Method for controlling a wiper device of a vehicle, vehicle and program product

Abstract

The invention relates to a method (100) for controlling a wiper device (201) of a vehicle (200), the wiper device comprising at least one wiper, the method (100) comprising:-operating (101) the wiper device (201) in a first operating mode for automatically and periodically moving the at least one wiper (203) of the wiper device (201),-operating (101) the wiper device (201) in a second operating mode for automatically and periodically moving the at least one wiper (203) of the wiper device (201) in a third operating mode, in a second operating mode, a movement of the at least one wiper specified in accordance with the first operating mode is prevented (103), an ambient temperature of the vehicle (200) is determined (105), the second operating mode is activated only if the ambient temperature of the vehicle falls below a predetermined temperature threshold value, and the second operating mode is activated only if the ambient temperature of the vehicle falls below the predetermined temperature threshold value. If the second operating mode is activated, a user of the vehicle (200) is provided with a possibility of deactivating the second operating mode.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method, a device and a program product for controlling a windshield wiper device of a vehicle. Background Art

[0002] In winter, after a frosty night, situations may arise in which, when a vehicle is activated before its frozen windshield has been de-iced, active automatic wipers ensure that its wipers move at least once. If the wipers are still frozen to the windshield, this movement could damage the wiper lip or even the motor of the respective wiper device.

[0003] DE 19 936 277 B4 describes a method in which, in the presence of frost conditions, the wipers are automatically lifted from the windshield to protect the windshield from freezing damage.

[0004] DE 10 200 9 032 506 A1 describes a method for operating a windshield wiper system of a vehicle, wherein an operating mode for moving the wipers of the windshield wiper system is not activated if the currently detected temperature is below a limit temperature.

[0005] DE 103 21 177 A1 describes an electronic control device for a wiper motor of a motor vehicle, which device supplies a drive signal to the wiper motor only when the surface temperature of a windshield of the motor vehicle exceeds a predetermined limit value. Summary of the invention

[0006] Within the scope of the invention, a method for controlling a windshield wiper device of a vehicle, a vehicle and a program product are proposed. Further features and details of the invention are derived from the corresponding description and the drawings. Features and details described in conjunction with the method according to the invention are of course also applicable in conjunction with the vehicle according to the invention or the program product according to the invention, respectively, and vice versa, so that the disclosure of the various aspects of the invention always refers to or can refer to each other.

[0007] Against this background, the object of the present invention is to provide a possible solution for preventing damage to a windshield wiper system of a vehicle due to freezing of the windshield wipers on the windshield.

[0008] Therefore, according to a first aspect of the invention, a method for controlling a wiper device of a vehicle is provided. This may be a wiper device for a windscreen or a rear window of a vehicle, or a combination of both. The wiper device comprises at least one, preferably a plurality of wipers.

[0009] The proposed method comprises operating the wipers in a first operating mode to automatically and periodically move the wipers, blocking the movement of the wipers provided in accordance with the first operating mode in a second operating mode, and determining the ambient temperature of the vehicle, wherein the second operating mode is only activated if the ambient temperature of the vehicle is below a predetermined temperature threshold, and wherein in case the second operating mode is activated, a user of the vehicle is provided with the possibility of deactivating the second operating mode.

[0010] The invention is based on two different operating modes for operating a wiper device of a vehicle, wherein a first operating mode regulates a standard operation of the wiper device, i.e., for example, the wipers of the wiper device move at predetermined intervals. In the event that the ambient temperature of the vehicle is below a predetermined temperature threshold, a second operating mode prevents or blocks the movement of the wipers. Accordingly, the first operating mode and the second operating mode are preferably executed simultaneously or in parallel, so that the second operating mode serves as a higher-level or more prioritized control relative to the first operating mode.

[0011] The activation of the second operating mode is associated with at least one condition. The at least one condition includes at least that the ambient temperature of the vehicle is below a predetermined temperature threshold, so that there is a risk of frost. Otherwise, only the first operating mode can be activated or maintained. Thus, in the presence of a risk of frost, the second operating mode acts as a special automatic or special control.

[0012] Furthermore, it is provided that the user of the vehicle is provided with the possibility of deactivating the second operating mode, so that the user always controls the wiper device and can optionally activate or move the wipers manually even when the second operating mode is activated.

[0013] A possibility of deactivating the second operating mode can be, for example, that the user reactivates the first operating mode by, for example, moving a switch from a first position that changes the first operating mode to another position and returning to the first position again. Alternatively, for example, a control symbol on the display can be activated that deactivates the second operating mode.

[0014] It may be provided that when the second operating mode is activated, the first operating mode is deactivated.

[0015] By deactivating the first operating mode, the second operating mode can control the wiper device without control conflicts and accordingly prevent movement of the wipers.

