METHOD FOR OPERATING A WINDSHIELD WASHER SYSTEM

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for operating a windshield washer system. Furthermore, the invention relates to a computer program. Conventional windshield washer systems utilize nozzles that deliver a washer fluid from the hood to the windshield. Windshield washer systems for vehicles are also known from the prior art in which the nozzle is mounted on the wiper arm.

[0002] WO 2014 / 198892 A1 discloses a method for washing a vehicle window. DE 10 2010 054687 A1 describes a window washer device and an associated method for cleaning windows of a motor vehicle. A disadvantage of the known solutions is that the cleaning result on the window may still be inadequate, or that cleaning is associated with increased technical complexity. Particularly in the lower window area, the cleaning performance may not meet the requirements placed on it. It is therefore an object of the present invention to at least partially remedy the disadvantages described above. In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved window washer system.

[0003] The above object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1 and by a computer program having the features of claim 8.

[0004] Further features and details of the invention emerge from the respective subclaims, the description, and the drawings. Features and details described in connection with the method according to the invention naturally also apply in connection with the computer program according to the invention, and vice versa, so that with regard to the disclosure of the individual aspects of the invention, reference is always made to each other. The object is achieved in particular by a method for operating a windshield washer system, in particular a windshield washer system, of a vehicle. It is provided that the following steps are carried out, preferably one after the other in the specified order or in any desired order, whereby individual steps can also be carried out repeatedly: Repeatedly initiating a wiping movement of at least one wiper arm on a windscreen, preferably a windscreen, of the vehicle, in which the (at least one) wiper arm performs an upward movement from a lower turning position to an upper turning position and a downward movement from the upper turning position to the lower turning position, initiating a detergent dispensing for the respective wiping movement in order to dispense a detergent, in particular a washing water and / or a cleaning fluid, during the upward movement of at least one nozzle of the wiper arm, wherein the initiation of the detergent dispensing already occurs during the downward movement in order to apply the detergent to the window before the lower turning position is reached (by the wiper arm during the same downward movement). In other words, the initiation of the detergent dispensing occurs before the upward movement, already during the downward movement, in order to apply detergent to the window during the same downward movement, so that during the subsequent upward movement the previously applied detergent can be wiped directly by the wiper arm. This can have the advantage of ensuring that the window is sufficiently moistened with detergent in the lower area at the lower turning position. Specifically, a wiper blade of the wiper arm can be used for wiping, and during dispensing the detergent can be sprayed through the nozzle in front of the wiper blade.In this way, the lower window area can be kept as clean as possible and at the same time the impairment of visibility caused by the washing agent can be reduced.

[0005] The wiping motion (also known as the wiping stroke) can have at least two or exactly two phases: the upward motion (upward stroke) and the downward motion (downward stroke). This provides a back-and-forth motion of the windshield wipers, including the wiper arm. The wiper arm moves back and forth between the turning positions and turns accordingly in the turning positions (i.e., changes direction from upward to downward and vice versa).

[0006] The terms "lower," "upper," and "upper" regarding the turning positions, and "up" and "down" regarding the movement of the wiper arm, are intended, in a broader sense, to provide only relative orientation, without specifically referring to the vehicle directions or the windshield. In a narrower sense, however, the terms can also refer to the following: An initial position (parking position) of the wiper arm, which can correspond to the lower turning position, one of the turning positions of the wiper arm, which is optionally defined as top or bottom, the vehicle directions, in particular a vehicle vertical axis, so that "upwards" refers to the movement towards the vehicle roof and "downwards" refers to the movement towards the vehicle floor, lateral vehicle directions (with respect to the vehicle transverse axis), an upper or lower side of the windscreen.

[0007] It is also advantageous if the vehicle is designed as a motor vehicle, in particular a trackless land vehicle, for example as a hybrid vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine and an electric motor for traction, or as an electric vehicle, preferably with a high-voltage electrical system and / or an electric motor. In particular, the vehicle can be designed as a fuel cell vehicle and / or a passenger vehicle. In embodiments of electric vehicles, no internal combustion engine is preferably provided in the vehicle; it is then powered exclusively by electrical energy.

[0008] According to the invention, the following steps are carried out for (each) of the repetitions of the wiping movement: Deactivating the detergent dispensing for the downward movement after the detergent dispensing has taken place during the upward movement, initiating the detergent dispensing already during the downward movement in order to apply the detergent to the window before reaching the lower turning position during the (same) downward movement (i.e. before the upward movement), and to wipe this detergent only in the (immediately) following upward movement (by the wiper arm).

