Device for cleaning a sensor of a vehicle and an operation method thereof
A device and a method are provided for cleaning a vehicle sensor. The method, performed by the device of a vehicle, is for sensor cleaning management and includes determining whether to initiate sensor cleaning; providing first information on the sensor cleaning internally (e.g., to an occupant inside of the vehicle); and providing second information on the sensor cleaning externally (e.g., to a person outside of the vehicle).
1. A method, performed by a device of a vehicle, for sensor cleaning management, the method comprising:
determining whether to initiate sensor cleaning;
providing first information on the sensor cleaning to an occupant inside of the vehicle;
providing second information on the sensor cleaning to a person outside of the vehicle, wherein the providing of the second information includes providing the second information visually and/or audibly from the vehicle toward an outside of the vehicle; and
determining, by a sensor cleaning management device, to stop the sensor cleaning in response to a detection of a pedestrian present outside the vehicle by the sensor cleaning management device.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
controlling at least one of a ventilation mode, a window, and a door of the vehicle in response to determining to initiate the sensor cleaning.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the first information on the sensor cleaning comprises:
a message informing that at least one of the ventilation mode, the window, and the door of the vehicle is controlled.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the controlling comprises:
controlling the ventilation mode of the vehicle to be switched to a recirculation mode in response to determining to initiate the sensor cleaning.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the controlling comprises:
controlling the window of the vehicle to be closed in response to determining to initiate the sensor cleaning.
6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the controlling comprises:
controlling the door of the vehicle to be locked in response to determining to initiate the sensor cleaning.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first information and the second information on the sensor cleaning each comprises:
a message informing that the sensor cleaning is scheduled to begin.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining of whether to initiate sensor cleaning comprises:
detecting a contamination degree of at least one or more sensors; and
providing information on the contamination degree of the at least one or more sensors to the occupant inside of the vehicle.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the determining of whether to initiate sensor cleaning comprises:
receiving a sensor cleaning initiation command for the at least one or more sensors from an occupant inside the vehicle as a response to the information on the contamination degree.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the determining of whether to initiate sensor cleaning comprises:
determining to initiate the sensor cleaning when a preset number or more of the at least one or more sensors have a contamination degree equal to or greater than a preset threshold.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting whether a pedestrian is present outside the vehicle.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the first information on the sensor cleaning comprises:
a message informing that a pedestrian is present outside the vehicle.
13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
receiving a command to stop or resume the sensor cleaning from an occupant inside the vehicle as a response to the first information.
14. A device for sensor cleaning management, the device comprising a control unit configured
to determine whether to initiate sensor cleaning,
to provide first information on the sensor cleaning to an occupant inside of a vehicle,
to provide second information on the sensor cleaning to a person outside of the vehicle, wherein the control unit provides the second information visually and/or audibly from the vehicle toward an outside of the vehicle, and
to determine to stop the sensor cleaning in response to a detection of a pedestrian present outside the vehicle.
15. A vehicle, comprising:
at least one or more sensors;
a cleaning unit configured to eject at least one of washer fluid or air toward the one or more sensors;
a control unit configured to determine whether to initiate the sensor cleaning by the cleaning unit;
an internal Human Machine Interface (HMI) unit configured to provide first information on the sensor cleaning to an occupant inside of the vehicle;
an external HMI unit configured to provide second information on the sensor cleaning to a person outside of the vehicle, wherein the external HMI unit provides the second information visually and/or audibly from the vehicle toward an outside of the vehicle; and
a sensor cleaning management device configured to determine to stop the sensor cleaning in response to a detection, by the sensor cleaning management device, of a pedestrian present outside the vehicle.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing of the second information comprises:
warning a pedestrian around the vehicle that the sensor cleaning is to be performed.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing of the second information comprises:
displaying the second information toward a road surface around the vehicle.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing of the second information comprises:
displaying the second information using a display disposed on a body of the vehicle.
19. The method of claim 1 , wherein the providing of the second information comprises:
controlling a speaker disposed on an exterior of the vehicle to output a voice or an alarm sound conveying the second information.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the providing of the second information comprises:
providing the second information toward a direction in which the pedestrian is detected.