Windshield wiper device, windshield wiper installation and method for managing the same

Abstract

TITLE: Windscreen wiper device, windscreen wiper installation and method for controlling the same Windscreen wiper device (10) comprising a motor (12) and a control and / or regulation unit (14) which control the drive motor (12) in a continuous wiping mode (16) with a maximum wiping duration frequency (18), and for a time interval (20) of limited duration in water wave mode (22) with a wiping frequency increased in particular by at least 10% compared to the maximum continuous wiping frequency (18). Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: Windshield wiper device, windshield wiper installation and method for managing the same FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a windshield wiper device comprising a drive motor and a control and / or regulation unit which controls the motor in a continuous wiping mode at a maximum continuous wiping frequency. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Such a windshield wiper device is already known.

[0003] DISCLOSURE AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0004] To this end, the invention relates to a windscreen wiper device comprising a motor and a control and / or regulation unit which control the drive motor in at least one continuous wiping mode with a maximum frequency of wiping duration, device characterized in that the control and / or regulation unit controls the drive motor for a time interval of limited duration in water wave mode with a wiping frequency increased in particular by at least 10% compared to the maximum continuous wiping frequency.

[0005] The term "windscreen wiper device" refers to at least one part, preferably a subassembly of a windscreen wiper installation of a vehicle. The windscreen wiper device may also refer to the entire windscreen wiper installation. The windscreen wiper device is intended to clean a surface, preferably a motor vehicle window. The windscreen wiper device could also be implemented as equipment and / or as a replacement part of a windscreen wiper installation.

[0006] The drive motor is provided for driving at least one wiper arm, in particular at least two wiper arms of a wiper installation comprising the wiper device, to perform a wiping movement; in this movement, a wiper blade connected to a wiper arm of the wiper installation sweeps over the surface, in particular the vehicle window, to clean it. The wiper arm may be connected directly or indirectly to the drive motor, for example, by a linkage and / or a transmission. Preferably, the drive motor is an electric motor. In principle, other types of drive motors could also be available, for example, pneumatic drives.

[0007] The term "control and / or regulation unit" means a unit having at least one control electronics. The term control electronics means a unit with a processor and a memory as well as an operating program stored in the memory. The control and / or regulation unit is intended to control and / or regulate the drive motor in at least two different operating modes and thus to control the wiping frequency of the motor.

[0008] The term "continuous wiping mode" means an operating mode in which the control and / or regulation unit controls the drive motor over an extended period, in particular at least two hours, at a maximum continuous wiping frequency without thereby causing overloading of the drive motor and / or other components of the windscreen wiper device and / or of a windscreen wiper installation comprising such a windscreen wiper device. The maximum continuous wiping frequency corresponds to the load limit up to which the control and / or regulation unit can control the drive motor in continuous wiping mode over an extended period without overloading it. The maximum continuous wiping frequency corresponds to at most sixty-five wiping cycles per minute, preferably at most sixty wiping cycles per minute.Preferably, the continuous wiping mode comprises at least two levels of continuous wiping which differ in the wiping frequency. For example, the continuous wiping mode may have a first level of continuous wiping at a first low continuous wiping frequency and / or a first low range of continuous wiping frequencies, for example, between 10 and 40 cycles and a second level of continuous wiping with a second continuous wiping frequency including the maximum continuous wiping frequency and / or a high range of continuous wiping frequencies, for example, from 40 wiping cycles per minute up to the maximum continuous wiping frequency.

[0009] The term "wiping cycle" means an operation in which the drive motor moves the wiper arm(s) of the wiper installation comprising the wiper device, from an initial position along the surface, in particular, of the vehicle window to an end-of-travel position and from this end-of-travel position, back to the initial position or starting position.

[0010] The term "water wave mode" designates an operating mode in which the control and / or regulation unit controls the drive motor for the time-limited interval at a maximum wiping duration frequency higher than the wiping frequency in particular by at least 2%, advantageously by at least 4% and in a particularly advantageous manner by at least 6% and preferably at least 8% and particularly preferably at least 10%. The limited time interval in which the control and / or regulation unit controls the drive motor in water wave mode is limited to a maximum duration of 8 minutes, in particular a maximum of 7 minutes and advantageously a maximum of 6 minutes and particularly advantageously a maximum of 5 minutes and preferably a maximum of 4 minutes and even more preferably 3 minutes and exceptionally preferably at least 2 minutes and at most 1 minute.

