JP2018140668A - Glass heating equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress a decrease in fuel consumption of a vehicle by not operating a heater for heating a windshield when it is determined that use of an image captured by a camera is unnecessary. SOLUTION: Heating control is executed when at least one of PCS control, LDA control and AHB control is in an execution state, but execution of LDA control and AHB control is stopped and only PCS control is executed. Is sometimes executed. Further, in the PCS control, the PCS control can be executed using the detection value of the radar 14 even when the image captured by the camera 12 is no longer available. Therefore, when the vehicle 2 is traveling on a highway where PCS control does not require a camera image and the LDA control and the AHB control are not executed, the PCS control execution unit, the LDA control execution unit, and the AHB control execution unit perform Since the image captured by the camera 12 is not used, the heating of the windshield 6 by the heater 8 is stopped. [Selection diagram] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a glass heating device for a windshield of a vehicle.

  In recent years, with regard to vehicle control, driving support control has been developed in which a camera is photographed around the vehicle and the vehicle is controlled based on the photographed image. As such a system, for example, pre-crash safety (hereinafter abbreviated as PCS; PCS is a registered trademark) control as described in Patent Document 1 is known. In the PCS control, the front of the vehicle is photographed by a camera provided in the passenger compartment, and an object ahead of the vehicle is recognized based on the photographed image and the detection value of the radar. Next, when there is a possibility of collision between the vehicle and an object in front of the vehicle, a brake or the like is operated, and collision between the vehicle and an object in front of the vehicle is avoided.

JP 2005-031967 A

  A camera employed in a vehicle equipped with PCS control is provided in the vehicle interior and photographs the front of the vehicle through the windshield. For this reason, when clouding due to condensation or the like occurs on the inner side surface of the windshield, it may be difficult to execute processing that uses a captured image of the camera for driving support control. Similarly, when the water adhering to the front glass front surface (outer surface) freezes while the vehicle is running, it may be difficult to execute the process using the captured image. In order to prevent this, it is conceivable to install a glass heating device on the windshield of the vehicle. The glass heating device heats the windshield with a heater attached to the windshield, and removes condensation, frozen ice, and the like that cause fogging of the windshield. Therefore, when processing such as image analysis using a photographed image of the camera is being performed, in principle, the heater is in an activated state. However, in order to improve the fuel consumption of the vehicle, it is desirable to shorten the heater operating time as much as possible.

  The objective of this invention is providing the glass heating apparatus which can suppress the fall of the fuel consumption of a vehicle by not operating a heater, when the picked-up image of a camera is not utilized.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, in the present invention, a heating unit that heats glass positioned in front of a camera that captures the front of a vehicle, a first process that uses the captured image, and the first process are A process execution unit that performs different processes, a second process that is a process using at least one of a detection value of a radar that detects an object located in front of the vehicle and the captured image; and the heating A heating execution unit that heats the vehicle, wherein the heating execution unit is configured to execute the second process in a state where the vehicle is traveling on a road where pedestrians are prohibited from passing, and A glass heating device that does not heat the heating unit when the first process is not executed is realized.

Depending on the temperature and the speed of the vehicle, the glass may become cloudy due to condensation or the like. The heating unit can remove condensation and the like by heating the glass. The camera is photographing the front of the vehicle through the glass. In the first process, the captured image captured by the camera is used. On the other hand, in the second process, at least one of the captured image and the detected value of the radar is used. In the second process, the other vehicle and the pedestrian positioned in front of the vehicle are recognized based on the captured image of the camera, and the other vehicle positioned in front of the vehicle is determined based on the detection value of the radar. It is considered to be recognized. When the host vehicle is traveling on a road where pedestrian traffic is prohibited, the detection of the radar is possible even when the captured image cannot be used because the pedestrian is less likely to be recognized by the captured image. Based on the value, the other vehicle located in front of the host vehicle can be recognized, and the second process can be executed.
Therefore, in the present apparatus, when the first process is not executed in a state where the vehicle is traveling on a road where the pedestrian is prohibited, the second value is detected based on the detection value of the radar. Since the process can be executed, the captured image may not be used in either the first process or the second process. In such a case, even if the second process is performed, the heating unit does not need to heat the glass. Therefore, since it is avoided that the glass is heated when the first process is not performed, it is possible to suppress a reduction in fuel consumption of the vehicle.

