Wiper device

Abstract

To secure a field of view of a driver even when an operation range of a wiper blade on a front passenger seat side is narrower on an upper reversal position side than an operation range of a wiper blade on a driver's seat side.SOLUTION: A driver's seat side wiper blade, a front passenger seat side wiper blade, a driver's seat side drive unit that causes the driver's seat side wiper blade to operate in tandem, and a front passenger seat side drive unit that causes the front passenger seat side wiper blade to operate in tandem, when the drive unit on the front passenger seat side detects a failure of the drive unit on the driver seat side based on the drive information, the drive unit on the front passenger seat side changes the operation range of the wiper blade on the front passenger seat side to the lower reversal position side of the wiper blade on the driver seat side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wiper device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses an opposite-type wiper device that suppresses interference between wiper blades without compromising the appearance of the wiper operation. In this wiper device, the operating range of the passenger-side wiper blade is set narrower than that of the driver-side wiper blade and is set to a range that overlaps only slightly with the operating range of the driver-side wiper blade. The lower reversal position of the passenger-side wiper blade is set near the outer edge of the operating range of the driver-side wiper blade, forming an overlapping operating range between the two operating ranges. The normal stopping position of the passenger-side wiper blade when the wiper system is not operating is set to the upper reversal position, and although the pair of wiper blades are arranged opposite each other, they operate in tandem during reciprocating wiping. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-088320 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In this type of wiper system, the operating range of the passenger-side wiper blade is narrower toward the upper reverse position than the operating range of the driver-side wiper blade, and is set to a range that only slightly overlaps the operating range of the driver-side wiper blade. Therefore, if the driver-side wiper motor fails, for example, the operating range of the passenger-side wiper blade will be farther away from the driver's seat, making it difficult to ensure the driver's field of view.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a wiper device that makes it easy to ensure the driver's field of vision even when the operating range of the wiper blade on the passenger side is narrower toward the upper reversal position than the operating range of the wiper blade on the driver's side. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides, as a first solution relating to a wiper device, a wiper device comprising a driver's side wiper blade, a passenger's side wiper blade, a driver's side drive unit for operating the driver's side wiper blade in tandem, and a passenger's side drive unit for operating the passenger's side wiper blade in tandem, wherein the driver's side drive unit and the passenger's side drive unit transmit and receive drive information, and the operating range of the passenger's side wiper blade is set narrower toward the upper inverted position of the driver's side wiper blade than the operating range of the driver's side wiper blade, and when the passenger's side drive unit detects a malfunction of the driver's side drive unit based on the drive information, the wiper device adopts a means for changing the operating range of the passenger's side wiper blade toward the lower inverted position of the driver's side wiper blade.

[0007] In the present invention, as a second solution related to the wiper device, in the above-mentioned first solution, the passenger side drive unit adopts a means for changing the operating range of the passenger side wiper blade toward the lower reversal position of the driver side wiper blade when it detects, based on the drive information, that the passenger side wiper blade does not interfere with the driver side wiper blade.

[0008] The present invention provides a third solution related to the wiper device, in which, in the first or second solution described above, the passenger side drive unit moves the lower reversal position of the passenger side wiper blade toward the lower reversal position of the driver side wiper blade without changing the upper reversal position of the passenger side wiper blade, thereby expanding the operating range of the passenger side wiper blade toward the lower reversal position of the driver side wiper blade.

[0009] The present invention employs a fourth solution relating to a wiper device in which, in any of the first to third solutions described above, the driver's seat side drive unit and the passenger seat side drive unit are directly connected by a communication cable, and the drive information is transmitted and received via the communication cable. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a wiper device that makes it easy to ensure the driver's field of vision even when the operating range of the wiper blade on the passenger side is narrower toward the upper inverted position than the operating range of the wiper blade on the driver's side. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing a wiper blade of a wiper device A according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical connections of a wiper device A according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 4 is a flowchart showing the operation of the wiper device A according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 5 is a schematic diagram showing a change in the wiping range (operating range) in one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 4. A wiper device A according to this embodiment is mounted on various vehicles such as gasoline-powered vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and electric vehicles, and wipes away rainwater adhering to the surface of a member to be wiped (a surface to be wiped) such as a windshield or rear window.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 and 4, this wiper device A operates a pair of wiper blades arranged near the center of the windshield W in tandem (parallel interlocking operation). The pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p are rod-shaped members placed on the windshield W as shown. The pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p abut against the surface (wiped surface) of the windshield W (wiped member) and wipe away rainwater, insects, and other deposits from the windshield W by reciprocating over the wiped surface. One end of wiper arms 1da, 1pa is attached to each of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p at the longitudinal center.