[0011] The control and / or regulation unit may be provided to control the drive motor in addition to at least one continuous wiping mode and the water wave mode, in at least one further operating mode. This further operating mode is, for example, an intermittent wiping mode in which the control and / or regulation unit controls the drive motor at a low wiping frequency, for example, with a maximum of 10 wiping cycles per minute.

[0012] The term "operating state" means a state in which the windscreen wiper device and / or the installation comprising the windscreen wiper device are ready for operation for a wiping operation and / or a wiping mode and / or are in wiping mode. The operating state of the windscreen wiper device includes both all operating modes in which the control and / or regulating unit controls the drive motor and also a rest mode in which the control and / or regulating unit does not control the drive motor, but keeps it ready for operation.

[0013] In the present description, the terms "first" and "second" preceding certain terms are intended only to distinguish objects and / or an association between objects and do not imply a number or order of the objects. In particular, the expression "second object" does not necessarily imply the existence of a "first object".

[0014] The expression "intended" means that it is a means specially designed, produced and / or equipped. The fact that an object is intended for a certain function preferably means that the object fulfills or ensures this determined function in at least one state of application or operation.

[0015] The embodiment of the windscreen wiper device according to the invention makes it possible to advantageously increase safety. In particular, good visibility is achieved in the case of events with a heavy fall of water, for example, heavy rain and / or sudden rain and / or sleet and / or similar events or the arrival of a large quantity of water projected, for example, by other vehicles, for example, when passing puddles of water, on the windscreen, events comparable to a wave; the situation is restored more quickly and thus ensures more quickly the safety of the occupants and that of the other road users. This increases the safety and proper functioning of vehicles equipped with special sensors such as, for example, lidar sensors for autonomous driving and / or distance sensors and / or sensors for detecting traffic signs or the like, because these sensors will be cleaned more quickly from sudden influxes of water and will thus be fully functional again.

[0016] The drive motor may be a rotary electric motor rotating in only one direction; the drive torque for the wiping movement of the wiper arm will be transmitted to the wiper arm by the drive motor via a linkage. Preferably, the drive motor is an electric motor whose operating direction is reversible, in particular based on the current position of the wiper arm which will be detected, in particular, by a suitable sensor of the wiper device. The reversible drive motor is, for example, a brushed DC motor. According to a particularly preferred development, the drive motor is an electronically commutated electric motor. Such a drive motor is particularly compact and efficient, with high efficiency and thus the wiper device will be particularly efficient.In addition, the heat generated is advantageously reduced, compared to other drive modes if the drive motor is an electronically commutated electric motor. This also minimizes the risk of overloading the drive motor, particularly at high wiping frequencies in water wave mode. Electronically commutated electric motors are usually called "brushless DC motors"; however, they are AC motors, particularly synchronous motors, whose commutation, unlike that of brushed DC motors, is not carried out by carbon brushes, but by semiconductor components, for example, MOSFET components or components of this type.

[0017] According to another feature, the windscreen wiper device comprises a sensor unit for detecting the amount of water, the control and / or regulation unit upon detection of exceeding a predefined amount of water by the sensor unit which makes it possible to control the drive motor to automatically switch it to water wave mode. Such an embodiment advantageously increases safety accordingly, in particular because the detection of an event such as a water wave by the sensor unit and the automatic activation of the water wave mode by the control and / or regulation unit are, in general, faster than would be the case by human intervention with a typical reaction time. Preferably, the predefined amount of water is a large amount of water, for example, a water amount of at least 30 liters per square meter per hour, knowing that lower and higher amounts of water are conceivable.In the case . of a predefined quantity of water, this is a workshop setting provided in the control and / or regulation unit.

[0018] Preferably, however, the predefined water quantity is adjustable by the user, in particular at least within a certain range to enable him to adapt the operation of the drive motor in water wave mode, advantageously according to the individual needs of the user. The sensor unit comprises at least one rain sensor advantageously integrated in the windshield of the vehicle comprising the wiping device or installed on the windshield. Preferably, the rain sensor is an optoelectronic rain sensor. In principle, other types of rain sensor could also be envisaged, for example, electrical and / or mechanical sensors.The sensor unit may have further rain sensors and / or other additional sensors, for example, speed sensors for capturing the driving speed of the vehicle equipped with the wiper device and / or the wiping frequency of the drive motor and / or the current position of wiper arms and / or similar means.