  In the glass heating device, the process execution unit may execute the second process based on a detection value of the radar when the captured image cannot be used.

  When the vehicle is traveling on a road where pedestrian traffic is prohibited, the possibility that the pedestrian is recognized in the captured image is low. Therefore, when the vehicle is running on a road where pedestrians are prohibited and the first process is not performed, the heating unit does not heat the glass. . The photographed image when the glass is not heated may cause fogging on the glass, and therefore the processing execution unit may not be able to use the photographed image. In this apparatus, when the captured image cannot be used, the process execution unit executes the second process based on the detection value of the radar. Therefore, even if the second process is being performed, the glass is not heated by the heating unit, and hence it is possible to suppress a reduction in fuel consumption of the vehicle.

  Even when the second process is being executed, when the captured image of the camera is not used, the heating portion is not operated, thereby suppressing a decrease in fuel consumption of the vehicle.

It is a figure which shows the whole structure of the glass fog prevention apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the electrical connection of the control apparatus of 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the process which a heating control execution part performs. It is a flowchart which shows the process which a PCS control execution part performs.

  Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a vehicle 2 on which a glass heating device 4 according to a first embodiment of the present invention is mounted. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of the glass heating device 4 of the first embodiment.
As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 2 includes a glass heating device 4, a windshield 6, a camera 12, a radar 14, a navigation device 16, a brake control device 18, a buzzer 20, a headlamp switching device 22, a battery 24, and a PCS switch 26. , LDA switch 28 and AHB switch 30. With reference to the traveling direction of the vehicle 2, the front-rear direction is defined as shown in FIG.

  The glass heating device 4 includes a heater 8 and a control device 10. The heater 8 is a heat ray heater and is embedded so as to surround the imaging region R of the windshield 6 of the vehicle 2. The shooting area R is an area included in the shooting range of the camera 12 on the windshield 6. That is, the camera 12 images the outside of the passenger compartment from the interior of the vehicle through the imaging area R of the windshield 6 (through the imaging area R). For this reason, when the shooting region R of the windshield 6 is cloudy or frozen, the camera 12 cannot take a shot image suitable for use in PCS control or the like. The heater 8 is supplied with electric current from the control device 10 to heat the imaging region R of the windshield 6, and condensation or the like occurs in the imaging region R so that the imaging region R becomes cloudy or the outer surface of the windshield 6 is exposed. Is prevented from freezing while the vehicle 2 is traveling.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the control device 10 includes a CPU, a non-volatile memory such as a ROM and an EEPROM, various ICs, a communication interface, and the like, and various controls are performed by executing a program recorded in the ROM on the CPU. To do. The control device 10 includes a PCS control execution unit 34, a lane departure alert (Lane-Departure-Alert, hereinafter abbreviated as LDA) control execution unit 36, an automatic high beam (hereinafter abbreviated as AHB) control. An execution unit 38 and a heating control execution unit 40 are provided. A battery 24 is connected to the control device 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the camera 12 is provided in the vicinity of the windshield 6 in the vehicle interior and captures at least an image in the visible light region. For example, a CCD camera is used. The camera 12 captures the front of the vehicle 2 in the traveling direction of the vehicle 2 and transmits a signal related to the captured image data to the control device 10 every predetermined time. The image captured by the camera 12 includes road markings on which the vehicle is traveling, objects such as stationary vehicles and pedestrians, moving vehicles and pedestrians, and bicycles. A lane marking is a white line or a yellow line that divides a sidewalk or a roadside zone and a roadway, or lanes and a lane adjacent to the lane.

