Wiper / washer system

Abstract

A windshield wiper-washer device is described. The device sprays a washer fluid onto the windshield (10) of a vehicle, which has imaging areas (12 and 13) of an imaging device, and wipes the windshield. The device comprises: a wiper arm (20) that moves a wiper blade (21) back and forth to wipe predetermined wiping areas (14 and 15); a spray unit that sprays the washer fluid onto the wiping area on the windshield from a nozzle (22) provided on the wiper arm; a drive unit (33) that drives the wiper arm (20) in a mode selected from modes that include at least a low-speed mode and a high-speed mode; and an input unit (31) through which a user inputs a command to spray the washer fluid.The spray unit begins spraying the washing fluid in response to the user initiating an actuation of the input unit (31), and it ceases spraying the washing fluid in response to the user ceasing to actuate the input unit. The drive unit (33) begins driving the wiper arm (20) in response to the user initiating an actuation of the input unit, and it ceases driving the wiper arm (20) after it has sprayed the washing fluid from the spray unit and after it has moved the wiper arm (20) back and forth at least once between the first return position (14a) and the second return position (14b) in high-speed mode.

Description

Background1. Technical area

[0001] The present invention relates to a wiper washer device that wipes a windshield of a vehicle, such as an automobile, by spraying washer fluid onto the windshield from a nozzle provided on a wiper arm. More particularly, it relates to a wiper washer device that can quickly restore visibility in an imaging area of ​​an imaging device after the washer fluid is sprayed. 2. State of the art

[0002] A windshield of a vehicle, such as that of an automobile, is provided with a wiper washer device that sprays a washer fluid (a liquid for washing) and a wiper device that wipes away the washer fluid, rain, and the like.

[0003] The wiper device includes a wiper arm equipped with a wiper blade made of a rubber material. The wiper arm pivots on the windshield, allowing it to move back and forth within a predetermined wiping area. This wipes water or the like from the windshield.

[0004] Generally, the washer system includes a nozzle mounted on the front hood or top of a vehicle, and the nozzle sprays washer fluid onto the windshield. Recently, it has been proposed that the washer system include a wiper arm equipped with a nozzle. Such a wiper arm is referred to as a "wet arm."

[0005] For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-006971 discloses a windshield wiper washer device in which a wiper arm is provided with a nozzle for spraying washer fluid. The device is provided with a spray unit that sprays the washer fluid (washing fluid) onto the wiper blade. To prevent washer fluid from remaining on the windshield or dripping onto the windshield immediately after wiping, more than one wipe is performed without spraying the washer fluid.

[0006] Recently, the use of an imaging device such as a stereo camera that captures a front view of a vehicle and is mounted on the inside of the windshield has become widespread for vehicle control purposes, particularly for accident safety, driving assistance, and the like. In a vehicle equipped with such an imaging device, the imaging process may be subject to adverse effects, and vehicle control may be affected.

[0007] With the technique described in JP 2008-006971 A, it is possible to prevent washer fluid from remaining on the windshield after wiping by performing an additional wipe after the washer fluid spraying has finished. However, even in such a case, it is inevitable that the imaging process will be temporarily adversely affected until the wiping process is completed.

[0008] US 4 720 664 A discloses a windshield wiper washer device that sprays a washer fluid onto a windshield of a vehicle and wipes the windshield, the windshield wiper washer device comprising: - a wiper arm having a wiper blade pressed against the windshield and reciprocating the wiper blade between a first return position and a second return position so that the wiper blade wipes a predetermined wiping area; - a spray unit that sprays the washer fluid onto the wiper area on the windshield from a nozzle; - a drive unit that drives the wiper arm in a mode selected from modes including at least a low-speed mode and a high-speed mode; and - an input unit through which a user enters a command to spray the washing liquid; - wherein the spray unit starts spraying the washing liquid in response to the start of an operation of the input unit by the user, and stops spraying the washing liquid in response to the termination of an operation of the input unit by the user; and - wherein the drive unit stops driving the wiper arm after spraying the washer fluid from the spray unit and after reciprocating the wiper arm at least once between the first return position and the second return position in the high-speed mode. Summary of the invention

[0009] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a windshield wiper washer device that can quickly restore visibility in an imaging area of ​​an imaging device after a washer fluid has been sprayed.