[0019] According to another feature, the control and / or regulation unit, upon detection of a downward excess of the predefined water quantity by the sensor unit, makes it possible to switch the operating mode of the drive motor automatically from the water wave mode to the continuous wiping mode. This has the advantage of increasing user comfort by making it obsolete to manually deactivate the water wave mode if a predefined water quantity falls below.Furthermore, the advantage is that the wear of the drive motor or other components of the windscreen wiper device or of a windscreen wiper system comprising the windscreen wiper device is reduced, for example, the wear of the wiper blades or similar means which is associated with higher stress; the high stresses of the water wave mode are reduced if the control and / or regulation unit, upon detection of the downward fall of a predefined water quantity by the sensor unit, automatically switches the operating mode of the drive motor from the water wave mode to the continuous wiping mode.

[0020] According to another feature, the control and / or regulation unit is provided to reduce the wiping frequency of the drive motor when changing from the water wave mode to the continuous wiping mode, step by step, in particular continuously up to the wiping frequency of the continuous wiping level, previously set. This embodiment improves comfort for the user. In particular, a step-by-step reduction in the wiping frequency when changing from the water wave mode to the continuous wiping mode will be less noticeable or less disturbing for the user and will thus be perceived in a more pleasant manner.

[0021] Advantageously, the memory unit of the control and / or regulation unit contains the recording of a function by which the control and / or regulation unit lowers the wiping frequency when changing from the water wave mode to the continuous wiping mode, step by step and in particular, continuously until reaching the wiping frequency of the continuous wiping level previously set; this function is, for example, a linear function or an exponential function or a logarithmic function or other interesting technical function.

[0022] Preferably, the control and / or regulation unit is provided to change the continuous wiping mode or the rest mode to the water wave mode, in particular upon detection of the exceeding of a predefined water quantity by the sensor unit and / or by manual activation by the user, by an input unit, thus making it possible to immediately control and actuate the drive motor, abruptly with a wiping frequency higher than the maximum continuous wiping frequency; this is done, for example, with a rectangular function stored in the memory and / or another suitable control function.

[0023] It could also be envisaged that the control unit and / or the control and / or regulation unit is provided so that when changing from the continuous wiping mode to the water wave mode, the change is controlled step by step and the wiping frequency is increased from a starting wiping frequency, for example, a maximum wiping frequency continuously up to a wiping frequency increased relative to the maximum continuous wiping frequency within a limited time interval.

[0024] According to another feature, the control and / or regulation unit automatically terminates the water wave mode after a predefined time and / or a predefined number of wiping cycles. This results in the advantage of avoiding overloading the components of the wiping device, in particular the drive motor.The control and / or regulation unit automatically terminates the water wave mode after a predefined time of 2 minutes, in particular 1.75 minutes, advantageously 1.5 minutes, particularly advantageously 1.25 minutes, preferably 1 minute and preferably 45 seconds and extremely preferably 30 seconds and / or after 160 wiping cycles, in particular after 140 wiping cycles, advantageously after 120 wiping cycles, particularly advantageously after 100 wiping cycles, preferably after 80 wiping cycles, preferably after 60 wiping cycles and particularly preferably after 30 wiping cycles.

[0025] According to another characteristic, the wiping frequency of the drive motor in water wave mode is greater than 60 wiping cycles per minute, in particular at at least 70 cycles per minute, preferably at least 80 wiping cycles per minute. Such an achievement advantageously increases safety.

[0026] According to another feature, the windscreen wiper device comprises an input unit connected to the control and / or regulating unit for manually activating or deactivating the water wave mode by the user. This advantageously improves the comfort of use. In addition, the advantage of a particularly economical windscreen wiper device is achieved if it is designed, for example, for vehicles in the low price segment, which are not equipped with sensors. The drive unit preferably has a drive element which is, for example, integrated in the vehicle's switch or designed as such. Activating and / or deactivating the water wave mode by the user can be done, for example, by touching the input element. Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable to manually activate or deactivate the water wave mode by voice command or gesture and to provide suitable input elements in the form of acoustic or optical sensors.

