Wiping device

Abstract

A wiping device (A) wipes rainwater from a wiped surface (W) by moving a wiper blade (1d, 1p) back and forth using a predetermined energy source (4). The wiping device (A) includes: a drive circuit (7) that drives the energy source (4), and a control unit (6) that controls the drive circuit (7). The control unit (6) switches a wiping area (Rp, Rd) in an upper reverse position (PUd, PUp) of the wiper blade (1d, 1p).

Description

Technical area

[0001] The disclosure relates to a wiping device. State of the art

[0002] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2005-082104 discloses a wiper control device for a vehicle that selectively and intensively wipes a soiled portion or the like. This wiper control device for a vehicle includes: a DC motor device for reciprocally sliding a wiper blade member along a surface of a car windshield member; motor rotation control means that controls the rotation of the DC motor device; a power supply line arranged in a bridge circuit for supplying power to the DC motor device; current detection means that detects a current flowing through the power supply line during the sliding of the wiper blade member; and current displacement detection means that detects that a displacement amount per unit time of a value detected by the current detection means exceeds a predetermined threshold.The motor rotation control means switches a rotation direction of the DC motor device so that the wiper blade member repeatedly slides on a detecting portion of the current displacement detecting means.

[0003] According to the wiper control device for a vehicle, since the rotation direction of the DC motor is switched between forward and reverse so that the wiper blade member repeatedly slides on the detecting portion of the current displacement detecting means, it is possible to selectively and intensively wipe only a portion where dirt or the like adheres to the car windshield. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problems to be solved by the invention

[0004] In the prior art, a wiping area of ​​the wiper blade differs from a normal wiping area when the wiper blade element (wiper blade) repeatedly slides on the detection section of the current displacement detection means. That is, the wiping area is smaller than the normal wiping area when wiping is performed selectively and intensively on a dirty area or the like. Thus, deviations in the behavior of the wiper blade may occur when switching the wiping area.

[0005] The disclosure has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the disclosure is to provide a wiper device in which abnormal behavior of a wiper blade during switching of a wiping area can be suppressed. Means to solve the problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, in the disclosure, as a first solution related to a wiper device, a wiper device that wipes rainwater on a wiped surface by reciprocating a wiper blade using a predetermined power source includes: a drive circuit that drives the power source; and a control part that controls the drive circuit. The control part switches a wiping area at a time when a target speed becomes zero both before and after the switching.

[0007] In the disclosure, as a second solution concerning the wiper device, in the first solution, the wiping area includes: a normal wiping area in a normal mode and a narrow wiping area in a heavy rain mode, which is smaller than the normal wiping area.

[0008] In the disclosure, as a third solution concerning the wiper device, in the second solution, the control part performs the switching from the normal mode to the heavy rain mode at an upper reversal position of the wiper blade.

[0009] In the disclosure, as a fourth solution concerning the wiper device, in any of the first to third solutions, the power source reciprocates a pair of wiper blades simultaneously.

[0010] In the disclosure, as a fifth solution related to the wiper device, in any of the first to third solutions, the power source is provided in pairs. The power source provided in pairs reciprocates the corresponding wiper blade. Effects of the invention

[0011] According to the disclosure, it is possible to provide a wiper device in which abnormal behavior of a wiper blade member can be suppressed during switching of a wiping area. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a wiper device according to a first embodiment of the disclosure. Fig. 2 is a first flowchart showing an operation of the wiper device according to the first embodiment of the disclosure. Fig. 3 is a waveform diagram showing an operation of the wiper device according to the first embodiment of the disclosure. Fig. 4 is a reference diagram for an operation of the wiper device according to the first embodiment of the disclosure. Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of a wiper device according to a second embodiment of the disclosure. DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS [First Embodiment]

[0012] First, a first embodiment of the disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 1 to Fig. 4. A wiper device A according to the first embodiment is a device installed in various moving vehicles, such as a gasoline-powered car, a hybrid car, or an electric car, and wipes rainwater adhering to a surface (wiped surface W) of a member to be wiped, such as a windshield or a rear window.

[0013] As in Fig. 1, the wiper device A according to the first embodiment includes a pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p, a pair of wiper arms 2d and 2p, a linking mechanism 3, a motor 4 (power source), an angle detection circuit 5, a control part 6, and a drive circuit 7. As shown, the control part 6 includes a read-only memory (ROM) 61, a random access memory (RAM) 62, and a central processing unit (CPU) 63.

[0014] The wiper device A uses a single-motor drive system in which the two wiper arms 2d and 2p are mechanically connected to each other by the linkage mechanism 3, whereby the two wiper blades 1d and 1p are driven by the motor 4 (power source), which is present only once. That is, a single power source is provided in the wiper device A, and the two wiper blades 1d and 1p are reciprocated simultaneously by the single power source. The wiper device A uses a parallel wiper type in which the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p move in the same direction, as shown in Fig. 1 shown.