[0010] The problem is solved by a windscreen wiper-washer device having the features of claim 1. Brief description of the drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a windshield in a vehicle provided with an embodiment of a windshield wiper washer device according to the present invention; Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the embodiment of the windshield wiper washer device; and Fig. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of spraying a washer liquid in the embodiment of the wiper washer device. Detailed description

[0011] The invention solves the previous problem and provides a windshield wiper washer device that can quickly restore visibility in the imaging area of ​​an imaging device after spraying of a washer fluid is completed by driving a wiper arm in a high-speed mode in at least one reciprocating motion.

[0012] An embodiment of a windshield wiper washer device according to the invention is described below.

[0013] The embodiment of the windshield wiper washer device is provided, for example, on a windshield in a vehicle, such as a car, with an imaging device that captures a view forward of the vehicle.

[0014] Fig. Figure 1 illustrates a windshield in a vehicle equipped with an embodiment of the windshield wiper and washer device according to the invention. A windshield 10 is provided in the front region of a vehicle interior or passenger compartment (not shown) in a vehicle, such as a car. It is mounted in a windshield frame that occupies a primary field of vision perceived by a driver.

[0015] The windshield 10 has an elongated rectangular shape when viewed from the front and is made of laminated glass whose central region is curved forward in two directions relative to opposite end regions. The windshield 10 is coated with a black ceramic layer along a boundary line 11 around an inner periphery of the windshield 10. The area within the boundary line 11 is substantially transparent.

[0016] Imaging areas 12 and 13 of a stereo camera device (not shown) are provided near the top of the windshield. The stereo camera device includes a pair of cameras arranged on the right and left sides in the width direction of the vehicle.

[0017] The stereo camera system can detect the environment in front of the vehicle, such as the relative position or speed between the vehicle in question and other vehicles or pedestrians in front of the vehicle, and it can detect the shape of a lane using well-known imaging technology. The stereo cameras are arranged at the front end of the roof (near the base of a passenger compartment mirror) on the vehicle's interior.

[0018] The imaging areas 12 and 13 are contained in the image fields of the right and left cameras in the windshield 10. The stereo cameras capture the environment in front of the vehicle, specifically through the imaging areas 12 and 13.

[0019] The windshield 10 is provided with a wiper arm (not shown) on the driver's seat side and a wiper arm 20 on the front passenger seat side. The wiper arm 20 is driven by a wiper motor 33 (in Fig. 1 not shown, but in Fig. 2). The wiper arm 20 is pivoted about a rotation axis provided in the central region in the width direction of the vehicle on the hood (not shown) of the vehicle, which is adjacent to the lower end of the windshield 10.

[0020] The wiper arm 20 includes a wiper blade 21 and a washer nozzle 22. The wiper blade 21 is provided near the distal end of the wiper arm 20. The wiper blade 21 includes a rib-like wiping element (not shown) formed of a rubber material and extending along the wiper arm 20 in its longitudinal direction.

[0021] The washer nozzle 22 sprays a washer fluid (a liquid for washing) onto the surface of the windshield 10. The washer fluid 22 is arranged near the end of the wiper blade 21 on the side of the rotation axis of the wiper arm 20. The washer nozzle 22 can spray the washer fluid in the direction of movement of the wiper arm 20 when the wiper arm 20 moves from an initial position to a return position.

[0022] The movements of the wiper blade 21 of the wiper arm 20 on the side of the front passenger seat and the wiper blade (not shown) of the wiper arm on the side of the driver seat define the wiping areas 14 and 15 respectively in Fig. 1. The respective wiping areas 14 and 15 have substantially sector-like shapes having radii extending from initial positions 14a and 15a to return positions 14b and 15b.

[0023] The imaging area 13 on the driver's seat side is included in the wiping areas 14 and 15. When the respective wiper arm 20 is pivoted by a reciprocating motion, each of the right and left wiper blades wipes the surface of the windshield 10. On the other hand, the imaging area 12 on the front passenger seat side is substantially included only in the wiping area 14, and is substantially wiped only by the wiper blade 21 on the front passenger side.