[0027] According to another feature, the control and / or regulation unit activates or deactivates the water wave mode depending on the vehicle's travel speed. This advantageously improves user comfort. The control and / or regulation unit is, for example, designed to deactivate the water wave mode below a travel speed threshold, for example, up to a maximum step-by-step speed of 10 kilometers per hour. This has the advantage of avoiding untimely automatic activation, for example, by slowing down in a washing installation. Preferably, the control and / or regulation unit in the installed state is connected to the tachometer of the vehicle equipped with the windshield wiper device to activate or deactivate the water wave mode depending on the vehicle's speed.Alternatively or additionally, it can be envisaged that the windscreen wiper device comprises a speed sensor for capturing and transmitting the driving speed to the control and / or regulation unit.

[0028] According to another feature, the control unit adapts the wiping frequency in water wave mode as a function of the vehicle's driving speed. This embodiment advantageously improves safety and comfort. The control and / or regulation unit may also be provided to adapt the wiping frequency in water wave mode, linearly to the driving speed, by a constant value or a constant coefficient, for example, as a function of the increasing driving speed. The wiping frequency in water wave mode may also be adapted by the control and / or regulation unit not with a linear function of the driving speed, but, for example, by an exponential function or other technically interesting function between the wiping frequency in water wave mode and the driving speed for adaptation by the control and / or regulation unit. or regulation. Alternatively or additionally, it is also possible to envisage that the control and / or regulation unit controls the drive motor in water wave mode, in a certain speed range, for example, a traffic speed of between 10 and 100 kilometers / hour, with a constant wiping frequency increased relative to the maximum continuous wiping frequency, for example, of 70 wiping cycles per minute and to increase the wiping frequency in a second speed range, for example, for traffic speeds above 100 kilometers / hour, step by step, linearly or exponentially, from 70 to 80 wiping cycles per minute.

[0029] The invention also relates to a vehicle windshield wiper installation comprising a windshield wiper device according to the characteristics developed above. Such a windshield wiper installation is characterized in particular by its advantageous properties linked to the characteristics of the windshield wiper device developed above. Preferably, the windshield wiper installation comprises, in addition to the windshield wiper device, at least one windshield wiper arm, in particular two windshield wiper arms each equipped with a windshield wiper blade. The windshield wiper installation may also comprise other components or elements.

[0030] The invention also relates to a method for managing a windscreen wiper device, in particular a device as described above, comprising a drive motor which operates at least in continuous wiping mode with a maximum continuous wiping frequency.

[0031] In this case, the drive motor is controlled for a limited time interval in water wave mode with a wiping frequency in particular at least 10% higher than the maximum wiping frequency. This method has the advantage of a particularly safe and comfortable operation of the windscreen wiper device.

[0032] The windshield wiper device according to the invention is not limited to the application and embodiment described above. In particular, the windshield wiper device may, in order to provide certain functions, have a different number of components, elements and units than those described above and the method for managing the windshield wiper device may have a different number of method steps than those described above.

[0033] The value ranges given are only indicative and not limiting. Brief description of the drawings

[0034] The present invention will be described below in more detail with the aid of embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

[0035] [Fig.l] schematic representation of a windscreen wiper installation comprising a windscreen wiper device with a drive motor, a control and / or regulating unit, a sensor unit and a drive unit,

[0036] [Fig.2] schematic diagram of presentation of different modes of operation controlled by the control unit and / or the regulation unit of the drive motor,

[0037] [Fig.3] schematic diagram of the relationship between a quantity of water captured by a sensor unit and different operating modes of the control and / or regulation unit of the drive motor and,

[0038] [Fig.4] Schematic flowchart showing the device management process windshield wiper.

[0039] DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0040] [Fig.l] shows a windshield wiper installation 40 of a motor vehicle (this is not shown). The windshield wiper installation 40 comprises a windshield wiper device 10. The windshield wiper installation 40 comprises two windshield wiper arms each equipped with a wiper blade (not shown) for wiping the windshield 54 of the vehicle.

[0041] The windshield wiper device 10 comprises a drive motor 12. The drive motor 12 drives the wiper arms by a wiping movement on the windshield 54. The drive motor 12 is implemented here as an electronically commutated electric motor.

[0042] The windscreen wiper device 10 comprises a control and regulation unit 14 which controls the drive motor 12 at least in a continuous wiping mode 16 (see [Fig. 2]) at a maximum continuous wiping frequency 18 (see [Fig. 2]).

[0043] The control and / or regulation unit 14 controls the drive motor 12 for a limited time interval 20 (see [Fig.2]) in the water wave mode 22 ([Fig.2]) at a wiping frequency which is in particular at least 10% higher than the maximum continuous wiping frequency 18.

