Vehicle windshield wiper system

Abstract

Title: Vehicle Windshield Wiper Device A windshield wiper device (10) for a motor vehicle comprising a drive unit (14), a control unit (16) for the drive unit (14), a wiper blade (18), and an operating means (20) for sensing the environment. Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Vehicle windshield wiper device FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle windshield wiper device comprising a drive unit controlled by a control installation and a wiper blade. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] Such vehicle wiper devices are already known.

[0003] DESCRIPTION AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention relates to a windshield wiper device for a motor vehicle comprising a drive system, a control system for controlling the drive system and a wiper blade, this device being characterized in that it includes an operating means for sensing the state of the environment.

[0005] The windshield wiper device according to the invention has the advantage of having an operating means for sensing the state of the environment. This allows the wiping device to be adjusted to optimize the wiping result according to the corresponding state of the environment.

[0006] According to a simple, economical and advantageous development, the drive installation includes an electric motor and the operating unit uses the data from the electric motor.

[0007] Particularly advantageously, the motor data are the current draw and / or the voltage curve and / or the phase shift. From such data, conclusions can be drawn regarding the state of the environment captured by a sensor.

[0008] According to a simple and economical, and therefore advantageous, embodiment, the sensor is an acceleration sensor and / or an environmental parameter sensor, in particular a temperature, humidity, or solar radiation sensor. A particular advantage arises if the sensor is integrated into the windshield wiper blade.

[0009] According to a particularly advantageous development, the state of the environment is that of the current data of the vehicle, in particular, the speed of the vehicle and / or its acceleration.

[0010] It is also advantageous to provide a unit for transmitting environmental state parameters to a server.

[0011] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0012] The present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

[0013] [Fig-1] Schematic view of an embodiment of the invention showing a windshield wiper device applied to the window.

[0014] DESCRIPTION OF THE METHOD OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Fig. 1 shows a windshield wiper device 10 according to the invention and a schematic representation of the window 12 to be wiped.

[0016] The windshield wiper device 10 according to the invention comprises a drive system 14 connected to a control system 16. The drive system 14 is connected to the windshield wiper blade 18 by driving the latter to wipe dirt and rain from the windshield 12.

[0017] The drive unit 14 is controlled by the control unit 16.

[0018] An operating means 20 is also provided in the control installation 16. The operating means 20 is used to capture environmental situations. For this purpose, the operating means 20 uses data from the motor transmitted via a link line 22 connecting the drive unit 14 and the control unit 16.

[0019] The motor data here refers to the electrical power consumed by the electric motor which is part of the drive system 14. Alternatively, the voltage curve, phase shift or any other motor parameter can also be used.

[0020] Alternatively or in addition, a sensor 24 is provided which captures the state of the environment. The sensor 24 is an acceleration sensor, but it can also capture other environmental parameters, for example, temperature, air humidity or solar radiation.

[0021] According to one embodiment, the sensor 24 is integrated into the wiper blade 18. It is also possible to have another sensor in the control installation 16 next to the sensor 24 in the wiper blade 18.

[0022] The state of the environment is represented by any parameter of the environment. This includes, for example, weather conditions represented by meteorological data, as well as other data, including vehicle-related data. For instance, the vehicle's speed and / or acceleration can be recorded. This allows for the detection of conditions such as traffic jams, heavy traffic, stop / start operation, or other traffic states. Similarly, for example, an acoustic sensor can detect the arrival of emergency vehicles or police vehicles.

[0023] With the data representing the states of the environment, the drive installation 14 and the operation of the wiper blade 18 will be optimally controlled.

[0024] The control installation 16 of this embodiment also includes a transmission unit 26.

[0025] The transmission unit 26 transmits the state of the environment or the parameters of the environment to a server 28 located away from the wiper device 10 and with which it communicates via a wireless link 30, for example, via a mobile phone network.

[0026] The server 28 can also transmit information via the transmission unit 26 to the control unit 16; this information is, for example, taken into account for the control of the drive unit 14.

[0027] The server 16 can also transmit this information to other vehicles and, for example, whose windshield wiper device 10 is controlled accordingly, or information that will be used in another way.

[0028] With information concerning the condition and / or behavior of the wiper device 10, it is possible, for example, to detect wear or defects such as clunking as a state of the environment and to control, accordingly, the drive unit 14.

[0029] For example, the operating means 20 detects, by means of the acceleration sensor which is the sensor 24 integrated in the wiper 18 that the wiper 18 comes to rest against the edge of the window, this information can be used to control the control system 16 for the movement of the wiper blade 18 on the drive system 14, for example, to reduce the angle of the pendulum movement or by detecting the clicking noise of the wiper blade 18, to control the drive system 14 to avoid this noise.

[0030] If the sensor 24 detects, for example, smoke or air pollution at a certain location, it can switch the vehicle's air intake flap to the circulation mode. The transmission unit 26 and the server 28 can also receive this information from vehicles that are still some distance away and approaching that location.

Claims

Demands

1. Windshield wiper device (10) for a motor vehicle comprising a drive unit (14), a control unit (16) for controlling the drive unit (14), a wiper blade (18) and an operating means (20) for sensing the environment, characterized in that the drive unit (14) comprises an electric motor and the operating means (20) uses data from the electric motor.

2. Wiper device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the electric motor data are the current draw and / or voltage curve or phase shift.

3. Wiper device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it includes a sensor (24) for sensing the environment situation.

4. Wiper device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the sensor (24) is an acceleration sensor and / or an environmental parameter sensor, in particular a temperature sensor, an air humidity sensor or a solar radiation sensor.

5. Wiper device (10) according to any one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the sensor (24) is in the wiper blade (18).

6. Windshield wiper device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the states of the environment includes a current data of the vehicle, in particular the speed of the vehicle and / or the acceleration of the vehicle.

7. Windshield wiper device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a transmission unit (26) transmits the environmental parameters of the state of the environment to a server (28) via a link including wireless with the control installation (16).

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