[0016] Optionally, provision can also be made that, when the second operating mode is activated, a first control command for moving the wiper provided in accordance with the first operating mode is overwritten by a second control command provided in accordance with the second operating mode.

[0017] In order to prevent the wipers from moving in the active first operating mode, second control commands provided according to the second operating mode must be processed in preference to first control commands provided according to the first operating mode. To this end, for example, the corresponding first control commands can be overwritten by marking them as non-executable or by changing corresponding control parameters of the first control commands, thereby converting the first control commands into second control commands.

[0018] It can also be provided that, when the second operating mode is activated, a warning message is output on the display unit, which warning message includes a control symbol for deactivating the second operating mode.

[0019] In order to avoid irritating the user by the wiper not moving when the first operating mode is activated, a warning message can be issued to inform the user that the second operating mode is activated. The warning message can be used to provide the user with the possibility of deactivating the second operating mode so that the user can control the movement of the wiper at any time.

[0020] It may also be provided that the second operating mode is activated only if the ambient temperature of the vehicle is below a predetermined temperature threshold and the vehicle has been parked for a time greater than a predetermined parking time threshold.

[0021] In order to prevent the wiper movement from being blocked when the wiper blades are not frozen, the parking time of the vehicle can be taken into account. Since the vehicle that is only stopped for a short time stores the residual heat from the previous operation, the wiper blades are unlikely to freeze in this state, so there is no need to activate the second operating mode.

[0022] The parking time of the vehicle can be queried or provided, for example, by a central control unit of the vehicle.

[0023] It can also be provided that the second operating mode is activated only if pre-air conditioning of the vehicle is active for a maximum period of time below a predetermined air conditioning threshold value.

[0024] In order to prevent the movement of the wiper from being blocked when the wiper blade is not frozen, the air conditioning duration of the vehicle can be taken into account. Since the vehicle heated by the air conditioning provides heat, the wiper blade is unlikely to freeze in this state, so there is no need to activate the second operating mode.

[0025] For example, the duration of the air conditioning provided by the air conditioning system or the heater can be queried or provided by a central control unit of the vehicle.

[0026] It can also be provided that the second operating mode is activated only if the window heating of the vehicle is active for a maximum period of time that lies below a predetermined window heating threshold value.

[0027] In order to prevent the wiper movement from being blocked when the wiper blade is not frozen, the activation duration of the vehicle's windshield heating can be taken into account. Since vehicles with active windshield heating provide heat, it is unlikely that the wiper blade will freeze, so there is no need to activate the second operating mode.

[0028] The activation duration of the windshield heater can be queried or provided, for example, by a central control unit of the vehicle.

[0029] In order to always provide the user with control over the wiper movement, provision can be made for the second operating mode to be deactivated when the user manually activates the first operating mode.

[0030] In addition, the user can deactivate the first operating mode, ie, perform automatic adaptive wiper control, so that the wiper device is completely deactivated. Here, the second operating mode can also be applied, because it is no longer necessary to inhibit the movement of the wiper.

[0031] It may also be provided that the ambient temperature of the vehicle is determined by evaluating a value of a temperature sensor of the vehicle and / or by evaluating a value of a weather forecast provided by a server.

[0032] A temperature sensor, such as an external temperature sensor or a coolant temperature sensor, can provide information about the probability of frost. Alternatively, the risk of frost can be determined by a weather forecast provided by a server, so that activation of vehicle systems for determining measured values ​​can be omitted.

[0033] According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a vehicle.

[0034] The proposed vehicle comprises a windshield wiper device and a computing unit configured to perform possible embodiments of the proposed method.

[0035] The proposed method is used in particular for the operation of the proposed vehicle.

[0036] According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a program product, wherein the program product comprises a program code content for configuring a computing unit so that when the program product is executed on the computing unit a possible embodiment of the method is executed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, the features mentioned in the claims and the description may embody the invention individually or in any desired combination. In the drawings:

[0038] Figure 1 A possible embodiment of the proposed method is shown,

[0039] Figure 2 A possible embodiment of the vehicle shown is shown,

[0040] Figure 3 Possible embodiments of the proposed program product are shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] Figure 1 A method for controlling a wiper device of a vehicle is shown.

[0042] Method 100 includes an operating step 101, in which the wiper device is operated in a first operating mode for automatically and regularly moving the wipers of the wiper device; a blocking step 103, in which the movement of the wipers provided in the first operating mode in the second operating mode is blocked; and a determining step 105, in which the ambient temperature of the vehicle is determined.

[0043] Provision is made here for the second operating mode to be activated only when the ambient temperature of the vehicle is below a predetermined temperature threshold value.

[0044] When the second operating mode is activated, the user of the vehicle is offered the possibility to deactivate the second operating mode.

[0045] Figure 2 A vehicle 200 is shown. The vehicle 200 comprises a wiper device 201 having a wiper 203 and a computing unit 205 .