[0014] 1 and 4, the symbol Rd denotes the wiping range (operating range) of the driver's side wiper blade 1d, and the symbol Rp denotes the wiping range (operating range) of the passenger side wiper blade 1p. The driver's side wiping range Rd is the range of movement of the driver's side wiper blade 1d around the driver's side wiper shaft 2d as its rotation center, and is a fan-shaped range extending from the lower reversal position Ld to the upper reversal position Ud of the driver's side wiper blade 1d.

[0015] In contrast, the passenger-side wiping range Rp is the range of movement of the passenger-side wiper blade 1p, with the passenger-side wiper shaft 2p as its rotation center, and is a sector-shaped range extending from the lower reversal position Lp to the upper reversal position Up of the passenger-side wiper blade 1p. The passenger-side wiper blade 1p is in the illustrated position Sp (stop position) when not in operation, but when wiping operation begins, it reciprocates within the narrow wiping range Rp, which is set from the stop position Sp toward the upper reversal position Up. In other words, the passenger-side wiping range Rp is biased toward the passenger-side upper reversal position Up and is set to be narrower (narrower wiping range) than the driver-side wiping range Rd.

[0016] The pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p temporarily stop at the lower reversal positions Ld, Lp and the upper reversal positions Ud, Up during their reciprocating motion within the wiping ranges Rd, Rp. Specifically, when the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p move from the lower reversal positions Ld, Lp toward the upper reversal positions Ud, Up, they temporarily stop at the upper reversal positions Ud, Up, and then move from the upper reversal positions Ud, Up toward the lower reversal positions Ld, Lp.

[0017] The pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p also temporarily stop at the lower reversal positions Ld, Lp, and then move from the lower reversal positions Ld, Lp toward the upper reversal positions Ud, Up. That is, the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p in this embodiment repeatedly reciprocate while temporarily stopping at the lower reversal positions Ld, Lp and the upper reversal positions Ud, Up.

[0018] 1 and 4, the wiper device A includes a first wiper motor unit 3d and a second wiper motor unit 3p that individually drive a pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p. Of the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p, the first wiper motor unit 3d corresponds to the driver's seat side drive unit in the present invention, and the second wiper motor unit 3p corresponds to the passenger's seat side drive unit in the present invention.

[0019] The first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p are drive units that individually drive the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p and operate the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p in tandem (parallel linked operation). That is, the first wiper motor unit 3d (driver's seat side drive unit) operates the driver's seat side wiper blade 1d in tandem, and the second wiper motor unit 3p operates the passenger seat side wiper blade 1p in tandem.

[0020] Such a wiper device A has a wiring structure shown in Fig. 2. That is, when viewed as a wiring structure, the wiper device A includes a control unit 4 (BCM), a vehicle battery 5, a main power cable 6, three fuses 7 to 9, three branch power cables 10 to 12, a first communication cable 13, a second communication cable 14, and a third communication cable 15 in addition to a first wiper motor unit 3d (DS MOTOR) and a second wiper motor unit 3p (PS MOTOR).

[0021] Furthermore, the first wiper motor unit 3d (DS MOTOR) and the second wiper motor unit 3p (PS MOTOR) each have a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal as functional parts related to the wiring structure, as shown in Fig. 2. These first terminal, second terminal, third terminal, and fourth terminal are all connection terminals.

[0022] As shown in the figure, the control unit 4 (BCM) has a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal as connection terminals. The first terminal of this control unit 4 (BCM) is connected to the first branch power cable 10. The second terminal of the control unit 4 (BCM) is connected to the second terminal of the first wiper motor unit 3d via the first communication cable 13.

[0023] The control unit 4 (BCM) has a third terminal connected to the second terminal of the second wiper motor unit 3p via the second communication cable 14. Furthermore, the control unit 4 (BCM) has a fourth terminal connected to the reference potential (GND). The control unit 4 (BCM) controls the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p by outputting predetermined control signals from the second and third terminals.

