Method for wiping a windscreen by means of a windscreen wiper device, windscreen wiper device and means of transport comprising a windscreen wiper device

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for wiping a windshield (14) by means of a windshield wiper device (10) comprising at least one wiper blade (16), at least one wiper arm (18), and a drive unit (20) for driving the at least one wiper blade (16) via the at least one wiper arm (18). In the windshield wiper device (10), the wiper blade (16) is mounted so as to be tiltable relative to the wiper arm (18) about a longitudinal axis of the wiper blade (16), wherein a tilt angle (32) of the wiper blade (16) relative to the wiper arm (18) is adjusted as a function of a torque that is transmitted from the drive unit (20) to the wiper blade (16) during a wiping movement (30) and / or a wiping cycle of the wiper blade (16) across the windshield (14).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for wiping a windscreen by means of a windscreen wiper device, a windscreen wiper device and a vehicle comprising a windscreen wiper device.

[0002] A windshield wiper is a device used to clean a windshield, for example, of a vehicle. In particular, the wiper can push unwanted moisture and / or dirt to one edge of the windshield, allowing visibility through the windshield, for example.

[0003] The windscreen wiper device according to the invention is based in particular on a windscreen wiper device as described below by way of example in Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b. The exact structure of the windscreen wiper device according to the invention may differ from that shown in Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b, in particular with regard to the number of wiper arms and / or wiper blades and / or the arrangement of the wiper arms and / or wiper blades and / or the windscreen wiper device relative to a windscreen.

[0004] The windshield wiper device 10 serves, in particular, to clear a predeterminable wiping area 12 of a windshield 14 of interfering objects, such as dirt and / or unwanted solid and / or liquid substances, such as dirt and / or moisture and / or raindrops. The interfering objects are pushed by the windshield wiper device 10 from the wiping area 12 of the windshield 14 into an area of ​​the windshield 14 adjacent to the wiping area 12, in particular into an edge area of ​​the windshield 14.

[0005] The windshield wiper device 10 has, in particular for clearing the wiping area 12 of the windshield 14 from interfering objects, at least one wiper blade 16, at least one wiper arm 18 and a drive unit 20 for driving the at least one wiper blade 16 via the at least one wiper arm 18. In particular, a wiper blade 16 is connected to a wiper arm 18 and the wiper arm 18 to the drive unit 20. The arrangement of the windshield wiper device 10 relative to the windshield 14 can be configured as desired. By way of example, Fig. 1a discloses a wiper arm 18, to whose first end 22 the one wiper blade 16 is coupled, in particular fastened, and to whose second end 24 the one drive unit 20 is coupled, in particular fastened, wherein the drive unit 20 is located at the edge of the windscreen 14.

[0006] In Fig. 1b shows a windshield wiper device with a plurality of wiper arms 18, here two by way of example, wherein each wiper arm 18 is coupled, in particular fastened, to a wiper blade 16 at its first end 22 and coupled, in particular fastened, to the drive unit 20 at its second end 24. The windshield wiper device 10 can have any desired number of wiper blades 16 and / or wiper arms 18, wherein the arrangement of the wiper arms 18 can be different from one another and, in particular, also differs from that shown in Fig. 1a and / or Fig. 1b shown arrangement.

[0007] The wiper blade 16 comprises, in particular, a holding body and a wiper lip, wherein the wiper lip is preferably designed as an elastic element, in particular a rubber-elastic element. During a wiping movement, the wiper blade 16 can contact the window 14 with the wiper lip, in particular only with the wiper lip. A wiping movement involves, for example, guiding the wiper blade 16, in particular the wiper lip, over the window 14, in particular a wiping area 12 of the window 14. In particular, the wiping area 12 of the window 14 is the area over which the at least one wiper blade 16 is guided. As a result of the wiping movement, the interfering objects, which are preferably located in the path of this wiping movement, are carried along by the wiper blade 16. The wiping movement is preferably carried out by the drive unit 20.

[0008] The wiping movement can be configured as a wiping cycle. During a wiping cycle, the wiper blade starts at a first reversal point 34, is guided along a forward path from the first reversal point 34 to a second reversal point 36, and then along a return path from the second reversal point 36 back to the first reversal point 34. Preferably, the forward path and the return path are substantially identical, in particular identical. "Substantially identical" means, in particular, that production-related and / or design-related deviations between the forward path and the return path and / or vice versa are possible. During the wiping cycle, the wiper blade 16, in particular the wiper lip, can contact and / or touch the windshield 14, preferably continuously.

[0009] The problem with a windshield wiper system can be that it cannot be adapted to different operating conditions.

[0010] To solve this problem, DE 39 03 305 A1, for example, proposes that means be arranged on the wiper blade with which the pivoting position of the wiper lip relative to the retaining body can be adjusted. A disadvantage of the invention is that when the wiper blade is replaced, for example due to wear on the wiper blade, the means for adjusting the wiper lip relative to the wiper blade must also be replaced.

[0011] EP 1 908 655 B1 discloses a method for cleaning curved panoramic windows, wherein the windshield wiper device has an elastic element between the pivoting end of the wiper arm and the wiper blade. The disadvantage here is that only the tilt angle is adjusted to the curvature of the window.

[0012] AT 003 507 U1 discloses a device for forcing a wiper blade to fold back and forth on a windshield. The disadvantage here is that the timing and manner of folding is already predetermined, thus making it impossible to adjust the folding.

