Procedure for changing wiper blades

Abstract

Method for detecting a wiper blade change in a wiper system comprising at least one wiper blade (10) attached to a wiper arm (12), wherein the wiper blade (10) and wiper arm (12) are mechanically detachably connected to each other via an interface (14), wherein the wiper blade (10) contains an electrical means (16) with contacts (18) which can be connected to arm-side contacts (20), wherein the electrical means (16) has a finite electrical resistance such that, when the wiper blade (10) is connected, the wiper-arm-side contacts (20) detect a finite resistance and the wiper blade change recommendation unit (22) register a finite resistance, wherein, after disconnection, the contacts (20) exhibit an infinite resistance and the wiper blade change recommendation unit (22) registers an infinite resistance, thereby resetting (3) the wiper blade change recommendation unit (22) to a state,which is taken when a new wiper blade (10) is used.

Description

The invention relates to a method for detecting a wiper blade change in a wiper system comprising at least one wiper blade attached to a wiper arm, wherein the wiper blade and wiper arm are mechanically detachably connected to each other via an interface, and wherein the wiper blade contains an electrical element with contacts which can be connected to contacts on the arm side. Prior art is known from DE 199 55 874 A1 and EP 2 331 371 B1. It is proposed that detaching the wiper blade from the wiper arm resets the wiper blade replacement recommendation unit to a state it would assume when a new wiper blade is installed. This unit advises the vehicle user to replace the wiper blade, signaling the recommendation audibly and / or visually. Furthermore, the unit detects the need for replacement and determines the optimal time for it. This ensures the user is always aware of when the replacement is due, allowing them to consistently use technically sound wiper blades on their vehicle by following the unit's recommendations. Advantageously, when the wiper blade is detached from the wiper arm, the respective contacts are separated. After detachment, the contacts of the wiper arm and the wiper blade are preferably free, without being in contact. This allows for a defined indication of when the wiper blade replacement recommendation unit needs to be detached. In a specific training system, the wiper blade replacement recommendation unit is a counter that counts the number of wiper cycles by incrementing a counter value. When a threshold of wiper cycles is exceeded, the counter value issues a recommendation to replace the wiper blade. Resetting the wiper blade replacement recommendation unit sets the counter value to a value, in particular zero, corresponding to one new wiper blade. A wiper cycle can be defined either by a sequence of one up-wipe followed by one down-wipe. Alternatively, either an up-wipe or a down-wipe can constitute a wiper cycle on its own. Furthermore, either an up-wipe or a down-wipe can each represent a wiper cycle independently.The threshold number of wiper cycles represents an assumption about the number of cycles after which the wiper blade is so worn that its wiping performance is significantly worse than that of a new wiper blade. Resetting the threshold simulates the installation of a new wiper blade, allowing the wiper blade replacement recommendation unit to restart counting the wiper cycles. This automatic reset ensures reliable wiper blade replacement recommendations. According to the invention, the electrical means has a finite electrical resistance, so that the wiper arm-side contacts detect a finite resistance when a wiper blade is attached. The resistance of the electrical means is registered by the wiper blade replacement recommendation unit. This resistance can be measured and checked. After the contacts are disconnected, an infinite resistance is present at the arm-side contacts, and the wiper blade replacement recommendation unit registers an infinite resistance, thus resetting the unit. Based on the resistance measured at the arm-side contacts, the absence of the wiper blade can be determined, and a wiper blade replacement can be interpreted accordingly. Consequently, the wiper blade replacement indicates the use of a new wiper blade, which can again perform the full number of wiping cycles up to the threshold value. The wiper blade replacement recommendation unit can initiate a signal output before, during, or after the wiper blade is detached from the wiper arm, giving the user the option to reset the unit. For example, after the blade is detached, a signal can be output that displays a screen in the vehicle, allowing the user to reset the wiper blade replacement recommendation unit's counter. Confirming the reset sets the counter to zero. If confirmation is declined, the wiper blade replacement recommendation unit's counter is not reset and continues counting from the last value. This can occur, for example, if a new wiper blade has not been installed, but the wiper blade was nevertheless temporarily detached from the wiper arm. The preferred electrical method is a wiper blade heater that has a finite resistance. Preferred embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a wiper arm with a wiper blade, and Figure 2 shows a flowchart of the process. Figure 1 shows a wiper arm 12 with a wiper blade 10, which are detachably connected to each other via an interface 14. The arm-side part of the interface 14 has arm-side contacts 20, which are connected to a wiper blade replacement recommendation unit 22. The wiper blade replacement recommendation unit 22 is preferably a counter that counts the wiping cycles of the wiper arm 12 on a vehicle windshield. Furthermore, the contacts 20 are connected to a power source and a vehicle control unit. The wiper blade 10 has blade-side contacts 18, which are connected to an electrical means 16, which is in particular a wiper blade heater 16 with finite resistance. When the wiper blade 10 is detached from the wiper arm 12, the arm-side contacts 20 no longer have the finite resistance of the electrical means 16, but rather an infinite resistance, since the contacts 20 are exposed. Fig. 2 shows a schematic flowchart, which in the first step depicts the release 1 of the wiper arm 12 from the wiper blade 10. This release 1 causes the resistance at the arm-side contacts 20 to increase to an infinitely high value. The wiper blade replacement recommendation unit 22 detects this infinite resistance and generates a signal, which is then sent by the wiper blade replacement recommendation unit 22 or a vehicle control unit communicating with the wiper blade replacement recommendation unit 22 as a query to the user asking whether the wiper blade replacement recommendation unit 22 should be reset. The output 2 of the query can be acknowledged with either approval 3 or rejection. Approval resets the counter of the wiper blade replacement recommendation unit 22 to zero, and rejection causes the counter to increment from its last value before the wiper blade 10 was released 1 from the wiper arm 12.

Claims

Method for detecting a wiper blade change in a wiper system comprising at least one wiper blade (10) attached to a wiper arm (12), wherein the wiper blade (10) and wiper arm (12) are mechanically detachably connected to each other via an interface (14), wherein the wiper blade (10) contains an electrical means (16) with contacts (18) which can be connected to arm-side contacts (20), wherein the electrical means (16) has a finite electrical resistance such that, when the wiper blade (10) is connected, the wiper-arm-side contacts (20) detect a finite resistance and the wiper blade change recommendation unit (22) register a finite resistance, wherein, after disconnection, the contacts (20) exhibit an infinite resistance and the wiper blade change recommendation unit (22) registers an infinite resistance, thereby resetting (3) the wiper blade change recommendation unit (22) to a state,which is taken when a new wiper blade (10) is used. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that when releasing (1) the respective contacts (18, 20) are released from each other. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the wiper blade change recommendation unit (22) is a counting device which counts the number of wiping cycles by increasing a count value, and when a threshold value of wiping cycles is exceeded by the count value outputs a recommendation to change the wiper blade as a signal, wherein by resetting (3) the wiper blade change recommendation unit (22) the count value is set to a value, in particular zero, which corresponds to a new wiper blade. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wiper blade change recommendation unit (22) initiates an output (2) of a signal after or during or before the reset (3), which gives a user the opportunity to initiate the reset (3). Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electrical means (16) is a wiper blade heater. Wiper blade (10) for a wiper arm (12) which is configured to perform the method according to one of the preceding claims. Wiping system with a wiper blade (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

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