[0015] With regard to the reference numerals in Fig. 1, "d" means an element or section relating to the driver's seat side of a vehicle. "p" means an element or section relating to the passenger side of the vehicle. Fig. 1, the symbol Rd indicates a wiping range (normal wiping range of the driver's seat) of the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side when an operation mode of the wiper device A is set to a normal mode. The symbol Rp indicates a wiping range (front passenger seat normal wiping range) of the wiper blade 1p on the front passenger seat side when the operation mode is set to the normal mode.

[0016] The normal wiping range Rd of the driver's seat is a range extending from a lower reversing position PLd to an upper reversing position PUd as a movement path of the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side. The lower reversing position PLd is a position where the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side switches from a lowering movement to an upward movement on the wiped surface W. The upper reversing position PUd is a position where the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side switches from an upward movement to a lowering movement on the wiped surface W.

[0017] The normal wiping range Rp of the front passenger seat is a range extending from a lower reversing position PLp to an upper reversing position PUp as the movement path of the wiper blade 1p on the front passenger side. The lower reversing position PLp is a position where the wiper blade 1p on the front passenger side transitions from the lowering movement to the upward movement on the wiped surface W. The upper reversing position PUp is a position where the wiper blade 1p on the front passenger side transitions from the upward movement to the lowering movement on the wiped surface W.

[0018] Although details will be described later, the wiper device A includes a heavy rain mode as an operation mode, which is different from the normal mode. The heavy rain mode is an operation mode in which wiping is performed in a wiping area smaller than the normal wiping area Rd of the driver's seat and the normal wiping area Rp of the passenger seat in the normal mode. That is, the heavy rain mode is a mode in which wiping is performed in an area smaller than the normal wiping area Rd of the driver's seat and the normal wiping area Rp of the passenger seat in the normal mode, and is an operation mode in which a reciprocating speed is faster than in the normal mode.

[0019] For example, in the wiping area in heavy rain mode, while the upper reversing positions correspond to the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp in the normal wiping area Rd of the driver's seat and the normal wiping area Rp of the front passenger seat, the lower reversing positions are set to positions (lower reversing positions QLd and QLp) higher than the lower reversing positions PLd and PLp in the normal wiping area Rd of the driver's seat and the normal wiping area Rp of the front passenger seat. Such a wiping area in heavy rain mode, for example, is a legally defined front field of vision "Zone A."

[0020] Here, “Zone A” refers to an area corresponding to “Area A” in the wiping area regulations of the laws of Japan and the European Economic Community (EEC) or “Area C” in the wiping area regulations of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS).

[0021] As shown, the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p are rod-shaped elements arranged on the wiped surface W. The wiper blade pair 1d and 1p is in contact with the wiped surface W and performs a reciprocating motion (oscillating motion) on the wiped surface W, thereby wiping away rainwater on the wiped surface W. The wiper blade pair 1d and 1p is mechanically connected to the motor 4 via the wiper arm pair 2d and 2p.

[0022] That is, the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side is connected to the motor 4 via the wiper arm 2d provided on the driver's seat side. The wiper blade 1p on the passenger's side is connected to the motor 4 via the wiper arm 2p and the connecting mechanism 3 provided on the passenger's side.

[0023] As shown, the two wiper arms 2d and 2p are rod-shaped members, one end of which is connected to an intermediate position in the wiper blades 1d and 1p, and the other end of which is connected to a pair of wiper shafts Td and Tp. That is, the wiper arm 2d on the driver's seat side is connected at one end to the intermediate position in the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side, and the other end is connected to the wiper shaft Td on the driver's seat side.

[0024] On the other hand, the wiper arm 2p on the passenger side is connected at one end to the intermediate position in the wiper blade 1p on the passenger side and at the other end to the wiper shaft Tp on the passenger side. Such a pair of wiper arms 2d and 2p are elements included in the components of the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p.

[0025] Such a pair of wiper arms 2d and 2p functions as power transmission components that mechanically transmit a rotational force of the motor 4 to the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p. The two wiper arms 2d and 2p function as drive elements that press the two wiper blades 1d and 1p against the wiped surface W with a predetermined contact force.

[0026] The linkage mechanism 3 is a mechanical component that is mechanically connected to the other ends of the two wiper arms 2d and 2p and to an output shaft of the motor 4. The linkage mechanism 3 includes a support shaft attached to the vehicle and is rotatable about the support shaft. The output shaft of the motor 4 is connected to the linkage mechanism 3. By adjusting a rotation angle of the linkage mechanism 3, the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p are pivoted on the wiped surface W. The motor 4 is a predetermined power source in the first embodiment.

[0027] The angle detection circuit 5 outputs an angle signal proportional to the rotation angle of the motor 4 to the CPU 63. This angle signal is a signal indicating an operating angle of the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p mechanically connected by the linkage mechanism 3. Specifically, such an angle signal includes a relative position signal indicating the relative positions of the two wiper blades 1d and 1p and an absolute position signal indicating the absolute positions of the two wiper blades 1d and 1p.

[0028] The relative position signal is a pulse signal (motor pulse) generated during the rotation of the motor 4 and is a pulse signal (pulse train) with a number of pulses proportional to the rotation angle of the motor 4. In contrast, the absolute position signal is a single pulse signal emitted when the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p reaches a control reference position. The control reference position is, for example, the lower reversing position PLd and PLp.