[0013] DE 10 2012 018 407 A1 describes a wiper assembly for a windshield wiper of a motor vehicle and a windshield wiper equipped therewith. The wiper assembly has a wiping profile extending in a longitudinal direction with at least one wiping element and at least one scraper element. The wiping element and the scraper element extend substantially parallel to one another in the longitudinal direction and are aligned with one another at a predetermined tilt angle in a plane extending perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. A disadvantage here is that the tilt angle can only assume fixed, discrete values.

[0014] DE 195 08 738 A1 discloses a wiper device with a wiper blade that sweeps across a windshield of a motor vehicle. The wiper blade is provided with a base held by a wiper blade holder attached to a wiper arm and having a stop surface facing the windshield, a lip spaced from the stop surface of the base by a predetermined clear width, an upper end in contact with the windshield, and a lip width that is constant throughout in the wiping direction, and a neck located between the base and the lip to connect them. The wiper device includes a wiper blade structure that maintains a lip contact angle between the windshield and a side wall of the lip within a predetermined angular range during the wiping operation.The disadvantage here is that the lip contact angle does not respond to external factors, such as the torque that is transferred from the drive unit to the wiper blade during a wiping movement and / or a wiping cycle of the wiper blade across the windscreen.

[0015] The object of the invention is to provide a windscreen wiper device that can be adapted to the operating conditions.

[0016] The problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent patent claims. Advantageous developments of the invention are described by the dependent patent claims, the following description, and the figures.

[0017] As a solution, the invention comprises a method for wiping a windshield by means of a windshield wiper device comprising at least one wiper blade, at least one wiper arm, and a drive unit for driving the at least one wiper blade, wherein the at least one wiper blade (16) is driven via the at least one wiper arm (18). In particular, the windshield wiper device can be constructed analogously to a windshield wiper device known from the prior art and / or to a windshield wiper device as described at the beginning of the patent specification.

[0018] In addition, the windshield wiper device can, for example, comprise a tilting device, which is arranged in particular between the wiper blade and the wiper arm and is preferably coupled to the wiper arm. In particular, the wiper blade is removable from the wiper arm with the tilting device, in particular including the tilting device, so that the wiper blade can be easily replaced, for example, when it becomes worn.

[0019] In particular, the tilting device mounts the wiper blade of the windshield wiper device so that it can be tilted about a longitudinal axis of a longitudinal extension direction of the wiper blade relative to the wiper arm. This means that the wiper blade, in particular the combination of the holding body and wiper lip, can be tilted relative to the wiper arm, with the tilting preferably occurring about the axis (longitudinal axis) of the wiper blade that is parallel to the direction in which the wiper blade has its greatest extension, i.e., in particular, the direction in which it is longest. Tilting can be effected, for example, mechanically, in particular via a motor, for example an electric motor, electrically, for example via electrically controllable magnetic fields and / or electromagnetic fields, and / or pneumatically and / or hydraulically.

[0020] The tilt angle by which the wiper blade is tilted relative to the wiper arm, in particular starting from an initial position, is set as a function of a torque that is transmitted from the drive unit to the wiper blade during a wiping movement and / or a wiping cycle of the wiper blade across the windshield. This means in particular that the magnitude of the torque applied to the drive unit is determined. In particular, for each wiper arm and / or each wiper blade, the torque transmitted from the drive unit, in particular via the respective wiper arm, to the respective wiper blade is determined individually. The magnitude of the torque is preferably taken into account. Depending on the magnitude of the determined torque value, a different setting of the tilt angle can be made. This can mean that different tilt angles can occur for different torques.

[0021] The tilt angle can be within a predeterminable tilt angle range. In particular, the tilt angle range is selected such that, regardless of the tilt angle within the tilt angle range, the wiper blade and / or the wiper lip touches and / or contacts the windshield and / or is configured to touch and / or contact the windshield. In particular, only the wiper lip, and not the retaining body, touches the windshield, regardless of the selected tilt angle within the tilt angle range.

[0022] In particular, it is provided that by determining the torque transmitted from the drive unit to the wiper blade, it is determined how stiff the guidance of the wiper blade across the windshield and / or a wiping movement is, in particular at different tilt angles. Preferably, the tilt angle is selected at which the guidance of the wiper blade across the windshield and / or the wiping movement is the least stiff, compared to other wiping movements performed, in particular other wiping movements performed under similar conditions, in particular similar environmental conditions, but at different tilt angles. This advantageously makes it possible to determine the most optimal tilt angle possible, thereby reducing wear on the wiper blade and / or improving wiping performance.The most optimal tilt angle is achieved in particular when the wiper blade, in particular the wiper lip, is perpendicular to the windscreen and / or the contact surface with which the wiper blade, in particular the wiper lip, comes into contact with the windscreen is as small as possible and in particular not equal to zero.

[0023] In order to ensure analogous conditions, in particular analogous environmental conditions, it can be provided that a predeterminable number of wiping cycles, for example at least one and / or at least two and / or at least three and / or at least five, are carried out before the torque is set. This makes it possible, for example, to effectively remove interfering objects that were on the window before a first wiping movement and / or a first wiping cycle and which do not reach the window again between two wiping cycles and / or whose equivalent does not reach the window again between two wiping cycles when setting the torque. In particular, this means that only those interfering objects that reach the window between two wiping cycles are taken into account when setting the torque, whereby analogous conditions exist for each wiping cycle.

