Vehicle windshield wiper system

Abstract

Title: Vehicle Windshield Wiper System. A vehicle windshield wiper system in which the cleaning nozzle (18) is located in the wiper blade area (14), the operating unit (20) is designed to determine a portion (50) of the vehicle's windshield (30) to be cleaned, to control the wiper drive (16) to move the wiper blade (14) from a storage position (70) of the wiper blade (14) to the determined portion (50) of the windshield (30), and to control the distribution of windshield washer fluid (40) and to control the wiper drive (16) to travel exclusively over the portion (50). Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Vehicle windshield wiper system. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle windshield wiper system, in particular a windshield wiper system with particularly low windshield washer fluid consumption. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] According to the prior art, vehicle wiper systems are known in which the distribution of the windshield washer fluid is done by nozzles installed in the region of the wiper arms of the wiper system; these nozzles are moved together with the wiper arm on the surface to be cleaned so that the distribution of the windshield washer fluid is done independently of the boundary conditions, present (for example, the level of current traffic wind, the position where the dirt is located and others) in an optimized manner.

[0003] According to the prior art, vehicle sensors (for example, cameras, lidar sensors, radar sensors, ultrasonic sensor systems and others) are also known which are, for example, used to capture the environment and supply the driving assistance system and / or systems for a partially automated driving mode with the necessary environmental information.

[0004] Vehicle sensors are also known which capture the current outside temperature and / or precipitation (for example, with a rain sensor) in the environment of the vehicle.

[0005] DESCRIPTION AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The present invention relates to a vehicle windshield wiper system comprising:

[0007] * a windshield wiper having at least

[0008] ** a windshield wiper arm,

[0009] ** a windshield wiper blade,

[0010] ** a windshield wiper drive, and

[0011] ** a cleaning nozzle, and

[0012] * an operating unit,

[0013] system in which

[0014] * the cleaning nozzle is located in the wiper blade area and it is designed to be moved with the wiper arm and wiper blade along the vehicle's windshield and to distribute windshield washer fluid in the area around the wiper blade,

[0015] * The operating unit is designed to:

[0016] ** determine a portion of the vehicle's window to be cleaned with the wiper system ice, the part representing a portion of the overall wiping area that the wiper blade can cover,

[0017] ** control the wiper drive to move the wiper blade from a designated wiper blade storage position towards the specified area of ​​the windshield, and

[0018] ** control the distribution of windshield washer fluid when the part and of command the wiper drive to travel exclusively through the area to be cleaned with a pendulum motion.

[0019] This vehicle wiper system allows for a particularly low consumption of windshield washer fluid.

[0020] The windshield wiper system comprises a wiper arm, a wiper blade, a wiper arm drive preferably with a rotary motor, in particular an electric motor, and at least one cleaning nozzle. The system also comprises an operating unit, for example, in the form of an ASIC, FPGA, processor, digital signal processor, microcontroller, or other, which is, for example, a component independent of the windshield wiper system or is integrated into an existing component of the windshield wiper system or another vehicle system.

[0021] The operating unit is connected by a computer or electrical link with the wiper drive and with a wiper arm drive control unit or with a device for distributing windshield washer fluid by nozzles.

[0022] The cleaning nozzle is provided in the area of ​​the wiper blade, for example, on the upper or lower side of the wiper blade or in its middle; in this way, the nozzle moves with the wiper arm and the wiper blade along the vehicle's windshield and distributes windshield washer fluid in the area around the wiper blade. For this purpose, the nozzle is, for example, provided directly on the wiper blade and / or in the region of the wiper arm where the wiper arm is connected to the wiper blade. Alternatively, the nozzle may consist of a set of individual nozzles distributed, for example, along the wiper blade.The glass is, for example, the windshield or the rear window of the vehicle; the vehicle can be a road vehicle such as a motorcycle, a passenger vehicle, a transporter, a truck or a railway vehicle or an aircraft or even a watercraft.