[0024] The washer nozzle 22 is provided on the wiper arm 20 on the front passenger seat side to improve the wiping function in the imaging area 12 located on the front passenger seat side.

[0025] In the embodiment of the washer device, a fixed type nozzle may be provided on the front hood or the engine hood of the vehicle in addition to the washer nozzle 22 provided on the wiper arm 20.

[0026] Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the embodiment of the windshield wiper washer device. As shown in Fig. 2, the wiper washer device includes a wiper washer switch 31, a washer pump 32, a wiper motor 33, a position detection sensor 34, a motor speed controller 35, a wiper relay 36, and the like.

[0027] The wiper washer switch 31 generates an input signal that initiates a wiping action of the wiper arm 20 and a spraying action of the washer fluid in response to the operation of a user, such as a driver. The wiper washer switch 31 is, for example, a lever protruding from the steering column.

[0028] The windshield washer pump 32 is an electric pump that pressurizes a washer fluid (a liquid for washing) stored in a washer tank (not shown) and delivers the washer fluid to the washer nozzle 22. The windshield washer pump 32 is securely mounted in a lower portion of the washer tank.

[0029] The wiper motor 33 drives the wiper arms 20 on the driver's seat side and the front passenger seat side, respectively. An output signal from the wiper motor 33 is transmitted to the respective wiper arms 20 through a reduction gear train and a linkage mechanism, so that the respective wiper arms 20 are pivoted and reciprocated between the initial position and the return position.

[0030] The position detection sensor 34 detects the position of the wiper arm 20 by detecting the state of the linkage mechanism provided on the output member of the wiper motor 33. The position detection sensor 34 detects the time when the wiper arm 20 reaches the initial position and transmits the detected signal to the motor speed controller 35.

[0031] The motor speed control device 35 switches the rotation speed of the wiper motor 33 between a low-speed mode and a high-speed mode.

[0032] The wiper relay 36 stops the operation of the windshield washer pump 32 and controls the operating period of the wiper motor 33 (the number of movements of the wiper arm).

[0033] The operation of the embodiment of the windshield wiper washer device is described below.

[0034] Fig. Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating the process of spraying washer fluid in the embodiment of the windshield wiper washer device. Each step is described in the following sequence. Step S01: Determining whether the wiper washer switch is turned on

[0035] If the wiper washer switch 31 has been turned on by the driver (user), the process proceeds to step S02. If the wiper washer switch 31 is turned off by the driver (user), the process sequence ends (returns to the start). Step S02: Driving the windshield washer pump

[0036] The windshield washer pump 32 is driven so that the pressurized washer fluid is supplied to the washer nozzle 22 and sprayed from the washer nozzle 22. Then, the process proceeds to step S03. Step S03: Driving the wiper motor in low-speed mode

[0037] The wiper motor 33 performs the wiping operation of the wiper arm 20 in the low-speed mode. The operating speed in the low-speed mode is set in consideration of a situation in which the washer fluid sprayed from the washer nozzle 22 is distributed over substantially the entire length of the wiper blade 21 during the period when the wiper arm 20 moves from the initial position to the return position.

[0038] The washer fluid sprayed from the washer nozzle 22 flows toward the distal end of the wiper blade 21 due to centrifugal force, while the washer fluid is wiped upward on the surface of the windshield. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S04. Step S04: Determining whether the wiper washer switch is turned off

[0039] If the wiper washer switch 31 is switched from the on state to the off state, the process proceeds to step S05. On the other hand, if the wiper washer switch 31 is left in the on state, step S04 is repeated. Step S05: Stop the windshield washer pump

[0040] The windshield washer pump 32 is stopped, and the washer fluid spraying operation is terminated. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S06. Step S06: Determining whether the wiper arm is in the initial position

[0041] The position detection sensor 34 determines whether the wiper arm 20 has reached the initial position 14a for the first time after the windshield washer pump 32 has been stopped. If the wiper arm 20 has reached the initial position 14a, the process proceeds to step S07. If the wiper arm 20 has not reached the initial position 14a, step S06 is repeated. Step S07: Driving the wiper motor in high-speed mode

[0042] The motor speed control device 35 changes the speed of the wiper motor 33 from a speed corresponding to the low-speed mode to a speed corresponding to the high-speed mode, thereby accelerating the wiping operation of the wiper arm 20. Then, the process proceeds to step S08. Step S08: Determining whether a (single) reciprocating drive movement is performed after switching to the high-speed mode

[0043] The position detection sensor 34 determines whether the wiper arm 20 has performed a (single) reciprocating movement between the initial position 14a and the return position 14b and has reached the initial position 14a after the rotational speed has been switched to the high-speed mode. The wiper blade 21 wipes the residues S (see Fig. 1) the washer fluid distributed in streaks within the wiping area 14.