[0024] It can be provided that wiping movements are compared with earlier and / or past wiping movements, in particular with wiping movements that occurred at least a predefined period of time, for example, at least one or more months ago. If it is determined that the wiping movements have become stiffer over one or more past wiping movements, i.e., a lower torque was recorded for earlier and / or past wiping movements and / or the torque has increased on average starting from the earliest measurement, it can be concluded that the wiper blade is wearing. In particular, a message can be issued informing the user about the wiper blade's wear.

[0025] The invention has the advantage that the wiper blade can be automatically adapted to different operating conditions via an adjustable tilt angle.

[0026] The invention also includes further developments which result in additional advantages.

[0027] A further development comprises determining the tilt angle by determining a torque curve for each of the preliminary tilt angles in several wiping cycles for different preliminary tilt angles. In particular, the torque curve is determined in several consecutive wiping cycles. This means that several wiping cycles are carried out, with different wiping cycles being performed with different preliminary tilt angles, i.e., with different angles between the wiper blade and wiper arm. In particular, within a predeterminable number of wiping cycles, a different preliminary tilt angle is selected for each wiping cycle, and a torque curve is determined for each of them.

[0028] The preliminary tilt angle is selected as the tilt angle at which the maximum and / or averaged torque is lowest. This means that, in particular, after a predeterminable number of wiping cycles in which the wiping movement occurs at different preliminary tilt angles, in particular for each wiping cycle, a different preliminary tilt angle is used each time, and the preliminary tilt angle at which the torque curve averaged over the respective wiping cycle and / or the maximum value of the respective torque curve has the lowest value is used as the tilt angle, for example, for subsequent wiping cycles.

[0029] The specified number of wiping cycles can, for example, be a number between 2 and 5 and / or a number between 2 and 10 and / or a number between 2 and 15.

[0030] The preliminary tilt angles are preferably selected from the predeterminable tilt angle range as already disclosed elsewhere in this patent specification.

[0031] This refinement offers the advantage of easily determining the preliminary tilt angle within the tilt angle range at which a wiping movement is least difficult. This makes it easy to select a tilt angle at which the wiper blade sits as optimally as possible on the windshield and / or at which wiper blade wear is kept as low as possible. In particular, the best possible placement means using the best possible tilt angle.

[0032] An alternative development to this involves determining the tilt angle by dividing the distance traveled by the wiper blade in at least one wiping cycle into several non-overlapping partial distances. In particular, the partial distances are adjacent to one another, so that by arranging the individual partial distances, the total distance traveled by the wiper blade and / or a representative point of the wiper blade and / or the first end of the wiper arm during the execution of at least one wiping cycle, in particular precisely one wiping cycle, is determined.

[0033] For various preliminary tilt angles, a respective torque curve is determined for each of the preliminary tilt angles for each of the partial sections. This means, in particular, that the torque curve is considered separately for each of the partial sections. The partial sections can, for example, be the outward and return journeys. The outward and return journeys can be divided into further partial sections. For each of the partial sections, the preliminary tilt angle is selected at which the torque averaged over the respective partial section and / or the maximum value of the respective torque curve is the lowest.

[0034] This means in particular that the procedure is analogous to the one used to determine the tilt angle. In several wiping cycles, a torque curve is determined for each of the preliminary tilt angles for different preliminary tilt angles, and the preliminary tilt angle with the lowest maximum and / or average torque is selected as the tilt angle. The difference is that here different sections of a wiping cycle are considered separately, and a tilt angle is determined separately for each of the sections based on the torque curve recorded for the respective section. This means in particular that a tilt angle profile is created, i.e. the tilt angle is particularly position-dependent. Position-dependent refers in particular to the position that the wiper blade assumes within a wiping cycle.This means that the tilt angle can be adjusted depending on which part of the wiping cycle the wiper blade is on.

[0035] This further development enables a particularly optimized adjustment of the tilt angle.

[0036] A further development comprises the wiping movement of a wiper blade's wiping cycle across the windshield from a lower reversal point to an upper reversal point and vice versa. This means that the wiping cycle starts at a lower reversal point, which is located in particular at a lower end of the windshield, and the other reversal point is the upper reversal point, which is located in particular above the lower reversal point. "Up and down" preferably refers to the Earth's gravitational field, especially in a horizontally oriented vehicle.

[0037] During the wiping movement, in particular during the wiping cycle, a torque is detected. If the torque exceeds a predefinable threshold value during the wiping movement, in particular on the outward path of the wiping cycle, preferably on a section covered by the wiper blade at the beginning of the outward path, the wiper blade is moved to the upper reversal point without contact with the window and only at the upper reversal point is the window placed back on the window. This means in particular that the contact of the wiper blade with the window is interrupted, for example by the wiper blade being moved in a direction that is perpendicular to the window. After the wiper blade has lost contact with the window, the wiper blade can be moved to the upper reversal point, in particular without contacting the window between losing contact with the window and reaching the upper reversal point on the window.