  The radar 14 is disposed at the tip of the vehicle 2 and detects an object around the vehicle. For example, the radar 14 radiates a millimeter wave around the vehicle and measures a reflected wave of the radiated millimeter wave to measure an object around the vehicle. A millimeter wave radar is used to detect this. The radar 14 detects the distance between the detected object and the vehicle 2 and the relative position and relative speed of the detected object with respect to the vehicle 2. When the object is a pedestrian or bicycle, the reflected wave is weak and is affected by noise caused by the reflected wave of a vehicle or the like located near the pedestrian or bicycle. For this reason, it is generally difficult to detect pedestrians and bicycles with the radar 14 with high accuracy. The radar 14 outputs a signal related to the detection value to the PCS control execution unit 34.

  The navigation device 16 acquires position information of the vehicle 2 and road information of a road on which the vehicle 2 may travel, and guides a route to the destination. The navigation device 16 includes a GPS antenna, a communication device, a processing device, and the like. The GPS antenna receives a signal from a GPS satellite. The communication device acquires road traffic information distributed by a transmission device or the like installed on the road. In addition, map information is stored in the navigation device 16, and the current location and road information of the vehicle 2 are acquired based on the GPS signal, road traffic information, and map information. In the present embodiment, the navigation device 16 outputs a signal including information on where the vehicle 2 is currently traveling to the heating control execution unit 40.

The brake control device 18 is operated based on a detection signal from a brake pedal sensor (not shown) that detects an operation amount of the brake pedal, or a signal related to a control amount output from the control device 10.
When the signal output from the control device 10 becomes an ON signal, the buzzer 20 emits a warning sound and notifies the driver.
The headlamp switching device 22 is provided for each of the left and right headlamps, and includes an actuator and a shade plate (not shown). The shade plate is inserted into and removed from a part of the optical path of the headlamp by the actuator, and the headlamp is shielded to switch between the low beam and the high beam. The headlamp switching device 22 simultaneously switches the low beam and the high beam of the left and right headlamps.

  The PCS switch 26 outputs an instruction signal to the PCS control execution unit 34 when operated by an occupant of the vehicle 2. The instruction signal is a trigger signal for switching in the PCS control execution unit 34 between an execution state in which PCS control is being executed and a non-execution state in which PCS control is not being executed. When the instruction signal is output in the execution state of PCS control (the state where the PCS control is ON), the PCS control is switched to the non-execution state (the state where the PCS control is OFF). When the instruction signal is output in the non-execution state of the PCS control, the PCS control is switched to the execution state. The PCS control is automatically executed when the ignition switch of the vehicle 2 is turned on, and automatically non-executed when the ignition switch is turned off. When the state of the PCS control is in the execution state, it is an example when the second process is being executed.

  The PCS control execution unit 34 executes processing related to PCS control when the PCS control is in an execution state. The PCS control execution unit 34 can communicate with the camera 12, the radar 14, the PCS switch 26, and the brake control device 18. The PCS control detects an object such as a vehicle or a pedestrian in front of the vehicle based on a captured image of the camera 12 and a detection value of the radar 14, and detects a collision between the detected object and the vehicle 2 as necessary. The brake control device 18 is braked so as to avoid it. The camera 12 and the radar 14 are used in combination for detecting the object. Since the radar 14 cannot accurately detect pedestrians and bicycles, the pedestrians and bicycles are detected by analyzing the captured image of the camera 12. When the vehicle 2 is traveling on a highway, an object can be detected using at least the radar 14 of the radar 14 and the camera 12. A highway is an example of a road in which pedestrians and bicycles are prohibited, and a legal maximum speed and a legal minimum speed are defined. In addition, the expressway is provided with a dedicated entrance, so that it cannot be accessed from places other than the entrance.

Here, processing executed in the PCS control will be described using a flow. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing processing executed by the PCS control execution unit 34 in PCS control.
In step 1 (hereinafter abbreviated as S1. The same applies to other steps), the detection value of the radar 14 is acquired. Next, in S3, the PCS control execution unit 34 acquires a captured image captured by the camera 12, and determines whether the acquired captured image is an image suitable for processing. An image suitable for processing is a photographed image photographed in a state where the photographing region R of the windshield 6 is not clouded. If the captured image is an appropriate image, the process proceeds to S5. If the captured image is not an appropriate image, the process proceeds to S11. In S5, an object ahead of the vehicle is detected based on the acquired detection value of the radar 14 and the captured image of the camera 12. The target object is a forward vehicle traveling in front of the vehicle 2, a pedestrian, a bicycle, a stationary vehicle, or the like existing in front of the vehicle 2.