[0023] The operating unit is designed to determine, by means of the windshield wiper system, the partial area or part to be cleaned, i.e., the area of ​​the vehicle's window to clean; the partial area is a part of the overall wiping area that the wiper blade travels through.

[0024] The operating unit is further designed to control the wiper drive, to move the wiper blade from the wiper blade storage position to the specific area or portion of the window thus determined. The term "wiper blade storage position" refers, in particular, to a position in which the wiper blade is pressed against the lower edge of the window, generally horizontally, and there may in principle be other, different wiper blade storage positions. Ideally, the wiper blade storage position is one where the vehicle user's field of vision is not obstructed or is only slightly obstructed, and / or a location where air resistance is as low as possible during the movement of the wiper arm and blade.The term "storage position zone" refers to an area where there is, for example, an angular deviation (i.e., an angle of rotation of the wiper arm) from the actual storage position, a deviation of up to 5°, 10°, 15°, or more; the angular deviation is preferably in the direction the wiper blade starts moving from the storage position. Besides an angular deviation that defines the zone, it is also possible, for example, to consider an offset parallel to the storage position.

[0025] The operating unit is further designed to control the distribution of windshield washer fluid when the part or area to be activated is reached and to control the windshield wiper drive to then traverse the partial area to clean it by means of a pendulum motion. This means that the wiper blade advantageously passes at least once from one end of the partial area to a second end of the partial area and again back to the first end of the partial area without completely traversing the entire wiping area.

[0026] Thus, the advantage is that only the area actually soiled is covered, which means that, on the one hand, windshield washer fluid consumption is reduced because the fluid is only distributed in that partial area, and on the other hand, the vehicle's windshield is cleaned particularly quickly, so that the visibility of the vehicle user, especially the driver, is only very briefly obstructed by the wiper arm and blade. The reduced windshield washer fluid consumption according to the invention also allows, among other things, for an increase in the interval between refills of the windshield washer fluid reservoir.

[0027] This does not explicitly preclude the possibility that, after at least one pendulum movement of the wiper blade in the partial area to be cleaned, a different area of ​​the window may be cleaned, which is either another partial area or the overall area of wiping the window. Such a combination is advantageously used, for example, if the dirt is particularly difficult to remove (for example, dried) and it is necessary first, while saving windshield washer fluid according to the invention, to remove it only in the partial area and / or to detach it and then remove it completely from the overall wiping area by the overall cleaning done afterwards.

[0028] According to a particularly advantageous development of the invention, the operating unit is further designed to determine the degree of wetting of the windshield by the liquid (for example, raindrops and / or water spray from a preceding vehicle or other) in the area of ​​the wiper blade's storage position. This is preferably done based on sensors computer-coupled with the operating unit and / or on an external information source.The operating unit is further designed to activate the distribution of windshield washer fluid with the cleaning nozzle in the area of ​​the wiper blade storage position and then to deactivate it again in the area of ​​the storage position if the degree of wetness is below a predefined threshold and it is further designed not to activate the distribution of windshield washer fluid in the area of ​​the storage position if the degree of wetness is at least equal to the threshold.

[0029] The threshold is preferably set according to the friction resistance between the wiper blade and the windshield and must be at least exceeded downwards so that the wiper, in particular the wiper blade and / or the wiper arm blade and / or the wiper drive, does not suffer damage and / or excessive wear from "dry wiping". In a case where there are, for example, enough raindrops in the area of ​​the stowed position, it is foreseeable that there will be a corresponding reduction in friction between the wiper blade and the windshield, so that the wiper arm can be operated without additional distribution of cleaning fluid from the stowed position area to the partial area to be cleaned, while the wetting by the raindrops simultaneously ensures conservation of wiping material (the wiper arm blade) during movement.In a case where the windshield is not wet or is only insufficiently wet, the movement of the wiper arm towards the partial area to be cleaned would result in a correspondingly significant stress on the wiper arm material, and that is why, in this case, the operating unit is designed to wet the storage position area with windshield washer fluid.