[0044] The windscreen wiper device 10 comprises a sensor unit 24 for detecting the amount of water 26 ([Fig. 3]). The sensor unit 24 comprises a rain sensor 56 integrated in the windscreen 54 of the vehicle; this sensor detects the amount of water 26 arriving on the windscreen 54. The sensor unit 24 is connected to the control and / or regulating unit 14 and transmits the amount of water 26 detected during operation of the windscreen wiper device 10 to the control and / or regulating unit 14.

[0045] The windshield wiper device 10 comprises an input unit 34 connected to the control and / or regulation unit 14 for manually activating or deactivating the water wave mode 22 by the user. The input unit 34 comprises an input element (not shown) which is, for example, integrated into the vehicle's switchgear or is designed as such. By touching the input element of the input unit 34, the user activates the water wave mode 22 manually for the limited time interval 20 and, for example, deactivates it before the end of the maximum duration of the limited time interval 20.

[0046] [Fig. 2] is a schematic diagram showing the different operating modes of the drive motor 12 controlled by the control and / or regulation unit 14. The abscissas 36 of the diagram represent the time in minutes. The ordinates 38 of the diagram represent the wiping frequency of the drive motor 12 in wiping cycles per minute. The function 42 shows, by way of example, the chronological evolution of the wiping frequency by which the control and / or regulation unit 14 controls the drive motor 12.

[0047] The drive motor 12 controlled by the control and / or regulation unit 14 can operate in continuous wiping mode 16 at two continuous wiping levels 30, 32. In a first wiping level 30, the control and / or regulation unit 14 controls the motor 12 at a first wiping frequency which is at most equal to 40 wiping cycles per minute. In a second continuous wiping level 32, the control and / or regulation unit 14 controls the drive motor 12 at the maximum continuous wiping speed 18 which is here 66 wiping cycles per minute. In the present exemplary embodiment, the control and / or regulation unit 14 controls the drive motor 12, for example, during a first time interval 44, for example, a five-minute interval at the first continuous wiping level 30, for example, for light rain.After the first time interval 44, the control and / or regulation unit 14 switches from the first continuous wiping level 30 and the second continuous wiping level 32, for example, due to greater intensity of the rain; it controls the drive motor 12 in a second time segment 46, for example another 5 minutes at the maximum continuous wiping frequency 18. At the end of the second time interval 46, the water wave event occurs, for example, a sudden heavy rain or the arrival of a large quantity of water projected by another vehicle on the windshield 54. The control and / or regulation unit 14 then switches from the continuous wiping mode 16 to the water wave mode 22 and operates the drive motor 12 in the third time interval 48 which corresponds to the limited interval 20 for the water wave mode 22.In the time-limited interval 20, the control and / or regulation unit 14 controls the drive motor 12 in water wave mode 22 at a higher wiping frequency than the maximum continuous wiping frequency 18. Here, the interval 20 is time-limited, for example, to one minute. The wiping frequency in the water wave mode 22 is greater than 60 cycles. wiping cycles per minute. The wiping frequency of the drive motor 12 in water wave mode 22 is at least 70 wiping cycles per minute. Here, the wiping frequency of the drive motor 12 in water wave mode 22 is at least 80 wiping cycles per minute.

[0048] The control and / or regulation unit 14 is provided to automatically terminate the water wave mode 22 after a predefined duration and / or a predefined number of wiping cycles. For example, the control and / or regulation unit 14 is provided to automatically terminate the water wave mode 22 after a predefined time of 30 seconds or after a predefined number of 40 wiping cycles. However, it is also possible to have shorter or longer durations or a higher or lower number of wiping cycles to automatically terminate the water wave mode 22 by the control and / or regulation unit 14, without the duration of the interval 20 being limited in time.

[0049] The control and / or regulation unit 14 is further provided so that when changing from the water wave mode 22 to the continuous wiping mode 16, the wiping frequency of the drive motor 12 is changed step by step and in particular continuously by lowering it to the wiping frequency of a continuous wiping level 30, 32 previously set. Here, the control and / or regulation unit 14 lowers the wiping frequency from the wiping frequency of at least 80 wiping cycles per minute in water wave mode 22 in the third time segment 48 while in the adjacent fourth time segment 50, it is decreased step by step until reaching the second continuous wiping level 32 previously set corresponding to a maximum continuous wiping frequency 18 of 60 wiping cycles per minute.Then, the control and / or regulation unit 14 controls the drive motor 12 in a fifth time segment at the second continuous wiping level 32 at a maximum continuous wiping frequency 18 which is constant.