  Next, in S <b> 7, the PCS control execution unit 34 calculates a collision possibility determination value between the detected object and the vehicle 2. If the calculated collision possibility determination value is greater than or equal to the threshold value, a signal is output to the brake control device 18. The threshold value is a value set to determine whether or not the object and the vehicle 2 are likely to collide with each other based on the magnitude of the collision possibility determination value. The brake control device 18 is operated based on a signal output from the PCS control execution unit 34. Thereby, the collision with the vehicle 2 and a target object is avoided.

Thereafter, in S9, the PCS control execution unit 34 determines whether or not an instruction signal output from the PCS switch 26 has been received, or whether or not the ignition switch has been turned off. When the instruction signal of the PCS switch 26 is received and the PCS control is in a non-execution state, or when the ignition switch is in the OFF state, the processing by the flow is terminated. When the instruction signal of the PCS switch 26 is not received and when the ignition switch is not in the OFF state, the process returns to S1.
On the other hand, if it is determined in S3 that the captured image of the camera 12 is not an appropriate image, an object ahead of the vehicle is detected based on the detection value of the radar 14 in S11, and then the process proceeds to S7. In S <b> 7, the PCS control execution unit 34 may operate the buzzer 20 by outputting a drive signal to the buzzer 20 immediately before or simultaneously with the operation of the brake control device 18.

The LDA switch 28 is operated by an occupant of the vehicle 2 and outputs an ON signal to the LDA control execution unit 36 when the state of the LDA switch 28 is ON, and stops outputting the ON signal when it is OFF. To do. The LDA switch 28 is a so-called ON-OFF switch in which the state is switched between the ON state and the OFF state each time the occupant operates. For example, when the LDA switch 28 is turned on and the ignition switch is turned off, the LDA switch 28 is turned on when the ignition switch is turned on next time. When the state of the LDA switch 28 is OFF, it is an example when the second process is not being executed.
When the state of the LDA switch 28 is ON, the LDA control is in an execution state, and when the state of the LDA switch 28 is OFF, the LDA control is in a non-execution state.

The LDA control execution unit 36 executes processing related to LDA control when the LDA switch 28 is in the ON state. The LDA control execution unit 36 can communicate with the camera 12, the LDA switch 28, and the buzzer 20. In the LDA control, a lane marking or the like of the lane in which the vehicle 2 is traveling is detected using an image captured by the camera 12, and a warning sound of the buzzer 20 is detected when the vehicle 2 may deviate from the lane in which the vehicle 2 is traveling. By this, the passenger of the vehicle 2 is notified.
Processing related to LDA control executed by the LDA control execution unit 36 will be described. The LDA control execution unit 36 acquires a captured image of the camera 12 and determines whether or not the acquired captured image is an image suitable for processing. If the captured image is an appropriate image, image processing is performed to detect a white line or a yellow line on the road on which the vehicle 2 is traveling. Next, the LDA control execution unit 36 calculates the distance between the detected white line or yellow line and the vehicle 2, and outputs a signal to the buzzer 20 when the calculated distance is equal to or less than the threshold value. The buzzer 20 emits a warning sound based on the signal output from the LDA control execution unit 36. On the other hand, if it is determined that the captured image of the camera 12 is not an image suitable for processing, the control is terminated after the passenger is notified that the LDA control cannot be performed.

The AHB switch 30 is operated by an occupant of the vehicle 2 and outputs an ON signal to the AHB control execution unit 38 when the state of the AHB switch 30 is ON, and stops outputting the ON signal when it is OFF. To do. In addition, the AHB switch 30 is an ON-OFF switch whose state is switched between an ON state and an OFF state each time a passenger operates, and is not switched depending on the ON state and the OFF state of the ignition switch. For example, when the AHB switch 30 is turned on and the ignition switch is turned off, the AHB switch 30 is turned on when the ignition switch is turned on next time. When the state of the AHB switch 30 is in the OFF state, it is an example when the first process is not executed.
Further, when the state of the AHB switch 30 is ON, the AHB control is in an execution state, and when the state of the AHB switch 30 is OFF, the AHB control is in a non-execution state.