[0029] The control part 6 includes the normal mode and the heavy rain mode as control modes. By performing control processing according to the operating mode, the control part 6 generates a drive command corresponding to the operating mode. By outputting the control or drive command to the drive circuit 7, the control part 6 controls the movement of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p.

[0030] The normal mode is a control mode for the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p related to normal rainfall. When an instruction indicating the normal mode is given by a switch signal input from a host control device, the control part 6 generates the drive command in accordance with the normal mode and outputs it to the drive circuit 7. The switch signal is a host control command that instructs the wiper device A to turn a wiper switch provided in the vehicle on and off, set the heavy rain mode, turn a fog switch on and off, perform intermittent operation (Lo, Hi, INT), or the like.

[0031] On the other hand, the heavy rain mode is a control mode for the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p in response to sudden heavy rain. When an instruction indicating the heavy rain mode is given by the switching signal, the control part 6 generates the drive command according to the heavy rain mode and outputs it to the drive circuit 7.

[0032] When controlling the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p, the control part 6 refers to the switching signal input from the host control device and the angle signal input from the angle detection circuit 5. That is, the control part 6 performs feedback control for the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p based on the switching signal and the angle signal.

[0033] In such a control section 6, the ROM 61 is a non-volatile memory. The ROM 61 stores a control program executed by the CPU 63 to perform feedback control for the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p. The ROM 61 stores an operation map or table or directory for the normal mode and an operation map or table or directory for the heavy rain mode, which are required for the CPU 63 to execute the control program.

[0034] The normal mode operation map is a control map used when the CPU 63 executes control processing (normal control processing) related to the normal mode in the control program. That is, the normal mode operation map is a group of control data that specifies the target speeds of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p in the normal mode in a time series.

[0035] On the other hand, the heavy rain mode operation map is a control map used when the CPU 63 executes control processing (heavy rain control processing) related to the heavy rain mode in the control program. That is, the heavy rain mode operation map is a control data group that specifies the target speeds of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p in the heavy rain mode in a time series.

[0036] The RAM 62 is a volatile memory. The RAM 62 temporarily stores various data generated when the CPU 63 executes the control program. For example, the RAM 62 temporarily stores a flag (control flag F) indicating whether the executed control mode is normal mode or heavy rain mode, and a counter value (wiping count N) indicating the number of wipes in the executed control mode.

[0037] The CPU 63 generates a drive command by executing the control program prestored in the ROM 61 and outputs this drive command to the drive circuit 7. When executing the control program, the CPU 63 refers to the switching signal input from the host controller, the angle signal input from the angle detection circuit 5, and the normal mode operation map and the heavy rain mode operation map prestored in the ROM 61.

[0038] That is, the CPU 63 generates the drive command based on the control program, referring to the switching signal, the angle signal, the normal mode operation map, and the heavy rain mode operation map. This drive command is a control command that instructs the drive circuit 7 to drive the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p according to the control mode (normal mode or heavy rain mode). The drive command is also a control command for making the moving speed of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p, obtained from the angle signal, equal to the target speed specified by the normal mode operation map or the heavy rain mode operation map.

[0039] The drive circuit 7 generates a drive signal based on the drive command input from the CPU 63 (control section 6) and outputs the drive signal to the motor 4. The drive circuit 7 is, for example, an inverter circuit including a plurality of switching transistors. In this case, the drive command is a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal whose duty cycle is variably adjusted according to a deviation between the target speed and the moving speed of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p.

[0040] Next, a characteristic operation of the wiper device A according to the first embodiment will be described in accordance with the Fig. 2. This flowchart shows a procedure for control processing in the CPU 63 (control section 6).

[0041] First, the CPU 63 recognizes an operation mode indicated by an instruction from the host controller by referring to a switching signal input from a host controller (step S1). Then, the CPU 63 executes each processing in the following steps S2 to S10 based on the recognition in step S1.

[0042] That is, the CPU 63 determines whether the heavy rain mode has been indicated by the instruction from the host controller (step S2). If the determination in step S2 is "NO," that is, if the normal mode is indicated by the instruction from the host controller, the CPU 63 refers to the wipe count N, thereby determining whether the wiping in the normal mode is the first wipe (first wipe) (step S3).

[0043] If the determination in step S3 is "NO," that is, if the normal-mode wiping is not the first wipe, the CPU 63 terminates the processing. On the other hand, if the determination in step S3 is "YES," that is, if the normal-mode wiping is the first wipe, the CPU 63 refers to an angle signal and determines whether the operating angles of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p have reached the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp (step S4).

[0044] If the determination in step S4 is "NO," that is, if the operating angles of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p have not reached the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp, the CPU 63 terminates the processing. On the other hand, if the determination in step S4 is "YES," that is, if the operating angles of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p have reached the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp, the CPU 63 switches a control map used to generate a drive command to the normal mode operation map (step S5).