[0038] If the wiper blade has been placed on the windscreen at the upper reversal point, the wiper blade can perform a cleaning wiping movement across the windscreen from the upper reversal point to the lower reversal point, during which the wiper blade comes into contact with the windscreen and / or is not perpendicular to the windscreen. This means in particular that the wiper blade performs a wiping movement from the upper reversal point to the lower reversal point during the cleaning wiping movement. The cleaning wiping movement can be characterized in that the wiper blade contacts the windscreen throughout the entire cleaning wiping movement. During the cleaning wiping movement, it can be provided that the wiper blade is not perpendicular to the windscreen. In particular, the wiper lip is not perpendicular to the windscreen. Preferably, an acute angle is set between the part of the windscreen over which the wiper blade has already been guided during the cleaning wiping movement and the wiper blade.

[0039] The further development allows interfering objects to be removed from the windshield in an advantageous manner. The interfering objects may mean that greater resistance must be overcome during the wiping movement. A higher detected torque may indicate the presence of interfering objects. In order to effectively remove the interfering objects from the wiping area of ​​the windshield, it can be provided that the wiper blade is brought to the upper reversal point without contact with the windshield and that the cleaning wiping movement is carried out, whereby the interfering objects are brought to the lower edge of the windshield and / or the windshield is effectively cleaned. In particular, the selected tilt angle allows the dirt to be removed particularly effectively from the lower edge of the windshield and / or from the wiping area of ​​the windshield.

[0040] A further development comprises that, in the event that the torque continues to exceed the predeterminable threshold value during a wiping movement after the cleaning wiping movement, a torque curve is determined for each of various preliminary tilt angles over at least one wiping cycle, and the preliminary tilt angle at which the torque averaged over the torque curve and / or the maximum value of the torque curve is the lowest is set as the tilt angle for future wiping cycles. This means that after the cleaning wiping movement, at least one wiping movement takes place during which the torque and / or the torque curve can be determined, wherein the torque and / or the torque curve is detected in particular during the wiping movement.If the detected torque and / or the torque determined from the torque curve and averaged over the wiping movement and / or the maximum value of the torque curve during the wiping movement exceeds the predeterminable threshold value, which is in particular the same threshold value that triggers the cleaning wiping movement, the tilt angle can be determined as already disclosed elsewhere in the patent specification.

[0041] In particular, the procedure is as disclosed under the following point: determining the tilt angle by determining a torque curve for each of the preliminary tilt angles in several, in particular consecutive, wiping cycles for different preliminary tilt angles, and selecting as the tilt angle that preliminary tilt angle at which the maximum and / or averaged torque is the lowest. This means that for different preliminary tilt angles, for example from the tilt angle range, the torque curve can be determined during at least one wiping cycle. The different torque curves can be compared, and the preliminary tilt angle at which the averaged value and / or maximum value of the torque curve is the lowest can be selected as the tilt angle.In particular, the selected tilt angle is used for at least one subsequent wiping movement, i.e. at least one subsequent wiping movement is carried out with the selected tilt angle.

[0042] This has the advantage that in cases where the wiping movement is not stiff due to interfering objects on the windscreen, particularly in the wiping area, the tilt angle can be adjusted. This means, in particular, that it is first determined whether the wiping movement is stiff due to interfering objects on the windscreen, particularly in the wiping area. If the interfering objects on the windscreen and / or in the wiping area are responsible for the stiff wiping movement, the interfering objects can be removed from the wiping area by the cleaning wiping movement. If the wiping movement is still stiff afterwards, i.e.If the torque determined during the wiping movement continues to exceed the specified threshold, the tilt angle can be determined, so that the most optimal tilt angle is selected for subsequent wiping movements, so that the lowest possible torque is applied for the wiping movement. This advantageously prevents unnecessary wear and / or achieves the best possible wiping result. Interference could be caused by dirt and / or dust, for example.

[0043] A further development comprises that, in the event that the torque continues to exceed the predefinable threshold value during a wiping movement after the cleaning wiping movement, a torque curve is determined for each of various preliminary tilt angles over at least one wiping cycle, the distance covered by the wiper blade in the at least one wiping cycle is divided into several non-overlapping partial sections, and for each partial section, the preliminary tilt angle is selected as the tilt angle at which the torque averaged over the respective partial section and / or the maximum value of the respective torque curve has the lowest value. This means that after the cleaning wiping movement, at least one wiping movement takes place during which the torque and / or the torque curve can be determined, wherein the torque and / or the torque curve is recorded in particular during the wiping movement.If the detected torque and / or the torque determined from the torque curve and averaged over the wiping movement and / or the maximum value of the torque curve during the wiping movement exceeds the predeterminable threshold value, which is in particular the same threshold value that triggers the cleaning wiping movement, the tilt angle can be determined as already disclosed elsewhere in the patent specification.

[0044] In particular, the procedure is the same as for determining the tilt angle, in that the distance covered by the wiper blade in at least one wiping cycle is divided into several non-overlapping partial distances, a respective torque curve is determined for each of the preliminary tilt angles for each of the partial distances for different preliminary tilt angles, and for each of the partial distances, that of the preliminary tilt angles is selected as the tilt angle at which the torque averaged over the respective partial distance and / or the maximum value of the respective torque curve has the lowest value.This means in particular that the procedure is analogous to the procedure already disclosed elsewhere in this patent application for the case where, during a wiping movement following the cleaning wiping movement, the torque continues to exceed the predeterminable threshold value, with the difference that the distance of the wiping cycle can be divided into several partial sections and, for different preliminary tilt angles, which preferably lie within the tilt angle range, a torque curve can be determined for each partial section and, for each partial section, that preliminary tilt angle can be selected at which the respective torque curve determined over the partial section is on average the lowest and / or has the lowest maximum. A tilt angle profile can be created, as already described elsewhere in the patent application.

