Wiping device

Abstract

To provide a wiping device capable of suppressing the occurrence of puddle lines caused by the stopping of a wiper blade.SOLUTION: There is provided a wiping device which reciprocates a wiper blade within a predetermined wiping range by a predetermined drive control device. The drive control device includes, as control modes, a normal mode and a narrow wiping mode in which the wiping range is narrower than that in the normal mode. When stopping narrow-angle wiping in the narrow wiping mode, the drive control device causes the wiper blade to move to an upper reversal position within the wiping range and then causes the wiper blade to move to a stop position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wiping device.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses a wiper device mounted on an autonomous vehicle. This wiper device is a wiper device that performs autonomous driving using a captured image obtained by an imaging device, and includes a wiper operation control unit that controls a wiping operation by adjusting at least one of a wiping range, a wiping speed, and an intermittent time that is a standby time from the completion of a wiping operation to the start of the next wiping operation. When the vehicle is performing manual driving, the wiper operation control unit performs a first wiping operation as a wiping operation, and when the vehicle is performing autonomous driving, it performs a second wiping operation different from the first wiping operation as a wiping operation.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] By the way, in the wiper device of Patent Document 1 above, in the second wiping operation, the first wiper blade is separated from the second wiper blade and temporarily stopped at the upper end position in the wiping range, and the second wiping operation is performed by the second wiper blade. Thus, by stopping the first wiper blade at the upper end position in the wiping range, there is a risk of obstructing the driver's view due to the generation of a water pool line at the stop position.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a wiping device capable of suppressing the generation of a water pool line caused by the stop of a wiper blade.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, as a first solution means related to a wiping device, there is provided a wiping device that reciprocates a wiper blade within a predetermined wiping range by a predetermined drive control device. The drive control device includes a normal mode and a narrow wiping mode in which the wiping range is narrower than the normal mode as control modes. When stopping the narrow-angle wiping in the narrow wiping mode, the wiper blade is moved to the upper inversion position within the wiping range and then moved to the stop position. The means as described above is adopted.

[0007] In the present invention, as a second solution means related to a wiping device, in the above first solution means, when the drive control device stops the narrow-angle wiping while the wiper blade is moving to the upper inversion position, the wiper blade is moved to the upper inversion position and then moved to the stop position. The means as described above is adopted.

[0008] In the present invention, as a third solution means related to a wiping device, in the above first solution means, when the drive control device stops the narrow-angle wiping while the wiper blade is moving from the upper inversion position, the wiper blade is folded back at the lower inversion position for the narrow wiping mode and moved to the upper inversion position and then moved to the stop position. The means as described above is adopted.

[0009] In the present invention, as a fourth solution means related to a wiping device, in any of the above first to third solution means, the narrow wiping mode is a heavy rain mode or an ultra-heavy rain mode in which the wiping cycle is higher than that in the normal mode. The means as described above is adopted.

[0010] In the present invention, as a fifth solution means related to a wiping device, in any of the above first to fourth solution means, the drive control device reciprocates a pair of the wiper blades with one power source. The means as described above is adopted.

[0011] In the present invention, as a sixth solution means related to the wiping device, in any of the first to fourth solution means, the drive control device employs a means comprising one drive source for reciprocating one of the wiper blades and the other drive source for reciprocating the other wiper blade.

Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a wiping device capable of suppressing the generation of water accumulation lines caused by the stop of the wiper blade.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0013]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0014] 〔First Embodiment〕 First, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The wiping device A according to the first embodiment is mounted on various vehicles such as gasoline vehicles, hybrid vehicles, or electric vehicles, and is a device for wiping rainwater adhering to the surface (wiped surface W) of a wiped member such as a front glass or a rear glass.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, this wiping device A includes a pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p, a pair of wiper arms 2d and 2p, a link mechanism 3, a motor 4 (power source), an angle detection circuit 5, a control unit 6, and a drive circuit 7. Among these components, the control unit 6 includes a ROM (Read Only Memory) 61, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 62, and a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 63 as shown in the figure.

[0016] In addition, the motor 4 (power source), the angle detection circuit 5, the control unit 6, and the drive circuit 7 described above constitute a drive control device as a whole. That is, the motor 4 (power source), the angle detection circuit 5, the control unit 6, and the drive circuit 7 cooperate to reciprocate a pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p.