[0030] Preferably, the operating unit is designed to adapt the quantity of windshield washer fluid to be dispensed according to the possible existence of a low level of wetness (below the threshold) in order to avoid unnecessarily consuming too much windshield washer fluid. The threshold and / or the quantity of windshield washer fluid to be dispensed is, of Ideally, the setting should be adjusted so that the wetness in the storage position area is sufficient to adequately lubricate the wiper blades until they reach the area to be cleaned. This way, the wiper system only activates the wet wipers when necessary and only in the storage position area, thus reducing washer fluid consumption.

[0031] According to another advantageous development of the invention, the operating unit is designed to deactivate the distribution of windshield washer fluid in the area of ​​the wiper blade's storage position after a predetermined time and / or after the wiper arm has traveled a predetermined angle within the storage position, and / or to adjust the pressure at which the washer fluid is distributed by the cleaning nozzle according to the direction of movement of the wiper blade and / or the type and / or extent of the dirt present. The term "type of dirt" refers, for example, to the degree of dirt and / or the substance that causes the dirt. Depending on the type and / or degree of dirt, by appropriately adjusting the washer fluid pressure, the dirt can be removed in an optimized manner.The degree of soiling is preferably determined by the vehicle's sensors, particularly with sensors designed to directly detect dirt.

[0032] Advantageously, the degree of wetting of the window in the area of ​​the storage position is determined using a rain sensor and / or a camera and / or another sensor (e.g., a lidar sensor and / or an ultrasonic sensor and / or a radar sensor or other). The rain sensor and / or the camera are installed, for example, in the upper area of ​​the window, inside the vehicle's passenger compartment, and in the direction of forward travel of the vehicle, without being limited to such parameters. Alternatively, or in addition, the degree of wetting is determined based on meteorological data received, in particular, via a wireless communication link of the vehicle and originating, for example, from an online weather service and / or a radio or other source.

[0033] In addition, alternatively or furthermore, it is possible to determine the degree of wetting based on the current level supplying the wiper arm drive and / or the vehicle's speed. The current consumed is determined, for example, by the wiper arm being slightly moved out of its stowed position, while remaining within the stowed position zone, and by the wiper drive being appropriately controlled by the operating unit. Based on the current thus consumed by the wiper drive, which is also correlated with the level of friction between the wiper blade and the windshield, the potential wetting of the windshield and / or the degree of wetting can be assessed by the operating unit.

[0034] The vehicle speed is taken into account, particularly in relation to the use of current consumed by the windshield wiper drive, since this current consumption also depends on the prevailing wind, which increases frictional resistance due to the greater pressure of the wiper blade against the windshield. Furthermore, it may be advantageous to also consider the current angular position of the wiper arm, as the influence of the prevailing wind depends on this angular position.

[0035] The partial area to be cleaned is, for example, located within a predefined area such as a camera and / or other sensor area installed, for example, inside the vehicle behind the window. For this purpose, it is possible, among other things, to clean the predefined area within a predefined time interval and / or if there is a current need. Alternatively, or in addition, the partial area to be cleaned is an area defined by sensors, these sensors preferably being those of the vehicle that capture at least the area of ​​visibility in the window that is important for the driver. Based on such sensors, the position of the dirt on the window can be determined accordingly, so that this partial area will be fixed according to the determined position. Alternatively, or in addition, the operating unit is designed to determine the size of the partial area to be cleaned based on the extent and / or type of dirt.Advantageously, the partial area is predetermined to be larger than the actual extent of the dirt to ensure that all the dirt is removed. For this purpose, an angular range of 5° to 15° is chosen in both directions of movement of the wiper arm relative to the central position of the dirt.