[0045] For example, in a state where the wiper device A is operating in the heavy rain mode, the control map is switched from the heavy rain mode operation map to the normal mode operation map in step S5. By switching the control map from the heavy rain mode operation map to the normal mode operation map, the CPU 63 sets the control mode to the normal mode (step S6).

[0046] That is, when the processing in step S6 is completed, the CPU 63 executes processing for generating the drive command based on the normal mode operation map. Accordingly, the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p normally wipes away rainwater by reciprocating within the normal wiping range Rd of the driver's seat and the normal wiping range Rp of the passenger's seat, which extends from the lower reversing positions PLd and PLp to the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp.

[0047] If the determination in step S2 is “YES”, that is, if the heavy rain mode is indicated by the instruction from the host controller, the CPU 63 refers to the wiping count value N, thereby determining whether the wiping in the heavy rain mode is the first wiping (first wiping) (step S7).

[0048] If the determination in step S7 is "NO," that is, if the wiping in the heavy rain mode is not the first wiping, the CPU 63 terminates the processing. On the other hand, if the determination in step S7 is "YES," that is, if the wiping in the heavy rain mode is the first wiping, the CPU 63 refers to an angle signal and determines whether the operating angles of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p have reached the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp (step S8).

[0049] If the determination in step S8 is "NO," that is, if the operating angles of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p have not reached the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp, the CPU 63 terminates the processing. On the other hand, if the determination in step S8 is "YES," that is, if the operating angles of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p have reached the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp, the CPU 63 switches the control map used to generate a drive command to the heavy rain mode operation map (step S9).

[0050] For example, in a state where the wiper device A is operating in the normal mode, the control map is switched from the normal mode operation map to the heavy rain mode operation map in step S9. By switching the control map from the normal mode operation map to the heavy rain mode operation map, the CPU 63 sets the control mode to the heavy rain mode (step S10).

[0051] That is, when the processing in step S10 is completed, the CPU 63 executes processing for generating the drive command based on the operation map for the heavy rain mode. Accordingly, the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p wipes the rainwater relatively quickly by reciprocating in a narrow wiping range at a higher speed than in the normal mode. In the narrow wiping range, while the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp are the same as those in the normal wiping range Rd of the driver's seat and the normal wiping range Rp of the front passenger's seat, the lower reversing positions are set to the lower reversing positions QLd and QLp, which are higher than the lower reversing positions PLd and PLp in the normal wiping range Rd of the driver's seat and the normal wiping range Rp of the front passenger's seat.

[0052] Fig. 3 is a waveform diagram showing an operation of such a wiper device A. In Fig. Figure 3 shows (a) the target speed and operating angle when switching from Hi operation in normal mode to heavy rain mode. Fig. 3, (b) shows the target speed and operating angle when switching from heavy rain mode to Hi operation in normal mode.

[0053] As in (a) and (b) of Fig. 3, in the wiper device A according to the first embodiment, a switching timing from the Hi operation in the normal mode to the heavy rain mode is set to a time when the operating angles of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p reach the upper reversal positions PUd and PUp. In the wiper device A, a switching timing from the heavy rain mode to the Hi operation in the normal mode is set to a time when the operating angles of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p reach the upper reversal positions PUd and PUp.

[0054] Fig. 4 is a reference diagram for the operation of the wiper device A according to the first embodiment. In Fig. Figure 4 shows (a) the target speed and operating angle when switching from Hi operation in normal mode to heavy rain mode. Fig. 4, (b) shows the target speed and operating angle when switching from heavy rain mode to Hi operation in normal mode.

[0055] As in (a) and (b) of Fig. 4, in this reference example, the timing of switching from the Hi operation in the normal mode to the heavy rain mode is not set to the time when the operating angles of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p reach the upper reversal positions PUd and PUp. In this reference example, the timing of switching from the heavy rain mode to the Hi operation in the normal mode is not set to the time when the operating angles of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p reach the upper reversal positions PUd and PUp.

[0056] In the present embodiment, in the wiping area in the heavy rain mode, the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp are the same as the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp in the Hi operation in the normal mode, and the lower reversing positions QLd and QLp are set to positions higher than the lower reversing positions PLd and PLp in the Hi operation in the normal mode. That is, the heavy rain mode and the normal mode are the same in the upper reversing position, but different in the lower reversing position.

[0057] In such a relationship between the heavy rain mode and the normal mode, the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p are a time point at which the target speed of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p becomes zero both before and after switching. That is, in the wiper device A according to the first embodiment, the wiping range is switched at the time point at which the target speed of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p becomes zero both before and after switching.

[0058] Such a wiper device A is a device that wipes rainwater on the wiped surface W by reciprocating the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p with the aid of the motor 4 (power source). The wiper device A includes: the drive circuit 7 that drives the motor 4 (power source), and the control part 6 that controls the drive circuit 7. The control part 6 switches a wiping area at a time when a target speed is zero both before and after the switching.

[0059] According to the first embodiment, since the control map (operation mode), that is, the wiping area, is switched at the time when the target speed becomes zero both before and after the switching, it is possible to provide the wiper device A in which abnormal behavior of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p can be suppressed during switching of the control map (operation mode), that is, during switching of the wiping area.