[0017] Such a wiping device A adopts a single-motor drive method in which a pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p are reciprocated by one motor 4 (power source) by mechanically connecting a pair of wiper arms 2d and 2p using a link mechanism 3. That is, the wiping device A according to the first embodiment has a basic configuration in which a pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p are simultaneously driven by one motor 4 (power source).

[0018] In addition, this wiping device A adopts a parallel wiping method in which a pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p move in the same direction. That is, when one wiper arm 2d provided on the driver's seat side moves upward from bottom to top, the other wiper arm 2p provided on the passenger seat side moves upward from bottom to top in the same manner as the wiper arm 2d on the driver's seat side. Also, when the wiper arm 2d on the driver's seat side moves downward from top to bottom, the wiper arm 2p on the passenger seat side also moves downward from top to bottom.

[0019] In addition, in each reference numeral shown in FIG. 1, “d” indicates a member or part related to the driver's seat side of the vehicle, and “p” indicates a member or part related to the passenger seat side of the vehicle. Further, in FIG. 1, reference numeral Rd represents the wiping range (driver's seat wiping range) of the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side, and reference numeral Rp represents the wiping range (passenger seat wiping range) of the wiper blade 1p on the passenger seat side.

[0020] The driver's seat wiping range Rd is a range extending from the downward inversion position PLd to the upward inversion position PUd as the movement locus of the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side. The above-mentioned downward inversion position PLd is the position where the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side reverses from the downward movement to the upward movement. Also, the downward inversion position PLd is the stop position of the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side when wiping is stopped. On the other hand, the above-mentioned upward inversion position PUd is the position where the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side reverses from the upward movement to the downward movement.

[0021] The passenger seat wiping range Rp is a fan-shaped range extending from the downward inversion position PLp to the upward inversion position PUp as the movement locus of the wiper blade 1p on the passenger seat side. The above-mentioned downward inversion position PLp is the position where the wiper blade 1p on the passenger seat side reverses from the downward movement to the upward movement. Also, the downward inversion position PLp is the stop position of the wiper blade 1p on the passenger seat side when wiping is stopped. On the other hand, the above-mentioned upward inversion position PUp is the position where the wiper blade 1p on the passenger seat side reverses from the downward movement to the upward movement.

[0022] The pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p are rod-shaped members arranged on the surface W to be wiped as shown in the figure. The pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p are in contact with the surface W to be wiped, and wipe the rainwater on the surface W to be wiped by reciprocating (oscillating) on the surface W to be wiped. Such a pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p are mechanically connected to the motor 4 via a pair of wiper arms 2d, 2p and a link mechanism 3.

[0023] That is, the driver's side wiper blade 1d is connected to the motor 4 via the wiper arm 2d provided on the driver's side. The passenger's side wiper blade 1p is connected to the motor 4 via the wiper arm 2p and the link mechanism 3 provided on the passenger's side.

[0024] The pair of wiper arms 2d and 2p are rod-shaped members as shown in the figure. One end is connected to an intermediate portion of the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p, and the other end is connected to the pair of wiper shafts Td and Tp. That is, one end of the driver's side wiper arm 2d is connected to an intermediate portion of the driver's side wiper blade 1d, and the other end is connected to the driver's side wiper shaft Td.

[0025] On the other hand, one end of the passenger's side wiper arm 2p is connected to an intermediate portion of the passenger's side wiper blade 1p, and the other end is connected to the passenger's side wiper shaft Tp. Note that such a pair of wiper arms 2d and 2p are members included in the components of the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p.

[0026] Such a pair of wiper arms 2d and 2p function as power transmission components that mechanically transmit the rotational power of the motor 4 to the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p. Also, the pair of wiper arms 2d and 2p function as biasing members that press the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p against the wiped surface W with a predetermined pressing force.

[0027] The link mechanism 3 is a mechanical component that is mechanically connected to the other ends of the pair of wiper arms 2d and 2p and the output shaft of the motor 4. This link mechanism 3 includes a support shaft fixed to the vehicle and is rotatable around the support shaft. The output shaft of the motor 4 is connected to the link mechanism 3. By operating the rotation angle of the link mechanism 3, the motor 4 reciprocates the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p. Note that this motor 4 is the power source in the first embodiment.