[0009] In other words, (only) the upward movement is used to wipe the washer fluid, while the downward movement largely dispenses no washer fluid. This has the advantage of significantly reducing the visibility obstructed by the washer fluid applied to the windshield and / or reducing washer fluid consumption. Furthermore, the advance application of the washer fluid ensures that washer fluid is already available for wiping the windshield at the beginning of the upward movement. This allows for an advance spray start during the downward stroke.

[0010] A further advantage within the scope of the invention can be achieved if at least one nozzle is designed for dispensing the washer fluid to one side of the wiper arm, wherein the washer fluid is preferably dispensed from the nozzle in the direction of the upward movement in order to apply the washer fluid to the windshield in front of a wiper blade of the wiper arm with respect to the upward movement. This allows the windshield to be cleaned during the upward movement, and in particular immediately at the beginning of the upward movement. The windshield is thus advantageously cleaned according to a wet-arm washing function.

[0011] Furthermore, it is conceivable that the detergent dispenser for the downward movement could be deactivated before or upon reaching the upper turning position, remaining deactivated for most of the downward movement, and only dispensed again before reaching the lower turning position, so that this detergent could be wiped in the subsequent upward movement (by the wiper arm). In other words, the deactivation could already occur before the upper turning position is reached. This ensures that no detergent remains on the windshield and impairs visibility.

[0012] According to the invention, it is further provided that a duration of the respective (repeating) wiping movement is measured, or such a measurement is initiated, and preferably the initiation of the detergent dispensing is carried out (in particular triggered) in time as a function of the measured duration in order to dispense the detergent when a predetermined position of the wiper arm (on the windshield) is present (reached) during the wiping movement. It is thus conceivable that the windshield washer system is designed in such a way that not all relevant positions of the wiper arm can be determined directly. For example, when using a rotary motor, only a parking position or a lower turning position can be determined as the position. Nevertheless, it can be useful to detect when the wiper arm has reached the position at which the wiper arm is shortly before the lower turning position. The detergent dispensing should, for example, be initiated at this position.To obtain an indication of when to initiate washer dispensing despite the lack of position information, the duration of a complete and completed wiper movement can be used. Since the wiper movement is known in advance due to the design of the windshield washer system, this duration can be used to estimate the approximate position of the wiper arm based on the current running time. The running time refers to the current duration of the incomplete wiper movement from the start of the measurement and / or leaving the lower turning position.

[0013] It is also conceivable that, based on the measured duration of at least one of the wiping movements, a duration for the subsequent wiping movement is extrapolated in order to initiate detergent dispensing during the subsequent wiping movement based on the extrapolated duration. The measured duration can then be used to estimate how long the subsequent wiping movement will last. This makes it possible to estimate the time it takes from the start of the measurement and / or leaving the lower turning position until the position at which detergent dispensing is to be initiated is reached. In the simplest case, the measured duration can be assumed unchanged as the extrapolated duration that the subsequent wiping movement will require. The measured duration of the complete wiping movement (i.e., the duration of a cycle) can also be converted into an angular velocity.Based on this angular velocity, the time after which the detergent dispensing must be initiated can be calculated (and thus a specific pre-positioning angle is generated). If the lower turning position is reached before the detergent dispensing has been initiated, an incorrect estimate can be concluded, and the initiation can take place immediately.

[0014] The washer fluid dispensing can be initiated, for example, by activating a washer pump in the windshield washer system. This allows the washer fluid to be delivered to the wiper arm nozzles.

[0015] Furthermore, within the scope of the invention, it is optionally possible to determine an average duration based on the measured duration of at least one or more of the wiping movements in order to initiate detergent dispensing during the subsequent wiping movement based on the average duration. Instead of extrapolation, it is thus also conceivable to determine the average of the measured durations. This duration can also be used to estimate the time period from the start of the measurement and / or leaving the lower turning position until the position at which detergent dispensing should be initiated is reached.

[0016] Advantageously, the invention can be provided that, for measuring the time duration, the reaching of a single turning position of the turning positions is determined as the only position of the wiper arm during the wiping movement, in order to preferably determine the time duration as the period between a first reaching of this turning position and a subsequent reaching of this turning position. This makes it possible to determine the position for initiating detergent dispensing even if further information about the position of the wiper arm and / or the duration of the complete wiping movement is missing.

[0017] It can be advantageous if, within the scope of the invention, the wiper arm is driven by a rotary motor to carry out the wiping movement. This can significantly reduce the costs of the windshield washer system. The rotary motor can be designed as a rotating electric motor with only one direction of rotation. To still carry out the change of direction between the up and down movement, a gear such as a lever gear can connect the rotary motor to the wiper arm. The gear can, for example, convert the rotary movement of the rotary motor into the up and down movement via kinematics. If the lever arms of the gear are also different lengths, a different tip position at the reversal point (i.e. the turning positions) can be achieved.