[0036] According to another advantageous development of the invention, the operating unit is designed to move the wiper blade by the control of the wiper drive, several times (i.e. at least twice) in the partial area in a back-and-forth motion without leaving the partial area and / or to adapt the distribution of windshield washer fluid in the partial area, continuously and / or several times (for example, by successive sprays) and / or to adapt the frequency of the sweeping of the partial area with the wiper blade and / or to adapt the frequency and / or the duration of activation of the cleaning nozzle in the partial area and / or the speed of wiping of the wiper blade according to predefined parameters (for example, a predefined position of a sensor which is to be cleaned at a predefined interval of 30 minutes, etc.a type and / or extent of dirt in the partial area and / or the progress of the cleaning phase of the partial area, detected by sensor (for example, with a sensor to which a partial area to be cleaned of the glass is fixed and / or using different sensors) and / or a type and / or a . amount of precipitation present (e.g. rain, snow) and / or outside temperature and / or traffic speed and / or position of dirt on the window.

[0037] Advantageously, the wiper blade cleaning nozzle is a first cleaning nozzle, and the wiper arm has a second cleaning nozzle located on the opposite side of the first cleaning nozzle in the wiper blade area, so that the wiper arm is equipped with two nozzles for distributing the washer fluid both in the direction of travel of the wiper blade and in the opposite direction. Furthermore, the operating unit is designed to activate the first and second cleaning nozzles individually, depending on the respective direction of travel of the wiper blade and / or the type and / or extent of dirt, and / or to individually adjust the washer fluid distribution pressure. This allows for more targeted cleaning of the specific area to be cleaned, particularly with minimal washer fluid consumption.For example, it is advantageous to set a distribution pressure for the nozzle oriented in the direction of the current movement of the windshield wiper blade, to dislodge the dirt with a higher pressure, while the other nozzle installed on the opposite side will have a lower pressure to leave a maximum of windshield washer fluid to clean the affected area and leave the fluid there to soak the dirt.

[0038] In a particularly preferential manner, the wiper system is designed to individually activate the first cleaning nozzle and the second cleaning nozzle with separate cleaning fluid pumps and / or separate valves in the respective supply lines of the cleaning nozzles.

[0039] According to another feature, the wiper comprises a second wiper arm with a second wiper blade, a second wiper drive, and a second cleaning nozzle, which is, for example, the wiper arm on the driver's side, whereas the wiper arm described above is, for example, intended for the driver's side at the level of the vehicle's windshield. The operating unit is then designed to control the second wiper drive and the second cleaning nozzle to clean a different partial area, and this is possible in a manner analogous to what was described above for the wiper arm initially described. It should be noted that the wiper drive described above and the second wiper drive may be the same wiper drive in that, for example, both wiper arms are driven in common with a single "pulled" wiper by a single motor.A particularly advantageous feature is that these arms can also be individually controlled by separate wiper drives.

[0040] According to other advantageous developments of the invention, the operating unit is designed to move the wiper arm corresponding to the cleaning area that currently does not require cleaning, using the corresponding wiper drive control, to the upper reversal position (i.e., the position in which the wiper arm's movement reverses at the lateral edge of the window) and to leave it in this position until the window has been cleaned by the other wiper arm. This solution has the particular advantage that, after the partial area has been cleaned, the window will be completely dried by the return of the wiper arm, which has been held in the reversal position. Brief description of the drawings

[0041] The present invention will be described in more detail below with the aid of examples of windshield wiper devices shown schematically in the accompanying drawings in which:

[0042] [Fig-1] Schematic view of a first embodiment of a windshield wiper system according to the invention,

[0043] [Fig.2a] Example of a windshield wiper system cleaning sequence according to the invention,

[0044] [Fig.2b] Example of a windshield wiper system cleaning sequence according to the invention,

[0045] [Fig.2c] Example of a windshield wiper system cleaning sequence according to the invention,

[0046] [Fig.2d] Example of a windshield wiper system cleaning sequence according to the invention,