[0028] 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 the operating angles of a pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p mechanically connected by the link mechanism 3. Such an angle signal specifically consists of a relative position signal indicating the relative positions of the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p and an absolute position signal indicating the absolute positions of the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p.

[0029] The above relative position signal is a pulse signal (motor pulse) generated as the motor 4 rotates, 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-shot pulse signal emitted when the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p reach the control reference positions. The above control reference positions are, for example, the lower inversion positions PLd and PLp.

[0030] The control unit 6 generates a drive command based on the switch signal input from the upper control device, the power supply voltage Vcc input from the drive circuit 7, and the angle signal input from the angle detection circuit 5. The control unit 6 outputs the above drive command to the drive circuit 7, thereby controlling the reciprocating motion of the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p via the drive circuit 7 and the motor 4 (power source).

[0031] The above switch signal is an upper control command for instructing the wiping device A about the ON / OFF of the wiper switch provided in the vehicle, the designation of the heavy rain mode, the ON / OFF of the mist switch, the intermittent operation (Lo, Hi, INT), etc. Also, the above drive command is, for example, a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal, and is a control command for operating the drive circuit 7 based on the duty ratio, which is the attribute information, that is, the ratio of the Hi (high) period to the Lo (low) period in the step signal.

[0032] In the control unit 6, the ROM 61 is a non-volatile memory. This ROM 61 stores a control program that the CPU 63 executes to perform feedback control on a pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p via the motor 4 (power source). Also, this ROM 61 stores an operation map necessary for the CPU 63 to execute the above control program.

[0033] The above operation map is control data that the CPU 63 refers to when executing control processing based on the control program. This operation map is a group of control data indicating the time-series target speeds of the driver's seat wiper blade 1d and the passenger seat wiper blade 1p in the driver's seat wiping range Rd and the passenger seat wiping range Rp.

[0034] The RAM 62 is a volatile memory. This RAM 62 temporarily stores various calculation data generated when the CPU 63 executes the control program. This RAM 62 temporarily stores, for example, time-series data of the drive voltage (power supply voltage Vcc).

[0035] The CPU 63 generates a drive command by executing the control program stored in advance in the ROM 61 and outputs it to the drive circuit 7. When executing the control program, this CPU 63 refers to the switch signal input from the upper control device, the angle signal input from the angle detection circuit 5, and the operation map stored in advance in the ROM 61. That is, the CPU 63 generates a drive command by referring to the switch signal, the angle signal, and the operation map based on the control program.

[0036] Here, the CPU 63 generates a drive command so as to have a wiping cycle corresponding to the control mode (operation mode). The above control modes include a normal mode, a Hi mode, a heavy rain mode, a super heavy rain mode, etc. The CPU 63 refers to the operation map corresponding to the control mode to realize the reciprocating motion (oscillating motion) of a pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p corresponding to the control mode.

[0037] The normal mode corresponds to the driver's seat wiping range Rd and the passenger seat wiping range Rp described above, and is a control mode corresponding to a normal wiping cycle. In contrast, the Hi mode corresponds to the driver's seat wiping range Rd and the passenger seat wiping range Rp, and is a control mode corresponding to a wiping cycle slightly faster than the normal mode.

[0038] In the heavy rain mode, each upward inversion position on the driver's seat side and the passenger seat side is equivalent to the upward inversion positions PUd and PUp, but each downward inversion position on the driver's seat side and the passenger seat side is set to positions PMd and PMp (downward inversion positions for the sandwich wiping mode) slightly higher than the downward inversion positions PLd and PLp.

[0039] That is, the heavy rain mode is an operation mode with a narrow wiping range set by the upward inversion positions PUd and PUp and the downward inversion positions PMd and PMp for the sandwich wiping mode. Such a heavy rain mode corresponds to the narrow wiping mode of the present invention. Also, this heavy rain mode is a control mode in which the wiping cycle is set to a high wiping cycle faster than the normal mode.