[0045] This has the advantage that in cases where the wiping movement is not difficult due to interfering objects on the window, particularly in the wiping area, the tilt angle can be adjusted, in particular by creating and using the tilt angle profile. This means in particular that it is first determined whether the wiping movement is difficult due to interfering objects on the window, particularly in the wiping area. If the interfering objects on the window and / or in the wiping area are responsible for the wiping movement being difficult, the interfering objects can be removed from the wiping area by the cleaning wiping movement. If the wiping movement is still difficult afterwards, i.e.If the torque determined during the wiping movement continues to exceed the preset threshold, the tilt angle can be determined, so that the most optimal tilt angle is selected for subsequent wiping movements, so that the lowest possible torque is applied for the wiping movement. This advantageously prevents unnecessary wear and / or achieves the best possible wiping result.

[0046] A further development comprises that when it is detected that no torque was detected and / or no torque is detected over a predeterminable period of time, the wiper blade is tilted so that a wiper lip encompassed by the wiper blade and / or the wiper blade no longer has contact with the windshield after tilting. If no torque is detected over the predeterminable period of time, the wiper blade can be regarded as stationary and / or not performing any wiping movement. This means in particular that the wiper blade is located at one of the reversal points. In particular if no torque is detected over a predeterminable period of time, the wiper blade is located at one of the reversal points over the predeterminable period of time and is not guided over the windshield, in particular the wiping area of ​​the windshield, for example in the form of a wiping movement. This means in particular that the wiper blade does not perform any wiping movement during the predeterminable period of time.In order to protect the wiper blade, in particular the wiper lip, it can be provided that the wiper blade has a rest tilt angle to the windscreen and / or the wiper arm, which is characterized in that the wiper blade and / or the wiper lip does not contact the windscreen.

[0047] The advantage of this refinement is that deformation of the wiper blade is prevented and / or reduced. This is achieved in particular by reducing the pressure on the wiper blade and / or the wiper lip, which occurs when the wiper blade is at its resting tilt angle and / or is not in contact with the windshield.

[0048] For use cases or application situations that may arise during the method and which are not explicitly described here, it may be provided that, in accordance with the method, an error message and / or a request to enter user feedback is issued and / or a default setting and / or a predetermined initial state is set.

[0049] As a further solution, the invention comprises a windshield wiper device for a windshield, comprising a drive unit configured to move at least one wiper arm and, via the at least one wiper arm, at least one wiper blade, wherein the wiper blade is mounted relative to the wiper arm so as to be tiltable about a longitudinal axis of the wiper blade, and wherein the windshield wiper device comprises at least one torque detection device for a torque transmitted from the drive unit to the wiper blade. The windshield wiper device, in particular as a system comprising the windshield wiper device and the windshield, is configured to carry out the method according to the invention and / or a further development of the method according to the invention.

[0050] A further development of the windshield wiper device according to the invention comprises the torque detection device being a device for measuring the power consumption of the drive unit and / or a torque sensor, in particular a strain gauge-based torque sensor, located at the connection between the wiper arm and a wiper linkage that connects the drive unit to at least one wiper arm. This provides the advantage of enabling effective and / or accurate determination of the torque.

[0051] A further solution of the invention comprises a means of transport, in particular a motor vehicle, comprising a windscreen and a windscreen wiper device according to the invention.

[0052] The invention also includes the control device for the windshield wiper device. The control device can have a data processing device or a processor device (processor circuit) that is configured to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. For this purpose, the processor device can have at least one microprocessor and / or at least one microcontroller and / or at least one FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and / or at least one DSP (Digital Signal Processor). In particular, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a GPU (Graphical Processing Unit), or an NPU (Neural Processing Unit) can be used as the microprocessor. Furthermore, the processor device can have program code that is configured to carry out the embodiment of the method according to the invention when executed by the processor device.The program code can be stored in a data memory of the processor device. The processor device can be based, for example, on at least one circuit board and / or on at least one SoC (System on Chip).

[0053] The invention also includes further developments of the windshield wiper device according to the invention that have features already described in connection with the further developments of the method according to the invention. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the windshield wiper device according to the invention are not described again here.

[0054] The means of transport according to the invention is in particular a vehicle, preferably a motor vehicle, which is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular as a passenger car or lorry, or as a passenger bus or motorcycle.

[0055] As a further solution, the invention also encompasses a computer-readable storage medium comprising program code which, when executed by a computer or computer network, causes the computer to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention. The storage medium can be provided at least partially as a non-volatile data memory (e.g. as a flash memory and / or as an SSD - solid state drive) and / or at least partially as a volatile data memory (e.g. as a RAM - random access memory). The storage medium can be arranged in the computer or computer network. However, the storage medium can also be operated on the Internet, for example, as a so-called app store server and / or cloud server. The computer or computer network can provide a processor circuit with, for example, at least one microprocessor.The program code can be provided as binary code and / or as assembly code and / or as source code of a programming language (e.g., C) and / or as a program script (e.g., Python). Alternatively, the computer-readable storage medium can be implemented as a signal containing computer-readable data, e.g., a time-variant voltage signal and / or a radio signal.