[0060] According to the first embodiment, the wiping range of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p is set to the normal wiping range in the normal mode and the wiping range in the heavy rain mode, which is smaller than the normal wiping range. In this way, abnormal behavior of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p when switching between the normal mode and the heavy rain mode can be suppressed.

[0061] According to the first embodiment, the control part 6 switches between the normal mode and the heavy rain mode at the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp, where the target speed becomes zero both before and after the switching. This can effectively suppress abnormal behavior of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p during switching between the normal mode and the heavy rain mode.

[0062] According to the first embodiment, the motor 4 (power source) reciprocates the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p simultaneously. Thus, in the wiper device A of a single-motor drive system, abnormal behavior of the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p can be suppressed. [Second embodiment]

[0063] A second embodiment of the disclosure will be described with reference to Fig. 5. Like the wiper device A according to the first embodiment, a wiper device B according to the second embodiment is installed in various vehicles and wipes rainwater adhering to a surface (wiped area W) of a windshield or a rear window. Fig. 5, the same reference numerals are attached to the same components as in the first embodiment.

[0064] As in Fig. 5, the wiper device B includes a drive control device 10. As shown, the drive control device 10 includes a pair of motors 4d and 4p and a pair of wiper drive control parts 10d and 10p. That is, the wiper device B is a wiper device with a dual-motor drive system. The wiper device B uses an opposed wiper type in which the two wiper blades 1d and 1p move toward each other, as shown in Fig. 5 shown.

[0065] The driver's seat side motor 4d includes a motor body 8d and a deceleration mechanism 9d. The passenger side motor 4p includes a motor body 8p and a deceleration mechanism 9p. The two wiper drive control parts 10d and 10p drive and control the two motors 4d and 4p, which are power sources.

[0066] Of the pair of wiper drive control parts 10d and 10p, wiper drive control part 10d is a drive control part corresponding to the motor 4d on the driver's seat side. Wiper drive control part 10d includes an angle detection circuit 11d, a read-only memory (ROM) 12d, a random access memory (RAM) 13d, a communication circuit 14d, a central processing unit (CPU) 15d, and a drive circuit 16d.

[0067] Of the pair of wiper drive control parts 10d and 10p, wiper drive control part 10p is a drive control part corresponding to the motor 4p on the passenger side. Wiper drive control part 10p includes an angle detection circuit 11p, a read-only memory (ROM) 12p, a random access memory (RAM) 13p, a communication circuit 14p, a central processing unit (CPU) 15p, and a drive circuit 16p.

[0068] The motor 4d on the driver's seat side is driven and controlled by the wiper drive control part 10d, causing the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side to reciprocate (swing) with the wiper shaft Td as the fulcrum. The motor 4p on the passenger side is driven and controlled by the wiper drive control part 10p, causing the wiper blade 1p on the passenger side to reciprocate (swing) with the wiper shaft Tp as the fulcrum.

[0069] In the wiper drive control part 10d, the angle detection circuit 11d has a similar function to the angle detection circuit 5 of the first embodiment and outputs an angle signal proportional to a rotation angle of the motor body 8d to the CPU 15d. This angle signal is a signal indicating an operating angle of the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side and includes the relative position signal and the absolute position signal described in the first embodiment.

[0070] The ROM 12d is a non-volatile memory. The ROM 12d stores a control program for the CPU 15d to perform feedback control for the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side. The ROM 12d stores the normal mode and heavy rain mode operation maps required for the CPU 15d to execute the control program. The normal mode and heavy rain mode operation maps specify a target speed of the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side.

[0071] The RAM 13d is a volatile memory. The RAM 13d temporarily stores various data generated when the CPU 15d executes the control program. For example, the RAM 13d temporarily stores the flag (control flag F) indicating whether the control mode being executed is normal mode or heavy rain mode, and the counter value (wipe count value N) indicating the number of wipes in the control mode being executed.

[0072] The communication circuit 14d transmits and receives control information to and from the wiper drive control part 10p. The communication circuit 14d receives, for example, a current position of the wiper blade 1p on the passenger side as the control information from the communication circuit 14p of the wiper drive control part 10p. The communication circuit 14d transmits, for example, a current position of the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side as the control information to the communication circuit 14p of the wiper drive control part 10p.

[0073] The CPU 15d generates a drive command by executing the control program prestored in the ROM 12d and outputs this drive command to the drive circuit 16d. When executing the control program, the CPU 15d refers to the switching signal input from the host controller, the angle signal input from the angle detection circuit 11d, the control information input from the communication circuit 14d, and the normal mode operation map and the heavy rain mode operation map prestored in the ROM 12d.

[0074] That is, the CPU 15d generates the drive command based on the control program, referring to the switching signal, the angle signal, the control information, the normal mode operation map, and the heavy rain mode operation map. This drive command instructs the drive circuit 16d to drive the driver's seat side wiper blade 1d according to the control mode (normal mode or heavy rain mode), and is a control command that takes into account a drive control state of the wiper drive control part 10p for the passenger seat side wiper blade 1p.