The AHB control execution unit 38 executes processing related to AHB control when the AHB switch 30 is in the ON state. The AHB control execution unit 38 can communicate with the camera 12, the AHB switch 30, and the headlamp switching device 22. The AHB control uses a captured image of the camera 12 to detect a preceding vehicle or an oncoming vehicle in front of the vehicle 2 and causes the headlamp switching device 22 to switch between a high beam and a low beam of the headlamp. .
Processing related to AHB control executed by the AHB control execution unit 38 will be described. The AHB control execution unit 38 acquires a captured image of the camera 12 and determines whether or not the acquired captured image is an image suitable for processing. If the captured image is an appropriate image, the brightness around the vehicle 2 is detected from the captured image. Next, the AHB control execution unit 38 outputs a signal to the headlamp switching device 22 based on the detected brightness of the surroundings of the vehicle 2. The headlamp switching device 22 switches between a low beam and a high beam based on a signal output from the control device 10. On the other hand, when it is determined that the captured image of the camera 12 is not an image suitable for processing, the control is terminated after the passenger is notified that the AHB control cannot be performed.

  The heating control execution unit 40 executes processing related to heating control in which the windshield 6 is heated by the heater 8. The heating control execution unit 40 supplies current from the battery 24 to the heater 8 when at least one of the PCS switch 26, the LDA switch 28, and the AHB switch 30 is in an ON state.

Hereinafter, the heating control executed by the heating control execution unit 40 will be described.
The heating control is started when the ignition switch of the vehicle 2 is turned on, or when at least one of the PCS control, the LDA control, and the AHB control is switched to the execution state. With the execution of the heating control, current is supplied to the heater 8 and the imaging region R of the windshield 6 starts to be heated.
If it is determined from the signal from the navigation device 16 that the vehicle 2 is traveling on the highway while the camera 12 and the heater 8 are operating, whether or not the LDA switch 28 and the AHB switch 30 are in the OFF state. Is judged. When the LDA switch 28 and the AHB switch 30 are in the OFF state, the supply of current to the heater 8 is stopped. As described above, the heating control is executed when at least one of the PCS control, the LDA control, and the AHB control is in the execution state, but the execution of the LDA control and the AHB control is stopped, and the PCS control is performed. There are only times when it is executed. In such a case, the LDA control and the AHB control using the captured image of the camera 12 are not executed, and the PCS control is executed in the PCS control without using the captured image by the camera 12 for the reason described later. Therefore, it is not necessary to prevent fogging of the photographing region R of the windshield 6.

  The PCS control execution unit 34 detects a pedestrian existing in front of the vehicle 2 based on the image captured by the camera 12, and detects an object existing in front of the vehicle 2 other than the pedestrian by the image captured by the camera 12 and the radar 14. Is detected by. In the PCS control, even if an image captured by the camera 12 cannot be used, any object other than a pedestrian can be detected by the radar 14. That is, when the vehicle 2 is traveling on a highway where pedestrians are prohibited, the possibility of detecting pedestrians is low, and even if the captured image of the camera 12 cannot be used, the radar 14 The PCS control can be executed using the detected value. Thus, when the vehicle 2 is traveling on an expressway, the captured image of the camera 12 is not essential for PCS control. Therefore, the current supply to the heater 8 is stopped if the LDA switch 28 and the AHB switch 30 are in the OFF state regardless of whether the PCS control is being executed.