[0024] As shown in the figure, the vehicle battery 5 has its positive electrode connected to one end of the main power cable 6 and its negative electrode connected to a reference potential (GND). The vehicle battery 5 is the vehicle's main power supply (voltage source) that outputs DC power of a predetermined voltage, and supplies DC power to the first wiper motor unit 3d, the second wiper motor unit 3p, and the control unit 4 via the main power cable 6, three fuses 7-9, and three branch power cables 10-12.

[0025] As shown in the figure, one end of the main power cable 6 is connected to the positive electrode of the vehicle battery 5, and the other end is commonly connected to one end of each of the three branch power cables 10 to 12. The main power cable 6 transmits DC power supplied from the positive terminal of the vehicle battery 5 to the three branch power cables 10 to 12.

[0026] Of the three fuses 7 to 9, the first fuse 7 is provided midway along the first branch power cable 10 as shown in the figure. One end of the first fuse 7 is connected to the other end of the main power cable 6, and the other end is connected to a first terminal of the control unit 4. When an abnormally large current flows through the first branch power cable 10, the first fuse 7 melts and cuts off the supply of DC power to the control unit 4.

[0027] As shown in the figure, the second fuse 8 is provided in a midpoint of the second branch power cable 11. One end of the second fuse 8 is connected to the other end of the main power cable 6, and the other end is connected to the first terminal of the first wiper motor unit 3d. When an abnormally large current flows through the second branch power cable 11, the second fuse 8 melts and cuts off the supply of DC power to the first wiper motor unit 3d.

[0028] As shown in the figure, the third fuse 9 is provided in a midpoint of the third branch power cable 12. One end of the third fuse 9 is connected to the other end of the main power cable 6, and the other end is connected to a first terminal of the second wiper motor unit 3p. When an abnormally large current flows through the third branch power cable 12, the third fuse 9 melts and cuts off the supply of DC power to the second wiper motor unit 3p.

[0029] Of the three branch power cables 10 to 12, the first branch power cable 10 has one end connected to the other end of the power cable 6 and the other end connected to a first terminal of the control unit 4. The first branch power cable 10 is a power line for supplying DC power output from the vehicle battery 5 to the control unit 4.

[0030] One end of the second branch power cable 11 is connected to the other end of the power cable 6, and the other end is connected to a first terminal of the first wiper motor unit 3d. The second branch power cable 11 is a power line for supplying DC power output from the vehicle battery 5 to the first wiper motor unit 3d.

[0031] One end of the third branch power cable 12 is connected to the other end of the power cable 6, and the other end is connected to a first terminal of the second wiper motor unit 3p. The third branch power cable 12 is a power line for supplying DC power output from the vehicle battery 5 to the second wiper motor unit 3p.

[0032] As shown in the figure, one end of the first communication cable 13 is connected to the second terminal of the control unit 4, and the other end is connected to the second terminal of the first wiper motor unit 3d. The first communication cable 13 is a signal line that mediates wired communication between the control unit 4 and the first wiper motor unit 3d, and transmits a communication signal of the first method.

[0033] The first method is, for example, an in-vehicle LAN (Local Area Network). That is, the control unit 4 and the second wiper motor unit 3p transmit and receive communication signals conforming to the in-vehicle LAN, i.e., LIN signals, via the first communication cable 13.

[0034] One end of the second communication cable 14 is connected to the third terminal of the control unit 4, and the other end is connected to the second terminal of the second wiper motor unit 3p. The second communication cable 14 is a signal line that mediates wired communication between the control unit 4 and the second wiper motor unit 3p, and transmits communication signals of the first method, just like the first communication cable 13.

[0035] That is, similar to the control unit 4 and the first wiper motor unit 3d, the control unit 4 and the second wiper motor unit 3p transmit and receive LIN signals conforming to an in-vehicle LAN (Local Area Network) via the second communication cable 14. Note that the first communication cable 13 and the second communication cable 14 are the first normal communication line and the second normal communication line in this embodiment.

[0036] One end of the third communication cable 15 is connected to the third terminal of the first wiper motor unit 3d, and the other end is connected to the third terminal of the second wiper motor unit 3p. The third communication cable 15 is a signal line that mediates wired communication between the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p, and transmits a communication signal (CLN signal) of a second method that is different from the first method.