[0040] Also, the super heavy rain mode has a wiping range equivalent to that of the above-described heavy rain mode, but is a control mode in which the wiping cycle is slightly faster than the heavy rain mode. This super heavy rain mode corresponds to the high wiping mode in the present invention, and is a control mode with a higher wiping cycle and a narrower wiping range than the normal mode and the Hi mode.

[0041] The drive circuit 7 is a signal generation circuit that generates a drive signal based on a drive command input from the CPU 63. This drive circuit 7 rotates the motor 4 at a desired rotational speed by outputting the drive signal to the motor 4. Such a drive circuit 7 is, for example, a three-phase inverter circuit including a plurality of switching transistors.

[0042] Next, the operation of the wiping device A according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2. This flowchart shows the procedure of the control process in the CPU 63 that constitutes the drive control device.

[0043] When the CPU 63 starts operating, it sequentially obtains upper-level control commands by capturing switch signals input from the upper-level control device at a predetermined timing. For example, when the heavy rain mode is indicated by a switch signal (upper-level control command), the CPU 63 causes the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p to perform narrow-angle wiping corresponding to the heavy rain mode, that is, narrow-angle wiping between the upward inversion positions PUd, PUp and the downward inversion positions PMd, PMp for the pinch wiping mode.

[0044] While the CPU 63 is controlling the reciprocating movement of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p corresponding to such a heavy rain mode, it determines whether it has obtained a switch signal (upper-level control command) indicating "switch OFF", that is, (wiping stop) (step S1). And when the determination in step S1 by the CPU 63 is "No", that is, when it has not obtained a switch signal to turn off the heavy rain mode, the CPU 63 continues the narrow-angle wiping corresponding to the heavy rain mode (step S2).

[0045] On the other hand, when the determination in step S1 by the CPU 63 is "Yes", that is, when it turns off the heavy rain mode and obtains a switch signal (upper-level control command) instructing a switch from the heavy rain mode to the normal mode, the CPU 63 determines whether the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p has moved to the upward inversion positions PUd, PUp (step S3).

[0046] And when the determination in step S3 by the CPU 63 is "No", that is, when the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p has not moved to the upward inversion positions PUd, PUp, the CPU 63 determines whether the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p is at the stop position (step S4). And when the determination in step S4 by the CPU 63 is "No", that is, when the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p has not moved to the stop position, the CPU 63 continues the wiping operation by the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p (step S5).

[0047] On the other hand, when the determination in step S4 is "Yes", that is, when the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p have moved to the stop position, the CPU 63 stops the wiping operation by the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p (step S6).

[0048] Furthermore, when the determination in step S3 is "Yes", that is, when the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p have moved to the up-reversal positions PUd and PUp, the CPU 63 sets the specified speed indicated by the switch signal as the moving speed of the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p (step S7), and then moves the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p to the stop position (down-reversal positions PLd and PLp) (step S8).

[0049] Here, when stopping the narrow-angle wiping in the heavy rain mode (narrow wiping mode) based on the switch signal (upper control command) as described above, the CPU 63 controls the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p differently according to the moving direction (downward movement / upward movement) of the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p.

[0050] That is, as shown in FIG. 3(a), when the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p are moving to the up-reversal positions PUd and PUp and the narrow-angle wiping in the heavy rain mode or the super heavy rain mode (narrow wiping mode) is stopped, the CPU 63 moves the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p to the up-reversal positions PUd and PUp and then moves them to the stop position (down-reversal positions PLd and PLp).

[0051] On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3(b), when the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p are moving from the up-reversal positions PUd and PUp and the narrow-angle wiping in the heavy rain mode or the super heavy rain mode (narrow wiping mode) is stopped, the CPU 63 folds back the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p at the down-reversal positions PMd and PMp for the narrow wiping mode and moves them to the up-reversal positions PUd and PUp, and then moves them to the stop position (down-reversal positions PLd and PLp).

[0052] The wiping device A according to the first embodiment drives a pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p by a single motor drive system, and a pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p are reciprocated within a predetermined wiping range Rd and Rp by a predetermined drive control device (motor 4, angle detection circuit 5, control unit 6, and drive circuit 7).