[0050] [Fig. 3] shows a schematic diagram of the relationship between a quantity of water 26 captured by the sensor unit 24 and the operating modes that the control and / or regulation unit 14 applies to the drive motor 12. On the abscissa 58, the curve of the operating modes in which the control and / or regulation unit 14 controls the drive motor 12 is shown as an example as a function of time in minutes. On the ordinate 60 of the diagram, there is the quantity of water 26 that arrives on the windshield 54 and that is captured by the rain sensor 56 of the sensor unit 24, namely in liters per square meter per hour. The curve represents an example of a timing diagram of the quantity of water 26 captured by the sensor unit 26. Below the first threshold 62, for example, below a flow rate of one liter per square meter per hour, the control and / or regulation unit 14 does not control the motor 12 or only in intermittent wiping mode 68, for example, at a wiping frequency of four wiping cycles which is for example 10 liters per square meter per hour, the control and / or regulation unit 14 controls the drive motor 12 in continuous wiping mode 16 at the first continuous wiping level 30 of up to 40 wiping cycles per minute. Above the second threshold 64, the control and / or regulation unit 14 controls the motor 12 in continuous wiping mode 16 at the second continuous wiping level 32 at a wiping frequency which is at most the maximum continuous wiping frequency 18 of 60 wiping cycles.

[0051] The control and / or regulation unit 14 is provided for controlling, upon detection of an excess of a predefined water quantity 28 by the sensor unit 24, the drive motor 12 automatically into the water wave mode 22. The predefined water quantity 28 is, for example, a water quantity of 30 liters per square meter per hour; a higher or lower predefined water quantity 28 can also be envisaged. The control and / or regulation unit 14 is provided so that upon detection of a fall below the predefined water quantity 28 detected by the sensor unit 24, the operation of the drive motor 12 is automatically modified and switched from the water wave mode 22 to the continuous wiping mode 16.

[0052] The control and / or regulation unit 14 is further provided to activate the water wave mode 22 depending on the driving speed of the motor vehicle (not shown) or to deactivate it. For example, the control and / or regulation unit 14 is provided to deactivate the water wave mode 22 up to a step-by-step speed of the vehicle of 10 kilometers per hour and to activate it above this step-by-step speed. This makes it possible to avoid untimely activation of the water wave mode 22, for example, if the motor vehicle is stationary or moving slowly in an automatic car wash.

[0053] The control and / or regulation unit 14 is further provided to adapt the wiping frequency in the water wave mode 22 as a function of the driving speed of the vehicle. The control and / or regulation unit 14 could be provided to adapt the wiping frequency in the water wave mode 22 with a constant factor as a function of the driving speed. For example, the control and / or regulation unit 14 can increase the wiping frequency in water wave mode 22 when the circulation speed increases by 10 kilometers per hour, each time by one wiping cycle per minute so that the control and / or regulation unit 14 operates the drive motor 12, for example, in the case of a water wave arrival at a circulation speed of 20 kilometers per hour, with a maximum continuous wiping frequency 18, increased by 66 cycles per minute; for a circulation speed of 30 kilometers per hour there will be a increase in the wiping frequency of 67 wiping cycles per minute; for a traffic speed of 40 kilometers per hour, the wiping frequency will be increased by 68 wiping cycles per minute, and so on. The wiping frequency in water wave mode 22 can also be adapted by the control and / or regulation unit 14 not according to a linear relationship as a function of the traffic speed, but, for example, exponentially or according to another technically interesting function between the wiping frequency and the water wave mode 22 and the traffic speed.It is also possible to envisage that the control and / or regulation unit 14 controls the drive motor 12 in the water wave mode 22 in a first speed range, for example, for a speed between 10 and 100 kilometers per hour, at a constant wiping frequency, increased relative to the maximum continuous wiping frequency 18, for example, of 70 wiping cycles per minute and in a second speed range, for example, a traffic speed greater than 100 kilometers per hour, to increase the wiping frequency step by step to go, for example, from 70 to 80 wiping cycles per minute.