[0037] In addition, wired communication between the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p using the third communication cable 15 is performed only when an abnormality occurs in the wired communication using the first communication cable 13 between the control unit 4 and the first wiper motor unit 3d, or in the wired communication using the second communication cable 14 between the control unit 4 and the second wiper motor unit 3p.

[0038] That is, in the normal state, the wiper device A causes a pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p to reciprocate based on wired communication conforming to an in-vehicle LAN between the control unit 4 and the first wiper motor unit 3d, and wired communication conforming to an in-vehicle LAN between the control unit 4 and the second wiper motor unit 3p.

[0039] The third communication cable 15 is a communication cable that directly connects the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p. The second method is a communication method different from the in-vehicle LAN. By using the third communication cable 15, the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p mutually transmit and receive drive information, such as information required for synchronous rotation of the pair of wiper shafts 2d, 2p, i.e., synchronous drive of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p, and information regarding their own malfunctions.

[0040] Here, we will explain the detailed configurations of the first wiper motor unit 3d, the second wiper motor unit 3p, and the control unit 4. The first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p each include a motor (power source), a drive control circuit, and a communication circuit.

[0041] That is, the first wiper motor unit 3d includes a first motor that rotates the wiper shaft 2d on the driver's seat side, a first drive circuit that outputs a drive signal to the first motor, and a first communication circuit that outputs a control signal to the first drive circuit by communicating with the control unit 4 via a wired connection.

[0042] On the other hand, the second wiper motor unit 3p includes a second motor that rotates the wiper shaft 2p on the passenger side, a second drive circuit that outputs a drive signal to the second motor, and a second communication circuit that outputs a control signal to the second drive circuit by communicating with the control unit 4 via a wired connection.

[0043] The first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p rotate the pair of wiper shafts 2d, 2p based on control signals received from the control unit 4. That is, the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p synchronously rotate the pair of wiper shafts 2d, 2p at a predetermined rotational speed, thereby causing the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p to reciprocate on the surface of the windshield W (the surface to be wiped).

[0044] The control unit 4 is, for example, a one-chip microcomputer, and includes at least a storage unit, a calculation unit, and a communication unit as functional components. The storage unit stores a predetermined wiper control program (application program) in advance. The calculation unit generates a control signal by executing the wiper control program. The communication unit transmits the control signal to the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p.

[0045] That is, the control unit 4 is a software control device that synchronously controls the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p through cooperation of hardware resources and software resources. By synchronously controlling the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p, the control unit 4 controls the reciprocating motion of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p, i.e., the wiping operation of the surface of the windshield W (the surface to be wiped).

[0046] Next, the operation of the wiper device A according to this embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

[0047] First, we will explain the normal operation of the wiper device A according to this embodiment. In normal operation, the first wiper motor unit 3d (drive unit on the driver's seat side) operates the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side in tandem, and the second wiper motor unit 3p operates the wiper blade 1p on the passenger's seat side in tandem.

[0048] This tandem operation of the driver's side wiper blade 1d and the passenger side wiper blade 1p is achieved by wired communication compliant with the in-vehicle LAN between the control unit 4 and the first wiper motor unit 3d, and wired communication compliant with the in-vehicle LAN between the control unit 4 and the second wiper motor unit 3p.

[0049] That is, under normal circumstances, the wiper device A performs a wiping operation on the surface (wiped surface) of the windshield W by sharing driving information through wired communication between the control unit 4 and the first wiper motor unit 3d using the first communication cable 13, and through wired communication between the control unit 4 and the second wiper motor unit 3p using the second communication cable 14.

[0050] More specifically, the control unit 4 transmits a control signal to the first wiper motor unit 3d via a first communication cable 13. The control unit 4 also transmits a control signal to the second wiper motor unit 3p via a second communication cable 14. The control signals supplied from the control unit 4 to the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p cause the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p to synchronously drive the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p.

[0051] This synchronized drive causes the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p to reciprocate in synchronization on the surface (wiped surface) of the windshield W. The reciprocating motion of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p wipes rainwater and the like adhering to the surface (wiped surface) of the windshield W away from the wiped surface.