[0053] In this wiping device A, the drive control device (motor 4, angle detection circuit 5, control unit 6, and drive circuit 7) has a normal mode and a heavy rain mode (narrow wiping mode) in which the wiping range is narrower than that in the normal mode as control modes. When stopping the narrow-angle wiping in the heavy rain mode (narrow wiping mode), after moving the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p to the upward inversion positions PUd and PUp in the wiping ranges Rd and Rp, they are moved to the stop positions (downward inversion positions PLd and PLp).

[0054] According to the first embodiment, the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p pass through the downward inversion positions PMd and PMp for the narrow wiping mode and move to the stop positions (downward inversion positions PLd and PLp). Therefore, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to suppress the generation of water accumulation lines caused by the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p stopping at the downward inversion positions PMd and PMp for the narrow wiping mode.

[0055] 〔Second Embodiment〕 The second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4. In FIG. 4, the same reference numerals are given to the components similar to those in the first embodiment.

[0056] Similar to the wiping device A according to the first embodiment, the wiping device B according to the second embodiment is mounted on various vehicles and wipes rainwater on the surfaces (wiped surfaces W) of the front glass and the rear glass. As shown in the figure, this wiping device B includes a drive control device 10 that individually drives a pair of motors 4d and 4p. As shown in the figure, this drive control device 10 includes a pair of motors 4d and 4p and a pair of wiper drive control units 10d and 10p corresponding to the pair of motors 4d and 4p.

[0057] That is, this wiping device B is a wiping device of a dual-motor drive system having a basic configuration including one motor 4d (power source) for reciprocating one wiper blade 1d and the other motor 4p (power source) for reciprocating the other wiper blade 1p. Further, as shown in the figure, this wiping device B employs a counter wiping type in which a pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p reciprocate facing each other.

[0058] Among the pair of motors 4d and 4p, the motor 4d (one power source) on the driver's seat side is a power source on the driver's seat side that reciprocates the wiper blade 4d (one wiper blade) on the driver's seat side corresponding to itself. This motor 4d includes a motor body 8d and a speed reduction mechanism 9d. Further, the motor 4p (the other power source) on the passenger seat side is a power source on the passenger seat side that reciprocates the wiper blade 4p (the other wiper blade) on the passenger seat side corresponding to itself. This motor 4p includes a motor body 8p and a speed reduction mechanism 9p.

[0059] Among the pair of wiper drive control units 10d and 10p, the first wiper drive control unit 10d drives and controls the motor 4d (one power source) on the driver's seat side corresponding to the wiper blade 1d (one wiper blade) on the driver's seat side. Further, the second wiper drive control unit 10p drives and controls the motor 4p (the other power source) on the passenger seat side corresponding to the wiper blade 1p (the other wiper blade) on the passenger seat side.

[0060] The first wiper drive control unit 10d is a drive control unit corresponding to the motor 4d (one power source) on the driver's seat side, and includes one angle detection circuit 11d, one ROM (Read Only Memory) 12d, one RAM (Random Access Memory) 13d, one communication circuit 14d, one CPU (Central Processing Unit) 15d, and one drive circuit 16d.

[0061] The second wiper drive control unit 10p is a drive control unit corresponding to the motor 4p (the other power source) on the passenger seat side, and includes the other angle detection circuit 11p, the other ROM (Read Only Memory) 12p, the other RAM (Random Access Memory) 13p, the other communication circuit 14p, the other CPU (Central Processing Unit) 15p, and the other drive circuit 16p.

[0062] The first wiper drive control unit 10d drives the motor 4d on the driver's seat side to reciprocate (oscillate) the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side with the wiper shaft Td as a fulcrum. The second wiper drive control unit 10p drives the motor 4p on the passenger seat side to reciprocate (oscillate) the wiper blade 1p on the passenger seat side with the wiper shaft Tp as a fulcrum.

[0063] In such a first wiper drive control unit 10d, the angle detection circuit 11d on the driver's seat side has a function similar to that of the angle detection circuit 5 in the first embodiment, and outputs an angle signal proportional to the rotation angle of the motor body 8d on the driver's seat side to the CPU 15d on the driver's seat side. This angle signal is a signal indicating the operating angle of the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side, and is composed of the relative position signal and the absolute position signal described in the first embodiment.