[0047] [Fig.2e] Example of a windshield wiper system cleaning sequence according to the invention,

[0048] [Fig.2f] Example of a windshield wiper system cleaning sequence according to the invention,

[0049] [Fig.2g] Example of a windshield wiper system cleaning sequence according to the invention,

[0050] [Fig.2h] Example of a windshield wiper system cleaning sequence according to the invention,

[0051] [Fig.3] Schematic view of a second embodiment of a windshield wiper system according to the invention, and

[0052] [Fig.4] Schematic view of a third embodiment of a windshield wiper system according to the invention.

[0053] DESCRIPTION OF WAYS TO EMBODI THE INVENTION

[0054] Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of a windshield wiper system according to the invention for a vehicle, the windshield wiper system being applied here to the windshield 30 of the vehicle.

[0055] The windshield wiper system includes a windshield wiper 10 for cleaning the passenger side of the windshield 30 with a first wiper arm 12 mechanically coupled to a first wiper blade 14; the latter has a first cleaning nozzle 18 and a second cleaning nozzle 19; the first cleaning nozzle 18 and the second cleaning nozzle 19 are located on opposite sides of the first wiper blade 14. The first wiper arm 12 is mechanically coupled to a first wiper drive 16 to move the first wiper arm 12 and the first wiper blade 14 by a rotational movement in a first overall wiping area 60 on the windshield 30.

[0056] The wiper system further comprises a second wiper arm 112 mechanically coupled to a second wiper blade 114; the latter is provided with a third cleaning nozzle 118 and a fourth cleaning nozzle 119; the third cleaning nozzle 118 and the fourth cleaning nozzle 119 are located on opposite sides of the second wiper blade 114. The second wiper arm 112 is mechanically coupled to a second wiper drive 116 to move the second wiper arm 112 and the second wiper blade 114 by a rotational movement in a second overall wiping zone 65 of the windshield 30.

[0057] The windshield wiper system further includes a windshield washer fluid reservoir 42 connected by a pipe to a first pump 120; the first pump 120 draws the windshield washer fluid 40 from the reservoir 42 and transfers it to a first valve 130 and a second valve 132; these allow the passage of the windshield washer fluid 40 to be opened or closed. The first valve 130 is connected by a first pipe to the first nozzle 18; the second valve 132 is connected by a pipe to the second nozzle 19.

[0058] The windshield washer fluid reservoir 42 is further connected by a pipe to a second pump 122. This pump draws the windshield washer fluid 40 from the reservoir 42 and transfers it to a third valve 134 and a fourth valve 136; these valves open or close the passage of the windshield washer fluid 40. The third valve 134 is connected by a pipe to the third nozzle 118; the fourth valve 136 is connected by a pipe to the fourth nozzle 119.

[0059] The windshield wiper system further comprises an operating unit 20 consisting of a microcontroller, electrically connected to the first wiper drive 16, the second wiper drive 116, the first pump 120, the second pump 122, the first valve 130, the second valve 132, and the third valve 134. and to the fourth valve 136 to individually control all the components mentioned above.

[0060] The operating unit 20 is connected to a camera 100 of the vehicle via a computer link; the link is not shown here for the sake of simplicity in the drawing. The camera 100 is installed in the vehicle's passenger compartment behind the windshield 30, with the camera 100's field of view directed forward.

[0061] The field of vision of camera 100 is occupied by dirt 90, which reduces the shooting efficiency of camera 10, which is a camera 100 of an environmental capture system (not detailed) of the vehicle.

[0062] With the above configuration, the operating unit 20 is designed to determine the partial area 50 of the windshield 30 to be cleaned; this partial area corresponds here to the overall wiping area 60 of the first wiper blade 14; the operating unit 20 of the camera 100 receives information concerning the field of vision limited by the dirt and, based on position information from the camera 100 recorded in the operating unit 20, determines the partial area 50 to be cleaned. This determination is made by setting, starting from the center of the dirt 90, and depending on the extent of the dirt 90 in the two directions of movement of the first wiper blade 14, a wiper blade deployment angle of 10° each time relative to the area 50 to be cleaned.