[0056] The invention also encompasses combinations of the features of the described embodiments. The invention therefore also encompasses implementations that each comprise a combination of the features of several of the described embodiments, unless the embodiments are described as mutually exclusive.

[0057] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below. Shown are: Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b is a schematic representation of an example of a windscreen wiper device known from the prior art; Fig. 2 a schematic representation of an embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention; Fig. 3 a schematic representation of different tilt angles Representation of an embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention.

[0058] The exemplary embodiments explained below are preferred embodiments of the invention. In the exemplary embodiments, the described components of the embodiments each represent individual features of the invention that can be considered independently of one another, each of which also develops the invention independently of one another. Therefore, the disclosure is intended to encompass combinations of the features of the embodiments other than those shown. Furthermore, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by further features of the invention already described.

[0059] In the figures, the same reference symbols designate elements with the same function.

[0060] Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b each show an example of a windscreen wiper device as already described at the beginning of the patent application, whereby the device shown in the Fig. 1a and Fig. The windscreen wiper device shown in Figure 1b represents the known state of the art.

[0061] Fig. 2 shows the windscreen wiper device 10, in particular starting from a windscreen wiper device as already described with respect to Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b. The windshield wiper device 10 comprises at least one wiper blade 16, at least one wiper arm 18, and a drive unit 20. In addition, the windshield wiper device 10 comprises at least one tilting device 26, which is arranged between the wiper arm 18 and the wiper blade 16. In particular, the tilting device 26 is the connection between the wiper arm 18 and the wiper blade 16, wherein, for example, the drive unit 20 can drive and / or move the wiper blade 16 via the wiper arm via the connection. The tilting device 26 can be located at the first end 22 of the respective wiper arm 18. In particular, the tilting device 26 can be fastened to the wiper arm 18, so that in particular a disassembly and / or removal of the wiper blade 16 from the wiper arm 18 is possible and the tilting device 26 remains on the wiper arm 18.

[0062] In addition, the windshield wiper device comprises at least one torque detection device 28, by means of which it can be determined how large the torque is that must be and / or is applied for executing a wiping movement 30 of the wiper blade 16 across the windshield 14, in particular the wiping area 12 of the windshield 14, for example by the drive unit 20. The torque detection device 28 can be, for example, a device for measuring a power consumption of the drive unit 20. By measuring the power consumption of the drive unit 20, it can be determined how much power the drive unit 20 consumes and, in particular, which torque is applied and / or provided and / or transmitted. Additionally or alternatively, the torque detection device 28 can be a torque sensor, in particular a torque sensor based on a strain gauge.This means that a strain gauge is used to determine the value of the torque transmitted, in particular, from the drive unit 20 to the wiper blade 16, for example.

[0063] Depending on a determined torque, a tilt angle 32 can be set.

[0064] To adjust the tilt angle 32, the tilt angle 32 can be determined. To determine the tilt angle 32, it can be provided that several different preliminary tilt angles are selected. The various preliminary tilt angles preferably lie within a tilt angle range, which is preferably determined by the wiper blade 16 and / or the wiper lip being able to touch the windshield 14 at least at each tilt angle 32 within the tilt angle range and / or being configured to touch the windshield 14.

[0065] For each of the preliminary tilt angles, a respective wiping movement 30 can be performed. In particular, at least one wiping cycle can be executed for each preliminary tilt angle. Preferably, different preliminary tilt angles are selected for successive wiping cycles. For each wiping movement 30 and / or for each wiping cycle, a torque curve can be determined, i.e., a curve of the torque transmitted, in particular, via the wiping cycle and / or the wiping movement 30. This means, in particular, that the value assumed by the torque, determined, for example, via the torque detection device 28, for different positions of the wiper blade 16 during the wiping movement 30 is determined.

[0066] It can be provided that the torque curve is determined over at least one complete wiping cycle, with the same preliminary tilt angle being maintained throughout the entire wiping cycle. Different wiping cycles, for each of which a torque curve can be determined separately, can have different preliminary tilt angles. Additionally or alternatively, it can be provided that the complete wiping cycle, within which the same preliminary tilt angle is maintained (different wiping cycles can have different preliminary tilt angles), is divided into several sections, and the torque curve is determined for each section.

[0067] From the torque curve, in particular from the torque curve of the respective wiping cycle and / or the respective partial route, a maximum value can be determined which the torque curve assumes, and / or a torque averaged over the respective wiping cycle and / or the respective partial route (averaged value) can be determined. The maximum value and / or averaged value can be compared with a maximum value and / or an averaged value which was determined at a different preliminary tilt angle, in particular for the same partial route. For the wiping cycle and / or for the respective partial route, the preliminary tilt angle at which the maximum value and / or the averaged value is the lowest can be selected as the tilt angle 32.The selected tilt angle 32 is set for at least one wiping movement 30, in particular for those wiping movements 30 that are performed until the determination of the tilt angle 32 is carried out again. When dividing the wiping cycle into several sections, for example, a tilt angle profile for a wiping cycle can be created in this way, which in particular indicates which tilt angle 32 of the preliminary tilt angle is set for which section.