[0075] That is, this drive command causes the moving speed of the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side obtained from the angle signal to become equal to the target speed specified by the normal mode operation map or the heavy rain mode operation map, and controls the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side to be synchronized with the movement of the wiper blade 1p on the passenger's seat side.

[0076] The drive circuit 16d generates a drive signal based on the drive command input from the CPU 15d and outputs the drive signal to the motor 4d. The drive circuit 16d is, for example, an inverter circuit including a plurality of switching transistors. In this case, the drive command is a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal whose duty cycle is variably adjusted according to a deviation between the target speed and the moving speed of the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side.

[0077] On the other hand, the angle detection circuit 11p in the wiper drive control part 10p has a similar function to the angle detection circuit 5 of the first embodiment and outputs an angle signal proportional to a rotation angle of the motor body 8p to the CPU 15p. This angle signal is a signal indicating an operating angle of the wiper blade 1p on the passenger seat side and includes the relative position signal and the absolute position signal described in the first embodiment.

[0078] ROM 12p is a non-volatile memory. ROM 12p stores a control program for CPU 15p to perform feedback control for wiper blade 1p on the passenger side. ROM 12p stores the operating directory for normal mode and the operating directory for heavy rain mode, which are required for CPU 15p to execute the control program.

[0079] The normal mode operation map and the heavy rain mode operation map specify a target speed of the passenger-side wiper blade 1p. The control program stored in ROM 12p is essentially the same as the control program stored in ROM 12d of the wiper drive control part 10d.

[0080] RAM 13p is a volatile memory. RAM 13p temporarily stores various data generated when CPU 15p executes the control program. For example, RAM 13p temporarily stores the flag (control flag F) indicating whether the control mode being executed is normal mode or heavy rain mode, and the counter value (wipe count value N) indicating the number of wipes in the control mode being executed.

[0081] The communication circuit 14p transmits and receives control information to and from the wiper drive control part 10d. The communication circuit 14p receives, for example, the current position of the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side as the control information from the communication circuit 14d of the wiper drive control part 10d. The communication circuit 14p transmits, for example, the current position of the wiper blade 1p on the passenger side as the control information to the communication circuit 14d of the wiper drive control part 10d.

[0082] The CPU 15p generates a drive command by executing the control program prestored in the ROM 12p and outputs this drive command to the drive circuit 16p. When executing the control program, the CPU 15p refers to the switching signal input from the host controller, the angle signal input from the angle detection circuit 11p, the control information input from the communication circuit 14p, and the normal mode operation map and the heavy rain mode operation map prestored in the ROM 12p.

[0083] That is, the CPU 15p generates the drive command based on the control program, referring to the switching signal, the angle signal, the control information, the normal mode operation map, and the heavy rain mode operation map. This drive command instructs the drive circuit 16p to drive the passenger-side wiper blade 1p according to the control mode (normal mode or heavy rain mode), and is a control command that takes into account a drive control state of the wiper drive control part 10d for the driver-side wiper blade 1d.

[0084] That is, this drive command causes the moving speed of the wiper blade 1p on the passenger side obtained from the angle signal to become equal to the target speed specified by the normal mode operation map or the heavy rain mode operation map, and controls the wiper blade 1p on the passenger side to be synchronized with the movement of the wiper blade 1d on the driver side.

[0085] The drive circuit 16p generates a drive signal based on the drive command input from the CPU 15p and outputs the drive signal to the motor 4p. The drive circuit 16p is, for example, an inverter circuit comprising a plurality of switching transistors. In this case, the drive command is a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal whose duty cycle is variably adjusted according to a deviation between the target speed and the moving speed of the wiper blade 1p on the passenger side.

[0086] Next, a characteristic operation of the wiper device B according to the second embodiment will be described.

[0087] In the wiper device B, the wiper drive control part 10d controls the rotation of the motor 4d on the driver's seat side based on the control program, and thereby the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side performs a wiping operation on the wiped surface W. In the wiper device B, the wiper drive control part 10p controls the rotation of the motor 4p on the passenger's seat side based on the control program, and thereby the wiper blade 1p on the passenger's seat side performs a wiping operation on the wiped surface W.

[0088] In the wiper device B, the wiper drive control part 10d and the wiper drive control part 10p supply control information to each other via a pair of communication circuits 14d and 14p. As a result, the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side and the wiper blade 1p on the passenger's seat side perform the wiping operation in a synchronized manner.

[0089] The control of the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side by the wiper drive control part 10d and the control of the wiper blade 1p on the passenger's seat side by the wiper drive control part 10p are similar. The processing performed by the pair of wiper drive control parts 10d and 10p when switching between the heavy rain mode wiping area and the normal mode wiping area is similar to that of the flowchart of Fig. 2 in the first embodiment.

[0090] That is, by referring to the switching signal input from the host control device, a pair of CPUs 15d and 15p in the pair of wiper drive control parts 10d and 10p recognizes an operation mode indicated by an instruction from the host control device (step S1). Then, the pair of CPUs 15d and 15p executes each processing in the following steps S2 to S10 based on the recognition in step S1.