[0044] The residues S result from a wiping operation in which the washer fluid is not sprayed. If the wiper arm 20 has reached the initial position 14a, the process continues with step S09. If the wiper arm 20 has not reached the initial position 14a, step S08 is repeated. Step S09:Stopping the wiper motor

[0045] The wiper motor 33 is stopped. The wiping operation of the wiper arm 20 is completed. The process sequence is then terminated (return to the start).

[0046] With the above-described embodiment of the invention, the following effects can be achieved: (1) When the wiper arm 20 is reciprocated in a (single) reciprocating motion in the high-speed mode after the spraying of the washing liquid is completed, it is possible to wipe off the residue S of the washing liquid or any liquid dropped onto the imaging area 12 in a short period of time and reduce the period of time over which the imaging operation of the imaging unit is affected. (2) When the wiper arm 20 is operated in the low-speed mode during spraying of the washer fluid, it is possible to ensure the period for spreading the washer fluid over the entire length of the wiper blade 21 and to ensure good wiping performance. Variations

[0047] It should be noted that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above. It is possible to modify or alter the embodiment. These modified or altered embodiments are included within the scope of the invention. (1) The shape, structure, arrangement, number, and the like of each of the elements constituting the wiper washer device are not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be appropriately modified. For example, the number and arrangement of nozzles and the composition of a control system can be appropriately modified. Although the imaging device in the embodiment includes a pair of right and left cameras, the imaging device may also include a single camera. (2) Although the wiper arm 20 is operated in the low-speed mode while spraying the washer fluid in the embodiment, the wiper arm 20 may also be operated in the high-speed mode as long as good wiping performance can be achieved. In this case, the wiper arm 20 is always driven in the high-speed mode when the wiper washer switch 31 is operated. List of reference symbols 10 Windshield 11 boundary line 12 Imaging area 13 Imaging area 14 Wiping area 14a Starting position 14b Return position 15 Wiping area 15a Starting position 15b Return position 20 Wiper arm 21 Wiper blade 22 Washer nozzle 31 Windscreen wiper washer switch 32 Windscreen washer pump 33 Wiper motor 34 Position detection sensor 35 Engine speed control device 36 wiper relay

Claims

[1] A windshield wiper washer device that sprays a washer fluid onto a windshield (10) of a vehicle and wipes the windshield (10), the vehicle having an imaging region (12) through which an imaging device captures a view forward of the vehicle, the windshield wiper washer device comprising: - a wiper arm (20) having a wiper blade (21) pressed against the windshield (10) and reciprocating the wiper blade (21) between a first return position (14a) and a second return position (14b) so that the wiper blade (21) wipes a predetermined wiping area (14) including the imaging area (12); - a spray unit which sprays the washer fluid onto the wiping area (14) on the windshield (10) from a nozzle (22) provided on the wiper arm (20); - a drive unit (33) that drives the wiper arm (20) in a mode selected from modes including at least a low-speed mode and a high-speed mode; and - an input unit (31) through which a user inputs a command to spray the washing liquid; - wherein the spray unit starts spraying the washing liquid in response to the start of an operation of the input unit (31) by the user, and stops spraying the washing liquid in response to the termination of an operation of the input unit (31) by the user; - wherein the drive unit (33) starts driving the wiper arm (20) in response to the start of the operation of the input unit (31) by the user, and stops driving the wiper arm (20) after spraying the washer fluid from the spray unit and after reciprocating the wiper arm (20) at least once between the first return position (14a) and the second return position (14b) in the high-speed mode; and - wherein the drive unit drives the wiper arm (20) in low-speed mode while the spray unit sprays the washer fluid.

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