[0064] The ROM 12d on the driver's seat side is a non-volatile memory. This ROM 12d stores a control program for the CPU 15d to perform feedback control on the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side. In addition, this ROM 12d stores an operation map that the CPU 15d on the driver's seat side refers to when executing the control program.

[0065] The above operation map indicates the target speed of the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side in the driver's seat wiping range Rd. The RAM 13d on the driver's seat side is a volatile memory. This RAM 13d temporarily stores various data generated when the CPU 15d executes the control program.

[0066] The communication circuit 14d on the driver's seat side transmits and receives control information to and from the second wiper drive control unit 10p. This communication circuit 14d receives, as the control information, for example, the current position of the wiper blade 1p on the passenger seat side from the communication circuit 14p of the second wiper drive control unit 10p. Also, this communication circuit 14d transmits, as the control information, for example, the current position of the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side to the communication circuit 14p of the second wiper drive control unit 10p.

[0067] The CPU 15d on the driver's seat side generates a drive command by executing a control program stored in advance in the ROM 12d on the driver's seat side, and outputs this drive command to the drive circuit 16d. When executing the control program, this CPU 15d refers to a switch signal input from a host control device, an angle signal input from the angle detection circuit 11d, control information input from the communication circuit 14d on the driver's seat side, and an operation map stored in advance in the ROM 12d.

[0068] That is, this CPU 15d generates a drive command by referring to the switch signal, the angle signal, the control information, and the operation map based on the control program. This drive command instructs the drive circuit 16d to drive the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side and is a control command that takes into account the drive control state of the wiper blade 1p on the passenger seat side in the second wiper drive control unit 10p.

[0069] The above drive command controls the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side so that the moving speed of the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side obtained from the angle signal is equal to the target speed in the operation map and is synchronized with the movement of the wiper blade 1p on the passenger seat side. Such a drive command is a PWM signal as in the first embodiment.

[0070] The drive circuit 16d on the driver's seat side is a three-phase inverter circuit including a plurality of switching transistors, similar to the drive circuit 7 of the first embodiment. This drive circuit 16d generates three-phase drive signals based on a plurality of PWM signals input from the CPU 15d on the driver's seat side and outputs them to the motor 4 (power source).

[0071] On the other hand, in the second wiper drive control unit 10p, the angle detection circuit 11p on the passenger seat side has a function similar to that of the angle detection circuit 5 in the first embodiment, and outputs an angle signal proportional to the rotation angle of the motor body 8p on the passenger seat side to the CPU 15p on the passenger seat side. This angle signal is a signal indicating the operating angle of the wiper blade 1p on the passenger seat side, and is composed of the relative position signal and the absolute position signal described in the first embodiment.

[0072] The ROM 12p on the passenger seat side is a non-volatile memory. This ROM 12p stores a control program for the CPU 15p on the passenger seat side to perform feedback control on the wiper blade 1p on the passenger seat side. In addition, this ROM 12p stores an operation map necessary for the CPU 15p on the passenger seat side to execute the above control program.

[0073] The operation map indicates the target speed of the wiper blade 1p on the passenger seat side in the passenger seat wiping range Rp. Note that the control program stored in this ROM 12p is substantially the same as the control program stored in the ROM 12d of the first wiper drive control unit 10d. The RAM 13p on the passenger seat side is a volatile memory. This RAM 13p temporarily stores various data generated when the CPU 15p on the passenger seat side executes the control program.

[0074] The communication circuit 14p on the passenger seat side transmits and receives control information to and from the first wiper drive control unit 10d. This communication circuit 14p receives, as the above control information, for example, the current position of the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side from the communication circuit 14d on the driver's seat side. In addition, this communication circuit 14p transmits, as the above control information, for example, the current position of the wiper blade 1p on the passenger seat side to the communication circuit 14d on the driver's seat side.

[0075] The CPU 15p on the passenger seat side generates a drive command by executing a control program pre-stored in the ROM 12p on the passenger seat side, and outputs this drive command to the drive circuit 16p on the passenger seat side. When executing the control program, this CPU 15p refers to the switch signal input from the upper control device, the angle signal input from the angle detection circuit 11p, the control information input from the communication circuit 14p, and the operation map pre-stored in the ROM 12p.