[0018] The invention also relates to a computer program, in particular a computer program product. It is provided that the computer program comprises instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the steps of a method according to the invention. Thus, the computer program according to the invention provides the same advantages as those described in detail with reference to a method according to the invention.

[0019] Furthermore, a windscreen washer system is protected which is suitable for carrying out a method according to the invention, preferably by executing a computer program according to the invention.

[0020] Further advantages, features, and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description, which describes embodiments of the invention in detail with reference to the drawings. The features mentioned in the claims and in the description may be essential to the invention individually or in any combination. They show: Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a windscreen washer system, Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of at least one wiping cycle, Figure 3 shows a schematic representation for visualizing a method according to the invention.

[0021] In the following figures, identical reference numerals are used for the same technical features, even in different embodiments.

[0022] In Figure 1 A windscreen washer system 10 is shown schematically, which is used to clean a Figure 2shown window 2 of a vehicle 1. As will be explained in further detail in Figure 2 As shown, two wiper arms 21, 22 can be arranged on the window 2, in particular the windshield. The wiper arms can be controlled by at least one wiper motor 30, preferably a rotary motor or reversible motor, in order to perform a wiping movement across the windshield. For simplification, Figure 1 Only one wiper motor 30 is shown. Furthermore, at least one wiper blade 23 and at least one nozzle 25 of the respective wiper arm 21, 22 are shown.

[0023] If the windshield washer system 10 is designed according to the so-called "wet arm technology," the washer fluid 26 can be applied directly from the wiper arm 21 to the windshield 2. For this purpose, the wiper arms 21, 22 can have at least one nozzle 25, specifically spray nozzles, which can receive the washer fluid 26 (also referred to as washer fluid) via a supply line (not shown in detail). These nozzles can be located on a side of the wiper arms facing the upper turning position OWL (see Figure 2 ). The washing agent includes, for example, windshield washer fluid and / or washer water.

[0024] When using the wet arm technology, the windscreen washer system 10 can be controlled in such a way that during the upward movement 201 of the wiper arms 21, 22 the washing agent 26 is sprayed out by activating a washer pump, while during the downward movement 202 the washer pump is deactivated, i.e. no cleaning fluid escapes.

[0025] In Figure 2Example washing cycles 221, 222, 223, 224 are shown. According to a first washing cycle 221, the window 2 can be cleaned for a specific duration, wherein the upward movement 201 of the wiper arms 21, 22 from the lower turning position UWL to the upper turning position OWL is indicated by an arrow. Also shown is the detergent 26, which is applied to assist the cleaning process. In order to also clean certain areas of the window 2 more intensively, e.g., an area in front of a camera or the like, the detergent 26 can be dispensed more frequently at this location according to a second washing cycle 222. In a third washing cycle 223, the upstream dispensing of the detergent 26 is visualized even before the lower wiping position UWL is reached. For this purpose, the downward movement 202 is also indicated by an arrow. In a fourth washing cycle 224, the window 2 can then be cleaned by the upward movement 201.

[0026] As in Figure 2 As can be seen, at least one nozzle 25 can be designed for unilaterally dispensing the washing agent 26 on the wiper arm 21, wherein the washing agent 26 is dispensed from the nozzle 25 in the direction of the upward movement 201 in order to apply the washing agent 26 to the window 2 in front of a wiper blade 23 of the wiper arm 21 with respect to the upward movement 201.

[0027] In Figure 3A method 100 according to the invention for operating a windshield washer system 10 of a vehicle 1 is visualized in further detail. According to a first method step 101, a wiping movement of at least one wiper arm 21 on a windshield 2 of the vehicle 1 is initiated, wherein during the wiping movement the wiper arm 21 executes an upward movement 201 from a lower turning position UWL to an upper turning position OWL and a downward movement 202 from the upper turning position OWL to the lower turning position UWL. A position signal 230 is shown, which signals the reaching of the lower turning position UWL and / or a parking position (or alternatively also the upper turning position OWL). It may be possible that in a windshield washer system 10, only this information is available to control the dispensing of the washer agent 26.Thus, to measure the time period 210, reaching a single one of the turning positions UWL, OWL can be determined as the only position of the wiper arm 21 during the wiping movement in order to determine the time period 210 as the duration between reaching this turning position UWL, OWL and a subsequent reaching of this turning position UWL, OWL.