[0063] The operating unit 20 is designed to control the first wiper drive 16, to move the wiper blade 14 from the storage position 70 of the first wiper blade 14 to the thus determined partial area 50 of the windshield 30, and to activate the distribution of windshield washer fluid 40 when it reaches the partial area 50; for this purpose, the first pump 120, the first valve 130, and the second valve 132 are appropriately controlled. Furthermore, the operating unit 20 controls the first wiper drive 16 so that it sweeps exclusively the partial area 50 to clean it with a pendulum motion.

[0064] It should be noted that the operating unit 20 performs the cleaning of the driver's side of the windscreen 30 in a manner analogous to the above description when there is other dirt 90 in the area of ​​the second overall wiping zone 65.

[0065] It should also be noted that the dirt 90 can be in any position in the first global wiping zone 60 and / or in the second global wiping zone 65 whose actual position is determined, for example, with a second sensor of the vehicle designed to grasp the first global wiping zone 60 and / or the second global wiping zone 65.

[0066] Figures 2a-2h show an example of the wiper system cleaning sequences according to the invention. The basic structure of the wiper system shown corresponds essentially to the wiper system described in [Fig. 1]; some of the components described in [Fig. 1] have not been included to simplify the drawing, and their description should be referred to [Fig. 1]. The camera 100 described in [Fig. 1] is replaced here by a rain sensor 140 from the vehicle. The cleaning sequence below will be carried out using the operating unit 20 described in [Fig. 1] via a computer program.

[0067] Figure 2a shows the basic position of the wiper arms 12, 112 and their wiper blades 14, 114 before the cleaning sequence. Dirt 90 is located in the area of ​​the rain sensor 140; it was determined using the operating unit 20.

[0068] Figure 2b shows a brief squirt from the first nozzle 18 of the wiper blade 14 and the third nozzle 118 of the second wiper blade 114 to wet the windshield 30 in the upward direction of the first wiper arm 12 and the second wiper arm 112 with windshield washer fluid 40. This allows the subsequent movement of the two wiper arms 12, 112 to occur with less frictional resistance on the windshield 30. The need for this ejection arises because the operating unit 20 has determined, using the rain sensor 140, that the windshield 30 is not currently wet. The ejection ends before leaving the area which (according to Figure 1) is the storage position 70 of the two wiper arms 12, 112, in order to conserve windshield washer fluid 40.

[0069] Fig. 2b further shows the following state in which the first wiper blade 14 has reached the first end of the partial zone 50 to be cleaned and in which the second wiper blade 114 is moving towards the upper reversal position 80 (see Fig. 2c) of the second wiper blade 114. When the second partial zone 50 is reached, windshield washer fluid 40 is again distributed by the first nozzle 18 in the current direction of movement of the wiper blade 14 (see arrow) to clean the partial zone 50.

[0070] Figure 2c shows the state in which the first wiper blade 14 has reached the second end of the partial area 50 to be cleaned and reverses its movement in this position to perform a pendulum motion in this partial area 50. Thus, windshield washer fluid 40 is again distributed in this case, but through the second nozzle 19 to distribute windshield washer fluid 40 again in the direction of movement of the wiper blade 14. The second wiper blade 14 has at this moment reached the high reversal position 80 and remains in this position until the partial area 50 has been cleaned.

[0071] Figure 2d shows the state in which the first wiper blade 14 has again reached the first end of the partial zone 50; when it reaches this position, the first wiper blade 14 changes direction of movement again with the wiper arm 12 and windshield washer fluid 40 is again distributed by the first nozzle 18.