On the other hand, when the vehicle 2 enters a road (general road) where pedestrians are allowed to pass from the expressway, even if the LDA switch 28 and the AHB switch 30 are in the OFF state, the PCS control is being executed. Sometimes, the supply of current to the heater 8 is resumed. Since the possibility that a pedestrian is detected increases when the vehicle 2 is traveling on a general road, it is necessary to execute PCS control using the camera 12 capable of detecting the pedestrian. Therefore, in order to capture a captured image that can be used for PCS control, the imaging region R of the windshield 6 is heated by the heater 8 to prevent fogging or the like.
Further, when the vehicle 2 is traveling on the highway, the supply of current to the heater 8 is stopped, and at least one of the LDA switch 28 and the AHB switch 30 is turned on, that is, the image taken by the camera 12. When the control that uses is turned on, the supply of current to the heater 8 is resumed. This is because when the LDA control or the AHB control is turned on, it is necessary to prevent fogging of the shooting region R of the windshield 6 in order to take a shot image that can be used for the control.
As described above, even when the PCS control is being executed, the heating control execution unit 40 can execute the PCS control without using the captured image of the camera 12, that is, the vehicle 2 is traveling on the highway. When the heating control is not performed.

Hereinafter, the heating control executed by the heating control execution unit 40 will be described using a flow. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the heating control executed by the heating control execution unit 40. In the heating control, when the ignition switch is turned on, or when at least one of the PCS control, the LDA control, and the AHB control is switched to the execution state, the control by the flow is executed. Note that when the PCS control, the LDA control, and the AHB control are all switched to the non-execution state while the heating control according to the flowchart of FIG. 3 is being executed, the heating control execution unit 40 stops the heating by the heater 8. To end the control by the flow.
In S <b> 21, the heating control execution unit 40 supplies current from the battery 24 to the heater 8. Next, in S23, the heating control execution unit 40 determines whether the PCS control is in an execution state. When the PCS control is in the execution state, the process proceeds to S25, and when the PCS control is not in the execution state, the process proceeds to S27.

In S25, the heating control execution unit 40 acquires information of the navigation device 16, and determines whether the vehicle 2 is traveling on the highway based on the acquired information. If it is determined that the vehicle 2 is traveling on the highway, the process proceeds to S27. If it is determined that the vehicle 2 is not traveling on the highway, the process proceeds to S33.
In S27, the heating control execution unit 40 determines whether or not the LDA switch 28 and the AHB switch 30 are in the OFF state. If it is determined that the LDA switch 28 and the AHB switch 30 are in the OFF state, the process proceeds to S29. If it is determined that at least one of the LDA switch 28 and the AHB switch 30 is not in the OFF state, the process proceeds to S33.

In S <b> 29, the heating control execution unit 40 stops supplying current from the battery 24 to the heater 8. Next, in S31, the heating control execution unit 40 determines whether or not the ignition switch is turned off. If it is determined that the ignition switch is in the OFF state, the processing by the flow is terminated, and if it is determined that the ignition switch is not in the OFF state, the process returns to S25.
When judgment of S25 and S27 is NO, it progresses to S33. In S33, the heating control execution unit 40 determines whether or not the ignition switch has been turned off. When it is determined that the ignition switch is in the OFF state, the processing by the flow is terminated, and when it is determined that the ignition switch is not in the OFF state, the process returns to S21.

As described above, in the LDA control and the AHB control, the captured image captured by the camera 12 is used. On the other hand, in the PCS control, at least one of the captured image and the detection value of the radar 14 is used. In the PCS control, other vehicles and pedestrians positioned in front of the vehicle are recognized based on the captured image, and other vehicles positioned in front of the vehicle are recognized based on the detection value of the radar 14. When the vehicle 2 is traveling on an expressway, it is unlikely that a pedestrian will be recognized. Therefore, even when a photographed image cannot be used, another vehicle positioned in front of the vehicle is recognized based on the detection value of the radar 14. PCS control can be executed.
Therefore, in this embodiment, when the LDA switch 28 and the AHB switch 30 are in the OFF state while the vehicle 2 is traveling on the highway, the PCS control can be executed based on the detection value of the radar 14. Therefore, the captured image may not be used in any of LDA control, AHB control, and PCS control. In such a case, the heater 8 does not heat the windshield 6 even if the PCS control is being executed. Therefore, when the LDA control and the AHB control are not executed, it is possible to prevent the heating control from being executed, and thus it is possible to suppress a reduction in the fuel consumption of the vehicle 2.