[0054] [Fig.4] shows a very schematic flowchart of a management process of the wiper device 10. In this method, the drive motor 12 is controlled in the continuous wiping mode 16 at a maximum continuous wiping frequency 18 and for a time interval 20, and in the water wave mode 22, with an increased wiping frequency, in particular by at least 10% compared to the maximum continuous wiping frequency 18. The method comprises at least two steps 70, 72. Here, the method comprises three steps 70, 72, 74. In the first step 70 of the method, the drive motor 12 is controlled in the continuous wiping mode 16 at the maximum continuous wiping frequency 18. In a second step 72 of the method, the motor 12 is controlled for a time interval 20, limited in the water wave mode 22 to a higher wiping frequency in particular of at least 10% compared to the maximum continuous wiping frequency 18.In the third method step 74, the drive motor 12 is again operated in continuous wiping mode 16 at the previously set continuous wiping level 30, 32; the wiping frequency in the third method step 74 will be lowered step by step to the wiping frequency of the previously set continuous wiping level 30, 32.

[0055] NOMENCLATURE OF MAIN ELEMENTS

[0056] 10 Windshield wiper device

[0057] 12 Drive motor

[0058] 14 Control and / or regulation unit

[0059] 16 Continuous Wiping Mode

[0060] 18 Maximum continuous wiping frequency

[0061]

[0062]

[0063]

[0064]

[0065]

[0066]

[0067]

[0068]

[0069]

[0070]

[0071]

[0072]

[0073]

[0074]

[0075]

[0076]

[0077]

[0078]

[0079] 20 Time-limited activation interval 22 Water wave mode 24 Sensor unit 26 Water quantity 32 Second continuous wiping level 34 Drive unit 40 Wiper installation 42 First continuous wiping level 44 First time segment 46 Second time segment 54 Windshield 56 Rain sensor 58 Abscissa 60 Ordinate 62 First water flow threshold 64 Second water flow threshold water flow 70 Process step 72 Process step 74 Process step

Claims

Claims

1. Windscreen wiper device (10) comprising a motor (12) and a control and / or regulation unit (14) which controls the drive motor (12) in at least one continuous wiping mode (16) with a maximum wiping duration frequency (18), and the control and / or regulation unit (14) controls the drive motor (12) for a time interval (20) of limited duration in water wave mode (22) with a wiping frequency increased in particular by at least 10% compared to the maximum continuous wiping frequency (18), characterized in that it comprises a sensor unit (24) for detecting a water quantity (26), the control and / or regulation unit (14) upon detection of an exceeding of a predefined water quantity (28) by the sensor unit (24) controls the drive motor (12) to automatically switch to water wave mode (22).

2. Windshield wiper device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive motor (12) is an electronically commutated electric motor.

3. Windscreen wiper device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that upon detection of a downward excess of the predefined quantity of water (28) by the sensor unit (24), the control and / or regulating unit (14) changes the operating mode of the drive motor (12) automatically from the water wave mode (22) to the continuous wiping mode (16).

4. Windscreen wiper device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the control and / or regulating unit (14) is provided to reduce the wiping frequency of the drive motor (12) when changing from the water wave mode (22) to the permanent wiping mode (12), step by step, in particular continuously, down to the wiping frequency at a continuous wiping level (30, 32) previously set.

5. Windshield wiper device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control and / or regulation unit (14) is provided to terminate the water wave mode (22) automatically after a predefined time and / or a predefined number of wiping cycles.

6. Windscreen wiper device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the wiping frequency of the drive motor (12) in water wave mode (22) is greater than sixty wiping cycles per minute, in particular at least seventy wiping cycles per minute, in particular at least seventy wiping cycles per minute, and preferably at least eighty wiping cycles per minute.

7. Windscreen wiper device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by an input unit (34) connected to the control and / or regulation unit (14) for manually activating and / or deactivating the water wave mode (22) by the user.

8. Windscreen wiper device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control and / or regulation unit (14) is provided to activate or deactivate the water wave mode (22) depending on the driving speed of the vehicle.

9. Windscreen wiper device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control and / or regulation unit (14) is provided to adapt the wiping frequency in water wave mode (22) as a function of the driving speed of the vehicle.

10. Vehicle windshield wiper installation (14) comprising a wiping device (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

11. Method for controlling a windscreen wiper device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9 with a drive motor (12), the drive motor (12) operating at least in continuous wiping mode (16) at a maximum wiping frequency (18), method characterized in that the drive motor (12) is operated for a limited time interval (20) in water wave mode (22) at a wiping frequency which is in particular at least 10% higher than the maximum continuous wiping frequency (18).

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