and which window (411, 412, 421, 422) of the vehicle (1') must be opened or closed depending on the detected and evaluated traffic situation; - Deactivating (103) the changeover switches (61a, 61b) in such a way that when the switch (621) is manually operated, only the window lifter of the predicted window is controlled regardless of the current setting of the changeover switches (61a, 61b). Method according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the automatic deactivation (103) can be canceled manually. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that the method is carried out exclusively below a speed threshold, preferably a speed threshold of 30 km/h. Procedure according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the vehicle (1') has a seat detection system (108) and at least partial deactivation (103) takes place in such a way that window lifters of the vehicle (1') which are assigned to a passenger-free row or a passenger-free seat cannot be controlled. Vehicle with an assistance system and a device (2) for detecting (100) and evaluating (101) the current traffic situation and several windows (411, 412, 421, 422) with respective associated window lifters, wherein the windows (411, 412, 421, 422) are arranged on the left and right sides and in rows with respect to a vehicle coordinate system, wherein at least one operating unit (5) with at least one switch (61) for row-wise selection and at least two switches (621, 622) for side-wise operation of the window lifter to be controlled is provided for the clear manual control of a window lifter, characterized in that the vehicle (1') is controlled by means of a control device (7) for carrying out the method according to one of the Claims 1 until 2 and 4 until 6 is trained. Vehicle with an assistance system and a device (2) for detecting (100) and evaluating (101) the existing traffic situation and several windows (411, 412, 421, 422) with respective associated window lifters, wherein the windows (411, 412, 421, 422) are arranged on the left-hand side and are arranged on the right side and in rows, wherein for the clear manual control of a window lifter at least one operating unit (5) with at least two changeover switches (61a, 61b) for row-wise and side-wise selection and at least one switch (621) for operating the window lifter to be controlled is provided, characterized in that the vehicle (1') is controlled by means of a control device (7) for carrying out the method according to one of the Claims 3 until 6 is trained.

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