[0076] That is, this CPU 15p generates a drive command by referring to the switch signal, the angle signal, the control information, and the operation map based on the control program. This drive command instructs the drive circuit 16p on the passenger seat side to drive the wiper blade 1p on the passenger seat side and is a control command considering the drive control state of the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side in the first wiper drive control unit 10d.

[0077] The above drive command controls the wiper blade 1p on the passenger seat side so that the moving speed of the wiper blade 1p on the passenger seat side obtained from the angle signal becomes equal to the target speed in the operation map and is synchronized with the movement of the wiper blade 1p on the driver's seat side. This drive command is a PWM signal similar to the drive command on the driver's seat side.

[0078] The drive circuit 16p on the passenger seat side is a three-phase inverter circuit including a plurality of switching transistors similar to the drive circuit 16 on the driver's seat side. This drive circuit 16p generates a three-phase drive signal based on a plurality of PWM signals input from the CPU 15p on the passenger seat side and outputs it to the motor 4p on the passenger seat side.

[0079] Next, the operation of the wiping device B according to the second embodiment will be described. In this wiping device B, the first wiper drive control unit 10d controls the rotation of the motor 4d on the driver's seat side based on a control program, so that the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side performs a wiping operation on the surface W to be wiped. Also, in this wiping device B, the second wiper drive control unit 10p controls the rotation of the motor 4p on the passenger seat side based on a control program, so that the wiper blade 1p on the passenger seat side performs a wiping operation on the surface W to be wiped.

[0080] Also, in this wiping device B, the control information of the first wiper drive control unit 10d and the control information of the second wiper drive control unit 10p are mutually provided via a pair of communication circuits 14d, 14p. Thereby, the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side and the wiper blade 1p on the passenger seat side perform wiping operations synchronously.

[0081] The control of the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side by the first wiper drive control unit 10d and the control of the wiper blade 1p on the passenger seat side by the second wiper drive control unit 10p are the same. That is, the pair of CPUs 15d, 15p in the pair of wiper drive control units 10d, 10p operate according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 2 and the schematic diagram in FIG. 3 in the same manner as the CPU 63 in the first embodiment.

[0082] That is, when starting operation, the pair of CPUs 15d, 15p sequentially acquire upper-level control commands by capturing the switch signal input from the upper-level control device at a predetermined timing. For example, when the heavy rain mode is instructed by the switch signal (upper-level control command), the pair of CPUs 15d, 15p cause the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p to perform narrow-angle wiping corresponding to the heavy rain mode, that is, narrow-angle wiping between the upper inversion positions Pud, Pup and the lower inversion positions PMd, PMp for the narrow wiping mode.

[0083] When the pair of CPUs 15d and 15p are controlling the reciprocating motion of the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p corresponding to such heavy rain mode, it is determined whether a switch signal (upper control command) instructing "Switch OFF", that is, (wiper stop), has been obtained (step S1). Then, when the determination in step S1 by the pair of CPUs 15d and 15p is "No", that is, when a switch signal for turning off the heavy rain mode has not been obtained, the narrow-angle wiping corresponding to the heavy rain mode is continued (step S2).

[0084] On the other hand, when the determination in step S1 by the pair of CPUs 15d and 15p is "Yes", that is, when the heavy rain mode is turned off and a switch signal (upper control command) instructing the switching from the heavy rain mode to the normal mode is obtained, it is determined whether the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p have moved to the upper inversion positions PUd and PUp (step S3).

[0085] Then, when the determination in step S3 by the pair of CPUs 15d and 15p is "No", that is, when the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p have not moved to the upper inversion positions PUd and PUp, it is determined whether the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p are at the stop positions (step S4). And when the determination in step S4 by the pair of CPUs 15d and 15p is "No", that is, when the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p have not moved to the stop positions, the wiping operation by the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p is continued (step S5).

[0086] On the other hand, when the determination in step S4 by the pair of CPUs 15d and 15p is "Yes", that is, when the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p have moved to the stop positions, the wiping operation by the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p is stopped (step S6).

[0087] Further, when the determination in step S3 is "Yes", that is, when the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p have moved to the upper inversion positions PUd and PUp, the pair of CPUs 15d and 15p set the designated speed indicated by the switch signal as the moving speed of the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p (step S7), and then move the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p to the stop positions (lower inversion positions PLd and PLp) (step S8).