  In 1st Embodiment, the heater 8 is an example of a heating part, and the heating control execution part 40 which performs the flowchart of FIG. 3 is an example of a heating execution part. The control device 10 is an example of a processing execution unit, and an expressway is an example of a road where pedestrians are prohibited. The LDA control and the AHB control are examples of the first process, and the PCS control shown in the flowchart of FIG. 4 is an example of the second process.

In addition, although the aspect of this invention was demonstrated as mentioned above, the glass heating apparatus 4 of this invention is not restricted to the above-mentioned aspect, In the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention, various changes are performed. Is possible.
In the present embodiment, the heating control execution unit 40 does not execute the heating control even if the PCS control is executed while the vehicle 2 is traveling on the highway, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the heating control execution part 40 is good also as what does not perform heating control even if PCS control is performed during driving | running | working on a motor vehicle exclusive road. An automobile-only road is a road where pedestrians and bicycles are prohibited from passing, and is different from an expressway in that the speed limit is different from that of an expressway and traffic lights are present.

  In the present embodiment, PCS control is shown as an example of the second process, but the present invention is not limited to this. The second process is a control executed by using at least one of an image captured by the camera 12 and a detection value of a detection device other than the camera 12. For example, as another example of the second process, the camera 12 and the radar ACC (Auto-Cruise-Control) control using 14. This ACC control uses at least one of the camera 12 and the radar 14 to control the vehicle. However, when the camera 12 cannot be used, the ACC control can be executed only by the radar 14. Therefore, in the ACC control, the heater 8 is heated when the control is performed using the camera 12, and the heater 8 is not heated when the control is performed using the radar 14 without using the camera 12. Therefore, it is possible to suppress a reduction in fuel consumption of the vehicle.

  In the present embodiment, LDA control and AHB control are shown as an example of the first processing, but the present invention is not limited to this. The first process is a control executed using the camera 12. For example, follow-up control that travels following a preceding vehicle that travels ahead of the host vehicle can be an example of the first process. In this control, the positional relationship between the lane marking of the lane in which the host vehicle and the preceding vehicle are traveling and the preceding vehicle is recognized based on the captured image of the camera 12, and the host vehicle travels in the lane like the preceding vehicle. In this manner, the steering angle of the steering wheel is controlled. That is, in this control, the image taken by the camera 12 is essential, and the heater 8 is always heated during execution of this control.

In the above-described embodiment, whether or not the first process is being performed is determined based on the states of the LDA switch 28 and the AHB switch 30, but is not limited thereto. In the LDA control and the AHB control, the first process may not be executed when an image captured by the camera 12 is not used. Further, when it is determined in the LDA control and the AHB control that the captured image is not an appropriate image, it may be determined that the captured image is not used in the LDA control and the AHB control. Therefore, although the LDA control and the AHB control are being executed, the captured image is not used. Therefore, even if it is determined that the captured image is not an appropriate image, the first process is not performed. good.
In the PCS control, regardless of whether a captured image is used, the case where the PCS control is executed based on the detection value of the radar is an example when the second process is executed.
In the present embodiment, the heater 8 is a hot wire heater, but is not limited thereto. For example, the heater 8 may be a fan heater that heats the windshield 6 with warm air.

2: Vehicle 4: Glass heating device 6: Windshield 8: Heater 10: Control device 12: Camera 14: Radar 16: Navigation device 18: Brake control device 20: Buzzer 22: Headlamp switching device 24: Battery 26: PCS switch 28: LDA switch 30: AHB switch 34: PCS control execution unit 36: LDA control execution unit 38: AHB control execution unit 40: Heating control execution unit

Claims (1)

A heating unit for heating the glass located in front of the camera for photographing the front of the vehicle;
A first process using a captured image of the camera and a process different from the first process, wherein at least one of a detection value of a radar that detects an object located in front of the vehicle and the captured image A process execution unit that executes a second process that is a process to be used;
A heating execution unit for heating the heating unit,
In the state where the vehicle is running on a road where pedestrians are prohibited, the heating execution unit performs the second process, and the first process is not performed. Glass heating device that does not heat the heating part.

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