[0046] The computing unit 205 is configured to execute Figure 1 Method 100.

[0047] Figure 3 A program product 300 is shown. The program product 300 comprises program code content 301 in the form of an algorithm.

[0048] The algorithm starts with a first activation step 303 , in which a first operating mode of the wiper device 201 is activated.

[0049] In the first checking step 305 , it is checked whether the external temperature of the corresponding vehicle is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold value. In the case where the external temperature is not less than or equal to the predetermined threshold value, an activation signal is output in the second activation step 307 to keep the first operating mode activated.

[0050] In case the outside temperature is less than or equal to the predetermined threshold, it is checked in a second checking step 309 whether the parking time of the vehicle is greater than a predetermined parking time threshold.

[0051] In case the parking time of the vehicle is greater than the predetermined parking time threshold, the algorithm continues with a second activation step 307 .

[0052] If the parking time of the vehicle is less than or equal to the predetermined parking time threshold, it is checked in a third checking step 311 whether the pre-conditioning of the vehicle was active at most for a duration below the predetermined air conditioning threshold.

[0053] If the pre-conditioning of the vehicle is active for a duration above the predetermined conditioning threshold, the algorithm continues with a second activation step 307 .

[0054] If the pre-conditioning of the vehicle is active for a duration less than or equal to the predetermined air conditioning threshold, it is checked in a fourth check step 313 whether the window heating of the vehicle is active at most for a duration below the predetermined window heating threshold.

[0055] In the event that the vehicle's glass heating is activated for a duration exceeding a predetermined glass heating threshold, the algorithm proceeds to a second activation step 307 .

[0056] In the event of activation of the vehicle's windshield heating for a duration that is less than or equal to a predetermined windshield heating threshold, it is checked in a fifth check step 315 whether manual activation of the wiper movement has occurred.

[0057] In case the movement of the wipers 203 has been manually activated, the algorithm continues with a second activation step 307 .

[0058] In the absence of manual activation of the movement of wiper 203 , a second operating mode is activated in a blocking step 317 , which blocks the movement of wiper 203 .

[0059] Reference Symbols List

[0060] 100 Programs

[0061] 101 operation steps

[0062] 103 Blocking Steps

[0063] 105 Determine the steps

[0064] 200Transportation

[0065] 201 Wiper Equipment

[0066] 203 Wiper

[0067] 205 computing units

[0068] 300 program products

[0069] 301 Program code content

[0070] 303 Activation Steps

[0071] 305 First Inspection Step

[0072] 307 Second Activation Step

[0073] 309 Second inspection step

[0074] 311 Third Inspection Step

[0075] 313 Fourth inspection step

[0076] 315 Fifth Inspection Step

[0077] 317 Blocking Steps

Claims

1. A method (100) for controlling a wiper device (201) of a vehicle (200), the wiper device comprising at least one wiper, in, The method (100) comprises: - operating (101) the wiper device (201) in a first operating mode for automatically and periodically moving the at least one wiper (203) of the wiper device (201), - in the second operating mode, preventing (103) the movement of the at least one wiper blade as specified in the first operating mode, - determining (105) the ambient temperature of the vehicle (200), The second operating mode is activated only when the ambient temperature of the vehicle is lower than a predetermined temperature threshold. Therein, when the second operating mode is activated, a user of the vehicle (200) is provided with the possibility of deactivating the second operating mode.

2. The method (100) according to claim 1, It is characterized in that When the second operating mode is activated, the first operating mode is deactivated.

3. The method (100) according to claim 1, It is characterized in that In case the second operating mode is activated, a first control command for moving at least one wiper (203) provided according to the first operating mode is overwritten by a second control command provided according to the second operating mode.

4. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that When the second operating mode is activated, a warning message is output on a display unit which includes a control symbol for deactivating the second operating mode.

5. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The second operating mode is activated only when the ambient temperature of the vehicle (200) is below a predetermined temperature threshold and the parking time of the vehicle (200) is greater than a predetermined parking time threshold.

6. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The second operating mode is activated only if the pre-conditioning of the vehicle (200) is active for at most a duration below a predetermined conditioning threshold.

7. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The second operating mode is activated only if the glass heater of the vehicle (200) is active for at most a duration below a predetermined glass heating threshold.

8. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that If the user manually activates the first operating mode, the second operating mode is deactivated.

9. The method (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized in that The ambient temperature of the vehicle (200) is determined by evaluating the value of a temperature sensor of the vehicle (200) and / or evaluating the value of a weather forecast provided by a server.

10. A vehicle (200), wherein the vehicle (200) comprises: - a wiper device (201) having at least one wiper (203), - a calculation unit (205), Wherein, the computing unit (205) is configured to execute the method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A program product (300), wherein the program product (300) comprises program code content (301) for configuring the computing unit (205) to execute the method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 when the program product (300) is executed on the computing unit (205).

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