[0091] That is, the CPU pair 15d and 15p determines whether the heavy rain mode has been indicated by the instruction from the host controller (step S2). If the determination in step S2 is "NO," that is, if the normal mode is indicated by the instruction from the host controller, the two CPUs 15d and 15p refer to the wipe count N, thereby determining whether the wipe in the normal mode is the first wipe (first wipe) (step S3).

[0092] If the determination in step S3 is "NO," that is, if the normal mode wiping is not the first wiping, the pair of CPUs 15d and 15p terminates the processing. On the other hand, if the determination in step S3 is "YES," that is, if the normal mode wiping is a first wiping, the pair of CPUs 15d and 15p refers to an angle signal, thereby determining whether the operating angles of the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p have reached the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp (step S4).

[0093] If the determination in step S4 is "NO," that is, if the operating angles of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p have not reached the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp, the two CPUs 15d and 15p terminate the processing. On the other hand, if the determination in step S4 is "YES," that is, if the operating angles of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p have reached the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp, the two CPUs 15d and 15p switch the control map used for generating the drive command to the normal mode operation map (step S5).

[0094] For example, in a state where the wiper device B is operating in the heavy rain mode, the control map is switched from the heavy rain mode operation map to the normal mode operation map in step S5. By switching the control map from the heavy rain mode operation map to the normal mode operation map, the two CPUs 15d and 15p set the control mode to the normal mode (step S6).

[0095] That is, when the processing in step S6 is completed, the two CPUs 15d and 15p perform processing to generate the drive command based on the normal mode operation map. Accordingly, the two wiper blades 1d and 1p normally wipe the rainwater by reciprocating within the normal wiping range Rd of the driver's seat and the normal wiping range Rp of the passenger's seat, which extends from the lower reversing positions PLd and PLp to the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp.

[0096] If the determination in step S2 is "YES", that is, if the heavy rain mode is indicated by the instruction from the host controller, the pair of CPUs 15d and 15p refers to the wipe count value N, thereby determining whether the wiping in the heavy rain mode is the first wipe (first wipe) (step S7).

[0097] If the determination in step S7 is "NO," that is, if the wiping in the heavy rain mode is not the first wiping, the pair of CPUs 15d and 15p terminates the processing. On the other hand, if the determination in step S7 is "YES," that is, if the wiping in the heavy rain mode is a first wiping, the two CPUs 15d and 15p refer to an angle signal, thereby determining whether the operating angles of the two wiper blades 1d and 1p have reached the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp (step S8).

[0098] If the determination in step S8 is "NO," that is, if the operating angles of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p have not reached the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp, the two CPUs 15d and 15p terminate the processing. On the other hand, if the determination in step S8 is "YES," that is, if the operating angles of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p have reached the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp, the pair of CPUs 15d and 15p switches the control map used to generate a drive command to the heavy rain mode operation map (step S9).

[0099] For example, in a state where the wiper device B is operating in the normal mode, the control map is switched from the normal mode operation map to the heavy rain mode operation map in step S9. By switching the control map from the normal mode operation map to the heavy rain mode operation map, the two CPUs 15d and 15p set the control mode to the heavy rain mode (step S10).

[0100] That is, when the processing in step S10 is completed, the two CPUs 15d and 15p perform processing for generating the drive command based on the operation map for the heavy rain mode. Accordingly, the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p wipes away the rainwater relatively quickly by reciprocating in a narrow wiping range at a higher speed than in the normal mode. In the narrow wiping range, the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp correspond to those in the normal wiping range Rd of the driver's seat and the normal wiping range Rp of the front passenger seat, and the lower reversing positions are set to the lower reversing positions QLd and QLp, which are higher than the lower reversing positions PLd and PLp in the normal wiping range Rd of the driver's seat and the normal wiping range Rp of the front passenger seat.

[0101] Such a wiper device B is a device that wipes rainwater on the wiped surface W by reciprocating the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p using the pair of motors 4d and 4p (power sources). The wiper device B includes: the pair of drive circuits 16d and 16p that drive the pair of motors 4d and 4p (power sources); and the pair of wiper drive control parts 10d and 10p (control parts) that respectively control the pair of drive circuits 16d and 16p. The pair of wiper drive control parts 10d and 10p (control parts) switches a wiping area at a time when a target speed becomes zero both before and after the switching.

[0102] According to the second embodiment, since the control map (operation mode), that is, the wiping range, is switched at the time when the target speed becomes zero both before and after the switching, it is possible to provide the wiper device B in which abnormal behavior of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p can be suppressed during switching of the control map (operation mode), that is, during switching of the wiping range.

[0103] According to the second embodiment, the wiping range of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p is set to the normal wiping range in the normal mode and the wiping range in the heavy rain mode, which is smaller than the normal wiping range. In this way, abnormal behavior of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p when switching between the normal mode and the heavy rain mode can be suppressed.