[0068] Additionally or alternatively, a cleaning wiping movement can be carried out. For this purpose, it can be provided that a wiping cycle carries out a wiping movement 30 of the wiper blade across the windshield from a lower turning point 34 to an upper turning point 36 and back again. If it is determined within the wiping cycle, in particular during the wiping movement 30 from the lower turning point 34 to the upper turning point 36, that a detected torque exceeds a predefinable threshold value, it can be provided that the wiper blade 16 is guided to the upper turning point 36 without contact with the windshield 14. In particular, the wiper blade 16 is guided to the upper turning point 36 for the remaining distance to the upper turning point 36. This means that the wiper blade 16 can continue the remaining distance to the upper turning point 36, but only makes contact with the windshield 14 again at the upper turning point 36.

[0069] For the path from the upper reversal point 36 to the lower reversal point 34, the cleaning wiping movement can be provided, during which the wiper blade 16 can contact the windshield 14. In particular, the tilt angle 32 can be set such that an obtuse angle exists between a part of the windshield 14, in particular a part of the wiping area 12 that the wiper blade 16 has not yet swept over on the path from the upper reversal point 36 to the lower reversal point 34, and the wiper blade 16 and / or the wiper lip.

[0070] For wiping movements 30 and / or wiping cycles after the cleaning wiping movement, a tilt angle 32 can be provided that differs from the tilt angle 32 that exists during the cleaning wiping movement. In particular, it can be provided that in the event that the torque still exceeds the predeterminable threshold value even after the cleaning wiping movement, a determination of the tilt angle 32 takes place, as already described elsewhere in the context of Fig. 2 was described.

[0071] Additionally or alternatively, it can be provided that it is determined whether the windshield wiper device 10 and / or the wiper blade 16 is in a rest position. For this purpose, it can be provided that it is determined whether a torque is detected and / or whether, for example, a torque is transmitted from the drive unit 20 to the wiper blade 16. If no torque is detected and / or it is detected that no torque is transmitted from the drive unit 20 to the wiper blade 16, in particular within a predeterminable period of time, it can be assumed that the wiper blade 16 is in the rest position. In particular, it is detected that the wiper blade 16 is in a rest position if it is additionally or alternatively determined that the wiper blade 16 is at the lower reversal point 34, in particular continuously for a predeterminable period of time.

[0072] If it is determined that the wiper blade 16 is in the rest position, it can be provided that the wiper blade 16 is tilted such that the wiper blade 16 and / or the wiper lip no longer has contact with the windshield 14. In particular, the wiper blade 16 and / or the wiper lip can be parallel to the windshield 14.

[0073] Fig.3 shows, by way of example, how the wiper lip and / or the wiper blade 16 contacts the windshield 14 at various tilt angles 32 relative to the wiper arm 18. Shown, in particular, is a cross-section through the windshield 14 with the wiper blade 16 resting on and / or contacting the windshield 14. In particular, at a tilt angle 32 within an interval between 85° and 95° and / or 80° and 100°, it can be provided that the wiper blade 16 and / or the wiper lip do not contact the windshield. The tilt angle 32 is preferably the angle between the vertical of the wiper arm 38 and the vertical of the wiper blade 40.

[0074] A particularly preferred embodiment will be described below.

[0075] For example, due to the onset of rain or snowfall, a windshield wiper device (a wiper system) can be operated and / or activated by a user.

[0076] Previously, the applied angular position and / or the applied tilt angle of the at least one wiper blade is the same over the wiping path and / or wiping process and / or the wiping movement and / or the wiping cycle.

[0077] For the windscreen wiper device, it can be provided that the windscreen wiper device (the wiper system) is subjected to different angular positions and / or different tilt angles during the wiping movement depending on the friction coefficient occurring between the wiper blade and Window during the wiping cycle and / or during the wiping movement (e.g. due to wetness and / or environmental influences and / or wear).

[0078] It can be implemented through various mechanisms and / or control systems.

[0079] Advantages include, in particular, an increase in safety and / or comfort, and / or a better wiper pattern and / or wiping behavior, which depends in particular on current wiping parameters, and / or preventing a smeared windshield and / or less wear, for example of the wiper blade and / or the windshield wiper device and / or lower repair costs.

[0080] A further preferred embodiment is given below.

[0081] The wiper lip and / or the wiper blade can be pivoted and / or tilted, in particular opposite and / or on the wiper arm. The tilt angle can be adjusted, for example, mechanically and / or electrically and / or pneumatically and / or hydraulically. The control for adjusting the tilt angle can be carried out, for example, via software, in particular via software executed by a control unit in a motor vehicle. At least one input variable can be provided to the software, for example the torque and / or the wiping position (current position of the wiper blade on the windshield). The tilt angle can be adjusted depending on the at least one input variable.

[0082] To determine the torque and / or stiffness, in particular of the windscreen wiper device, a torque detection device and / or electronics can be provided, for example, on an outgoing axis of the motor and / or in the motor.

[0083] Wear can be compensated by adjusting the tilt angle.

[0084] In particular, the tilt angle can be adjusted so that the wiper blade has the most optimal position relative to the windshield across the entire wiping area of ​​the windshield, in particular across the entire windshield and / or the entire wiping field. In particular, the most optimal position includes contact and / or rubbing of the wiper lip with the windshield, in particular, linear contact of the wiper lip with the windshield, and / or a wiper lip and / or wiper blade positioned perpendicular to the windshield.