[0088] Here, when stopping the narrow-angle wiping in the heavy rain mode (narrow wiping mode) based on the switch signal (upper control command) as described above, the pair of CPUs 15d and 15p control the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p differently according to the moving directions (downward movement / upward movement) of the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p.

[0089] That is, as shown in Fig. 3(a), when the pair of CPUs 15d and 15p stop the narrow-angle wiping in the heavy rain mode (narrow wiping mode) when the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p are moving to the upper inversion positions PUd and PUp, after moving the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p to the upper inversion positions PUd and PUp, they move them to the stop positions (lower inversion positions PLd and PLp).

[0090] On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 3(b), when the pair of CPUs 15d and 15p stop the narrow-angle wiping in the heavy rain mode (narrow wiping mode) when the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p are moving from the upper inversion positions PUd and PUp, they fold back the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p at the lower inversion positions PMd and PMp for the narrow wiping mode and move them to the upper inversion positions PUd and PUp, and then move them to the stop positions (lower inversion positions PLd and PLp).

[0091] The wiping device B according to the second embodiment drives the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p in a dual-motor drive manner, and reciprocates the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p within a predetermined wiping range Rd and Rp by a predetermined drive control device 10.

[0092] In addition, in this wiping device B, the drive control device 10 includes a normal mode and a heavy rain mode (narrow wiping mode) in which the wiping range is narrower than that in the normal mode as control modes. When stopping the narrow-angle wiping in the heavy rain mode (narrow wiping mode), after moving the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p to the upward inversion positions PUd and PUp of the wiping ranges Rd and Rp, they are moved to the stop positions (downward inversion positions PLd and PLp).

[0093] According to such a second embodiment, the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p pass through the downward inversion positions PMd and PMp for the narrow wiping mode and move to the stop positions (downward inversion positions PLd and PLp). Therefore, according to the second embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, it is possible to suppress the generation of water accumulation lines caused by the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p stopping at the downward inversion positions PMd and PMp for the narrow wiping mode.

Explanation of Signs

[0094] A, B... wiping devices, W... wiped surface, PUd, PUp... upward inversion positions, PLd, PLp... downward inversion positions (stop positions), PMd, PMp... downward inversion positions for the narrow wiping mode, Rd, Rp... wiping ranges, Td, Tp... fulcrums, 1d, 1p... wiper blades, 2d, 2p... wiper arms, 3... link mechanism, 4, 4d, 4p... motors (power sources), 5... angle detection circuit, 6... control unit, 61... ROM, 62... RAM, 63... CPU, 7... drive circuit, 8d, 8p... motor bodies, 9d, 9p... speed reduction mechanisms, 10... drive control device, 10d, 10p... wiper drive control units, 11d, 11p... angle detection circuits, 12d, 12p... ROM, 13d, 13p... RAM, 14d, 14p... communication circuits, 15d, 15p... CPUs, 16d, 16p... drive circuits

Claims

1. A wiping device that reciprocates a wiper blade within a predetermined wiping range by a predetermined drive control device, wherein the drive control device includes a normal mode and a narrow wiping mode in which the wiping range is narrower than the normal mode as control modes, and when stopping the narrow-angle wiping in the narrow wiping mode, the wiper blade is moved to the upper inversion position within the wiping range and then moved to the stop position. The wiping device is characterized by this.

2. The wiping device according to claim 1, wherein when the drive control device stops the narrow-angle wiping while the wiper blade is moving to the upper inversion position, the wiper blade is moved to the upper inversion position and then moved to the stop position.

3. The wiping device according to claim 1, wherein when the drive control device stops the narrow-angle wiping while the wiper blade is moving from the upper inversion position, the wiper blade is folded back at the lower inversion position for the narrow wiping mode and moved to the upper inversion position and then moved to the stop position.

4. The wiping device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the narrow wiping mode is a heavy rain mode or an ultra-heavy rain mode in which the wiping cycle is higher than that in the normal mode.

5. The wiping device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drive control device reciprocates a pair of the wiper blades with one power source.

6. The wiping device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the drive control device includes one power source for reciprocating one of the wiper blades and another power source for reciprocating the other of the wiper blades.

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