[0104] According to the second embodiment, the pair of wiper drive control parts 10d and 10p switches between the normal mode and the heavy rain mode at the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp, where the target speed becomes zero both before and after switching. This effectively suppresses abnormal behavior of the wiper blade pair 1d and 1p during switching between the normal mode and the heavy rain mode.

[0105] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, two motors 4d and 4p (power sources) are provided. Of the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p, the motor 4d on the driver's seat side also reciprocates the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side, and the motor 4p on the passenger's seat side also reciprocates the wiper blade 1p on the passenger's seat side.

[0106] That is, in the second embodiment, in the wiper device B of a two-motor drive system in which the two motors 4d and 4p (power sources) reciprocate their corresponding wiper blades, it is possible to suppress abnormal behavior of the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p.

[0107] In the second embodiment, while the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side is wiping in a narrow wiping range on the driver's seat side in the heavy rain mode, the pair of wiper drive control parts 10d and 10p can stop (standby) the wiper blade 1p on the passenger's seat side at, for example, the lower reversing position PLp on the passenger's seat side so as not to interfere with the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side. Furthermore, in the second embodiment, the wiper blade 1p on the passenger's seat side can also be stopped (standby) at the upper reversing position PUp on the passenger's side, and the wiper blade 1p on the passenger's seat side can also wipe in a narrow wiping range on the passenger's side.

[0108] In the first and second embodiments, each of the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp in the wiping areas Rd and Rp in the normal mode and the narrow wiping area in the heavy rain mode is the same position where reversing occurs even when switching to each mode. However, it is also possible to switch from the upper reversing positions PUd and PUp in the normal mode to the upper reversing position in the heavy rain mode when switching to each mode.

[0109] In this case, the wiping operation can be performed in a narrow wiping range between each upper reversing position and each lower reversing position in heavy rain mode. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the control can be switched so that wiping takes place in the narrow wiping area at each upper reversal position.

[0110] Furthermore, the wiper devices A and B according to each of the above embodiments are devices that wipe rainwater on the wiped surface W by reciprocating a pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p using each motor 4, 4d, and 4p (power source). It is conceivable to use a brushless motor as each of the motors 4, 4d, and 4p (power source).

[0111] As is well known, a brushless motor is a motor (power source) with excellent speed controllability. By using a brushless motor as the drive source for the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p, when each motor 4, 4d, and 4p (brushless wiper motor) repeatedly rotates forward and backward at high speed during heavy rain operation, the service life of each motor 4, 4d, and 4p can be extended. Because there is no wear residue from a brush due to the sliding between the brush and the commutator, as is the case with a brushed motor, the service life of each motor 4, 4d, and 4p can be extended.

[0112] By using a brushless wiper motor for each motor 4, 4d and 4p, it is possible to smoothly repeat the forward and reverse rotations, allowing accurate reversal at the upper and lower reversing positions set for heavy rain mode. Description of reference symbols

[0113] A, B: Wiper device; W: Wiped surface; PUd, PUp: Upper reversing position; PLd, PLp: Lower reversing position; Rd, Rp: Wiping area; Td, Tp: Wiper shaft; 1d, 1p: Wiper blade; 2d, 2p: Wiper arm; 3: Linkage mechanism; 4, 4d, 4p: Motor (power source); 5: Angle detection circuit; 6: Control part; 61: ROM; 62: RAM; 63: CPU; 7: Drive circuit; 8d, 8p: Motor body; 9d, 9p: Deceleration mechanism; 10: Drive control device; 10d, 10p: Wiper drive control part; 11d, 11p: Angle detection circuit; 12d, 12p: ROM; 13d, 13p: RAM; 14d, 14p: communication circuit; 15d, 15p: CPU; 16d, 16p: drive circuit QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2005-082104

[0002]

Claims

[1] A wiping device (A, B) which wipes rainwater on a wiped surface (W) by reciprocating a wiper blade (1d, 1p) using a predetermined power source (4, 4d, 4p), the wiping device (A, B) comprising: a drive circuit (7, 16d, 16p) which drives the power source (4, 4d, 4p); and a control part (6, 10d, 10p) which controls the drive circuit (7, 16d, 16p), wherein the control part (6, 10d, 10p) switches a wiping area (Rd, Rp) at a time when a target speed becomes zero both before and after the switching. [2] A wiper device (A, B) according to claim 1, wherein the wiping area (Rd, Rp) comprises: a normal wiping area (Rd, Rp) in a normal mode; and a narrow wiping area in a heavy rain mode which is smaller than the normal wiping area (Rd, Rp). [3] Wiper device (A, B) according to claim 2, wherein the control part (6, 10d, 10p) performs the switching from the normal mode to the heavy rain mode at an upper reversing position (PUd, PUp) of the wiper blade (1d, 1p). [4] Wiper device (A, B) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the power source (4, 4d, 4p) reciprocates a pair of wiper blades (1d, 1p) simultaneously. [5] Wiper device (A, B) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the power source (4, 4d, 4p) is provided in a pair, and the power source (4, 4d, 4p) provided in a pair reciprocates the wiper blade (1d, 1p) corresponding to it.

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