[0072] Fig.2e corresponds to the state described in Fig.2c and that is why reference will be made to Fig.2c to avoid repetition.

[0073] Fig.2f corresponds to the state described with Fig.2d and that is why we will refer to this description of Fig.2d to avoid repetition here.

[0074] Fig. 2g shows a state in which the dirt 90 (see Fig. 2a) has been removed by the cleaning sequence according to the invention, but there remains some windshield washer fluid 40 due to the distribution of windshield washer fluid 40 on the window 30.

[0075] Figure 2h shows the state of the first wiper blade 14, which, together with the first wiper arm 12 and the second wiper blade 114 and the second wiper arm 112, has returned to its stowed position. During the return of the two wiper blades 14 and 114, the remaining washer fluid 40 was removed from the windshield 30 by the wiper blades 14 and 114.

[0076] Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of a windshield wiper system according to the invention; this wiper system includes a windshield washer fluid reservoir 42 and a pump 120 for, when necessary, transferring windshield washer fluid 40 from the reservoir 42 to a set of valves 130, 132, 134, 136.

[0077] The valves 130, 132, 134, 136 are each designed to be individually controlled by the operating unit (not shown) to transfer the windshield washer fluid 40 to the nozzles 18, 19, 118, 119 of the corresponding valves 130, 132, 134, 136, nozzles associated with the wiper blades 14, 114 of the respective wiper arms 12, 112.

[0078] Figure 4 is a schematic view of a third embodiment of a windshield wiper system according to the invention. This wiper system comprises a windshield washer fluid reservoir 42, a first pump 120, a second pump 122, a third pump 124 and a fourth pump 126; these pumps transfer, when necessary, the windshield washer fluid 40 from the reservoir 42 individually to the nozzles 18, 19, 118, 119 of a first wiper blade 14 and a second wiper blade 114; the wiper blades 14, 114 are carried by the corresponding wiper arms 12, 112.

[0079] NOMENCLATURE OF MAIN ELEMENTS

[0080] 10 Windshield Wiper / Camera

[0081] 12 First wiper arm

[0082] 14 First wiper blade

[0083] 16 First wiper arm drive

[0084] 18 First cleaning nozzle

[0085]

[0086]

[0087]

[0088]

[0089]

[0090]

[0091]

[0092]

[0093]

[0094]

[0095]

[0096]

[0097]

[0098]

[0099]

[0100]

[0101]

[0102]

[0103]

[0104]

[0105]

[0106]

[0107] 19 Second cleaning nozzle 20 Operating unit 30 Windscreen 40 Windscreen washer fluid 42 Windscreen washer fluid reservoir 50 Glass section / first partial area to be cleaned 60 First overall wiping area 70 First wiper blade storage position 90 Dirt 100 Rain sensor / camera 112 Second wiper arm 114 Second wiper blade 116 Second wiper drive 118 Third cleaning nozzle 119 Fourth cleaning nozzle 120 First windshield washer fluid pump 122 Second windshield washer fluid pump 130 First valve 132 Second valve 134 Third valve 136 Fourth valve 140 Rain sensor 150 Partial area to be cleaned

Claims

Demands

1. Vehicle windshield wiper system comprising: * a windshield wiper (10) having at least ** a windshield wiper arm (12), ** a windshield wiper blade (14), ** a windshield wiper drive (16), * a cleaning nozzle (18) is located in the area of ​​the wiper blade (14) and is moved with the wiper arm (12) and the wiper blade (14) along the windshield (30) of the vehicle and distributes a windshield washer fluid (40) in the vicinity of the wiper blade (14), and * an operating unit (20) ** determining a portion (50) of the windshield (30) to be cleaned which is part of the overall wiping area (60) that the wiper blade (14) can travel through, ** controlling the wiper drive (16) to move the wiper blade (14) from an area of ​​a storage position (70) of the wiper blade (14) to the determined part (50), and ** controlling the distribution of windshield washer fluid (40) when reaching section (50) and the windshield wiper drive (16) to travel exclusively along section (50) with a pendulum motion, in which the operating unit (20) furthermore: * determines the degree of wetting of the windshield (30) by the liquid in the area of ​​the storage position (70) of the wiper blade (14), and * activates the distribution of windshield washer fluid (40) with the cleaning nozzle (18) in the area of ​​the storage position (70) of the windshield wiper blade (14) and then * deactivates again in the storage position area (70) if the degree of wetness is less than a predefined threshold and does not activate the distribution of windshield washer fluid (14) in the storage position area (70) if the degree of wetness corresponds at least to the threshold.