[0085] Additionally or alternatively, the wiper blade and / or wiper lip can be stored and / or placed in a position in which the wiper blade and / or wiper lip does not contact the windshield, in particular, is aligned parallel to the windshield when the wiper blade is in a rest position, in particular at the lower reversal point. This allows for less and / or no pressure to be applied to the wiper blade and / or wiper lip when the windshield wiper device is not in use, thereby reducing deformation.

[0086] Additionally, a clearing movement can be provided, which can be used to clean the windshield of dirt, such as leaves. For the clearing movement, the wiper blade can be guided to the upper reversal point, particularly without contact with the windshield, and then, while maintaining contact with the windshield, moved to the lower reversal point, particularly to guide dirt downwards, for example, to the lower reversal point.

[0087] Additionally or alternatively, the tilt angle of the wiper blade can be adjusted depending, for example, on a coefficient of friction, in particular a coefficient of friction between the wiper blade and the windscreen, and / or a resistance force, for example the wind, and / or play and / or wear.

[0088] Overall, the examples show how a wiper system and / or a windshield wiper device can be provided with an angular position control and / or an adjustable inclination of the wiper blade during driving operation.

Claims

[1] Method for wiping a windscreen (14) by means of a windscreen wiper device (10), wherein the windscreen wiper device (10) comprises at least one wiper blade (16), at least one wiper arm (18) and a drive unit (20) for driving the at least one wiper blade (16), wherein the driving of the at least one wiper blade (16) takes place via the at least one wiper arm (18), characterized by in that the wiper blade (16) is mounted so as to be tiltable about a longitudinal axis of the wiper blade (16) with respect to the wiper arm (18) and a tilt angle (32) of the wiper blade (16) with respect to the wiper arm (18) is adjusted as a function of a torque which is transmitted from the drive unit (20) to the wiper blade (16) during a wiping movement (30) and / or a wiping cycle of the wiper blade (16) across the windscreen (14). [2] Method according to claim 1, wherein the tilt angle (32) is determined by determining a torque curve for each of the preliminary tilt angles in several, in particular successive, wiping cycles for different preliminary tilt angles and then selecting that preliminary tilt angle as the tilt angle (32) at which the maximum and / or averaged torque is the lowest. [3] Method according to claim 1, wherein the tilt angle (32) is determined by dividing the distance covered by the wiper blade (16) in at least one wiping cycle into a plurality of non-overlapping partial distances, a respective torque curve is determined for each of the preliminary tilt angles for each of the partial distances for different preliminary tilt angles, and for each of the partial distances, that of the preliminary tilt angles is selected as the tilt angle (32) at which the torque averaged over the respective partial distance and / or the maximum value of the respective torque curve has the lowest value. [4] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the wiping movement (30) of a wiping cycle of the wiper blade (16) across the window (14) runs from a lower reversal point (34) to an upper reversal point (36) and vice versa, and if a torque is detected during the wiping movement (30) which exceeds a predeterminable threshold value, the wiper blade (16) is moved to the upper reversal point (36) without contact with the window (14), only at the upper reversal point (36) is the wiper blade (16) placed back onto the window (14) and then carries out a cleaning wiping movement (30) across the window (14) from the upper reversal point (36) to the lower reversal point (34), during which the wiper blade (16) contacts the window (14) and / or is not perpendicular to the window (14). [5] Method according to claim 4, wherein in the event that during a wiping movement (30) after the cleaning wiping movement the torque continues to exceed the predeterminable threshold value, a torque curve is determined for different preliminary tilt angles over at least one wiping cycle and that preliminary tilt angle is set as the tilt angle (32) for future wiping cycles at which the torque averaged over the torque curve and / or the maximum value of the torque curve is the lowest. [6] Method according to claim 4, wherein, in the event that the torque continues to exceed the predeterminable threshold value during a wiping movement (30) after the cleaning wiping movement, a torque curve is determined for each of different preliminary tilt angles (32) over at least one wiping cycle, the distance covered by the wiper blade (16) in the at least one wiping cycle is divided into a plurality of non-overlapping partial distances, and for each partial distance, that of the preliminary tilt angles is selected as the tilt angle (32) at which the torque averaged over the respective partial distance and / or the maximum value of the respective torque curve has the lowest value. [7] Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein upon detection that no torque has been detected and / or no torque is detected over a predeterminable period of time, the wiper blade (16) is tilted so that a wiper lip encompassed by the wiper blade (16) and / or the wiper blade (16) no longer has contact with the window (14) after tilting. [8] Windscreen wiper device (10) for a windscreen (14) comprising at least one drive unit (20) which is designed to move at least one wiper arm (18) and at least one wiper blade (16) via the at least one wiper arm (18), wherein the wiper blade (16) is mounted tiltably about a longitudinal axis of the wiper blade (16) relative to the wiper arm (18), and wherein the windscreen wiper device (10) comprises at least one torque detection device (28) for a torque transmitted from the drive unit (20) to the wiper blade (16), wherein the windscreen wiper device (10) is designed to carry out a method according to one of the preceding claims. [9] Windscreen wiper device (10) for a windscreen (14) according to claim 8, wherein the torque detection device (28) is a device for measuring the power consumption of the drive unit (20) and / or a torque sensor, in particular a torque sensor based on a strain gauge, which is located at the connection between the wiper arm (18) and a wiper linkage which connects the drive unit (20) to at least one wiper arm (18). [10] Means of transport, in particular motor vehicle, comprising a windscreen (14) and a windscreen wiper device (10) according to one of claims 8 to 9.

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