[0028] According to a second method step 102, detergent dispensing is initiated for the respective wiping movement in order to dispense the detergent 26 during the upward movement 201 from at least one nozzle 25 of the wiper arm 21. The detergent dispensing is initiated during the downward movement 202 in order to apply the detergent 26 to the windscreen 2 before the lower turning position UWL is reached.

[0029] It is further shown that a time duration 210 of the respective wiping movement is measured, and the initiation of the detergent dispensing is carried out in time as a function of the measured time duration 210 in order to dispense the detergent 26 when a predetermined position of the wiper arm 21 is present during the wiping movement. This position is located in particular before the position signaled by the position signal 230. Based on the measured time duration 210 of at least one of the wiping movements, a time duration 210' for the subsequent wiping movement can be extrapolated, for example, in order to initiate the detergent dispensing during the subsequent wiping movement based on the extrapolated time duration 210'.

[0030] The above explanation of the embodiments describes the present invention exclusively by way of examples. Of course, individual features of the embodiments can be freely combined with one another, provided they are technically feasible, without departing from the scope of the present invention. List of reference symbols

[0031] 1Vehicle 2Disc 10Windscreen washer system 21Wiper arm, first wiper arm 22Second wiper arm 23Wiper blade 25Nozzle 26Detergent 30Rotary motor 100Procedure 101First process step, wiping movement 102Second process step, initiating detergent dispensing 201Upward movement 202Downward movement 210Duration, measured duration 221First wash cycle 222Second wash cycle 223Third wash cycle 224Fourth wash cycle 230Position signal 210'extrapolated time duration OWLUpper turning layer UWLLower turning layer

Claims

1. Method (100) for operating a windshield washing system (10) of a vehicle (1), the following steps being carried out: - repeatedly initiating a wiping movement of at least one wiper arm (21) on a windshield (2) of the vehicle (1), in which the wiper arm (21) performs an upward movement (201) from a lower turning point (UWL) to an upper turning point (OWL), and a downward movement (202) from the upper turning point (OWL) to the lower turning point (UWL), - initiating a detergent output for the relevant wiping movement in order to output a detergent (26) during the upward movement (201) from at least one nozzle (25) of the wiper arm (21), the detergent output having already been initiated during the downward movement (202) in order to apply the detergent (26) to the windshield (2) before the lower turning point (UWL) is reached, characterized in that, for each of the repetitions of the wiping motion, the following steps are carried out: - deactivating the detergent output for the downward movement (202) after the detergent output has taken place during the upward movement (201), - already initiating the detergent output during the downward movement (202), in order to apply the detergent (26) to the windshield (2) during the downward movement (202), before the lower turning point (UWL) is reached, and to only wipe this detergent (26) during the subsequent upward movement (201), and in that a time interval (210) of the relevant wiping movement is measured, and the initiation of the detergent output is carried out depending on the measured time interval (210) in order to output the detergent (26) when a predetermined position of the wiper arm (21) is present during the wiping movement.

2. Method (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one nozzle (25) is designed for one-sided output of the detergent (26) on the wiper arm (21), the detergent (26) being output from the nozzle (25) in the direction of the upward movement (201) in order to apply the detergent (26) to the windshield (2) in front of a wiper blade (23) of the wiper arm (21) with respect to the upward movement (201).

3. Method (100) according to either of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detergent output for the downward movement (202) is deactivated before or when the upper turning point (OWL) is reached and remains predominantly deactivated during the downward movement (202), and the detergent (26) is already output again before the lower turning point (UWL) is reached, in order to only wipe this detergent (26) by means of the wiper arm (21) during the subsequent upward movement (201).

4. Method (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that based on the measured time interval (210) of at least one of the repeated wiping movements, a time interval (210) for the subsequent wiping movement is extrapolated in order to initiate the detergent output during the subsequent wiping movement based on the extrapolated time interval (210).

5. Method (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that based on the measured time interval (210) of at least one or more of the repeated wiping movements, an average time interval (210) is determined in order to initiate the detergent output during the subsequent wiping movement based on the average time interval (210).

6. Method (100) according to any of claims 1, 4 and 5, characterized in that in order to measure the time interval (210), it is determined that a single one of the turning points (UWL, OWL) has been reached as a single position of the wiper arm (21) during the wiping movement, in order to determine the time interval (210) as the duration between reaching this turning point (UWL, OWL) and subsequently reaching this turning point (UWL, OWL).

7. Method (100) according to any of claims 1 and 4 to 6, characterized in that the wiper arm (21) is driven by a rotary motor (30) to perform the wiping movement.

8. Computer program comprising commands which, when the computer program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to execute the steps of a method according to any of the preceding claims.