2. Windshield wiper system according to claim 1, in which the operating unit (20): * deactivates the distribution of windshield washer fluid (40) in the storage position area (70) of the wiper blade (14) after a predefined time or after exceeding a predefined angle by the wiper arm (12) in the storage position area (70), or * adjusts the pressure with which the windshield washer fluid (40) is distributed by the cleaning nozzle (18) according to the direction of movement of the wiper blade (14) or the type or extent of the current dirt (90).

3. Wiper system according to claim 1, wherein the degree of wetness of the glass (30) in the area of ​​the storage position (70) is determined by: * a rain sensor (140) or * a camera (100) or * meteorological data or the electrical consumption level of the wiper drive (16) or the vehicle's travel speed.

4. Wiper system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the part (50) to be cleaned is a predefined or determined part with a sensor (100, 140) and / or * the operating unit (20) determines the size of the part (50) to be cleaned according to the extent or type of actual dirt (90).

5. A windshield wiper system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating unit (20): * moves the wiper blade (40) by means of the wiper drive control (16) several times in the section (50) in a back-and-forth motion without leaving the section (50) or * activates the distribution of windshield washer fluid (40) in the section (50) continuously or successively several times or * adjusts the frequency of the wiper blade (14) passing over the section (50) or the frequency or duration of activation of the cleaning nozzle (18) in the section (50) or the wiping speed of the wiper blade (14) as a function of: ** a predefined parameter or ** the type or extent of soiling (90) in part (50) or ** the progress of the cleaning operation of part (50) determined by sensor or * the type or the amount of current rainfall or * the outside temperature or * the speed of traffic or * the position of the dirt (90) on the glass (30).

6. Windshield wiper system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which * The wiper cleaning nozzle is a first cleaning nozzle (18), * The wiper (10) has a second cleaning nozzle (19) on the opposite side of the first cleaning nozzle (18) in the wiper blade area (14) such that the wiper (10) from both cleaning nozzles (18, 19) distributes windshield washer fluid (40) both in the current direction of movement of the wiper blade (14) and in the opposite direction, and * The operating unit (20) is designed to adapt the first cleaning nozzle (18) and the second cleaning nozzle (19) according to the respective direction of movement of the wiper blade (14) or the type or extent of the dirt (90) individually or to adapt the distribution pressure of the windshield washer fluid (40) individually.

7. Windshield wiper system according to claim 6, to individually activate the first cleaning nozzle (18) and the second cleaning nozzle (19) from separate windshield washer fluid pumps (120, 122) and / or separate valves (130, 132) in the respective cleaning nozzle lines (18, 19).

8. A windshield wiper system according to any one of the preceding claims, in which * the windshield wiper (10) includes another wiper arm (12) with another wiper blade (114), another wiper drive (116) and another cleaning nozzle (118), * the operating unit (20) controlling the other wiper drive (116) and the other cleaning nozzle (119) to clean another part.

9. Wiper system according to claim 8, wherein the operating unit (20) moves the respective wiper arm (12, 112) of the wiper (10) from the current cleaning area which does not require cleaning by a control of the corresponding drive of the wiper arm (16, 116) to the high reversing position (80) and leaves it in this position until the cleaning of the window (30) by the other wiper arm (12, 112) is completed.

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