[0052] Meanwhile, the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p periodically monitor each other's health by sharing drive information during normal operation. That is, the first wiper motor unit 3d monitors the health of the second wiper motor unit 3p based on the drive information of the second wiper motor unit 3p, and the second wiper motor unit 3p monitors the health of the first wiper motor unit 3d based on the drive information of the first wiper motor unit 3d.

[0053] For example, the second wiper motor unit 3p determines whether a failure has occurred in the first wiper motor unit 3d based on the drive information of the first wiper motor unit 3d (step S1). If the determination in step S1 is "No," that is, if the first wiper motor unit 3d is normal, the second wiper motor unit 3p maintains the operating angle (PS operating angle) of the passenger-side wiper blade 1p at a narrow operating angle (PS narrow operating angle) corresponding to the passenger-side wiping range Rp (narrow wiping range) (step S2).

[0054] In contrast, if the judgment in step S1 is "Yes", that is, if the first wiper motor unit 3d has failed, the second wiper motor unit 3p determines whether the wiper blade 1p on the passenger side interferes with the wiper blade 1d on the driver side (step S3).

[0055] That is, based on the drive information last received from the first wiper motor unit 3d, the second wiper motor unit 3p determines whether the driver's side wiper blade 1d, which has stopped operating due to a failure of the first wiper motor unit 3d, is between the lower reversal position Lp and the stop position Sp of the passenger's side wiper blade 1p.

[0056] If the judgment in step S3 is "No," that is, if the driver's side wiper blade 1d is between the lower reversal position Lp and the stop position Sp of the passenger side wiper blade 1p, the second wiper motor unit 3p keeps the operating angle (PS operating angle) of the passenger side wiper blade 1p at the narrow operating angle (PS narrow operating angle) corresponding to the passenger side wiping range Rp (narrow wiping range) (step S2).

[0057] On the other hand, if the judgment in step S3 is "Yes," that is, if the driver's side wiper blade 1d is not between the lower reversal position Lp and the stop position Sp of the passenger side wiper blade 1p, the second wiper motor unit 3p sets the operating angle (PS operating angle) of the passenger side wiper blade 1p to an expanded operating angle (PS expanded operating angle) corresponding to the expanded wiping range Rpw on the passenger side (step S4).

[0058] That is, the second wiper motor unit 3p changes the passenger-side wiping area Rp to an expanded wiping area Rpw by moving the lower reversal position Lp of the driver-side wiper blade 1d in the passenger-side wiping area Rp toward the lower reversal position Lp, as shown by the arrow in Figure 4. This expanded wiping area Rpw changes the passenger-side wiping area Rp toward the lower reversal position Lp of the passenger-side wiper blade 1p.

[0059] Such a wiper device A includes a driver's side wiper blade 1d, a passenger side wiper blade 1p, a first wiper motor unit 3d (driver's side drive unit) that operates the driver's side wiper blade 1d in tandem, and a second wiper motor unit 3p (passenger side drive unit) that operates the passenger side wiper blade 1p in tandem. The first wiper motor unit 3d (driver's side drive unit) and the second wiper motor unit 3p (passenger side drive unit) transmit and receive drive information. The operating range of the passenger side wiper blade 1p is set narrower toward the upper reversal position Up of the passenger side wiper blade 1p than the operating range of the driver's side wiper blade 1d. When the second wiper motor unit 3p (passenger side drive unit) detects a failure of the first wiper motor unit 3d (driver's side drive unit) based on the drive information, it changes the operating range of the passenger side wiper blade 1p toward the lower reversal position Ld of the driver's side wiper blade 1d.

[0060] According to this embodiment, if the first wiper motor unit 3d (driver's side drive unit) fails, the operating range of the passenger side wiper blade 1p changes to the lower reversal position Ld of the driver's side wiper blade 1d, making it possible to provide a wiper device A that makes it easy to ensure the driver's visibility.

[0061] In addition, in the wiper device A of this embodiment, the second wiper motor unit 3p (drive unit on the passenger's side) changes the operating range of the passenger's side wiper blade 1p toward the lower reversal position of the driver's side wiper blade 1d when it detects, based on the drive information of the first wiper motor unit 3d (drive unit on the driver's side), that the passenger's side wiper blade 1p does not interfere with the driver's side wiper blade 1d.

[0062] According to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent interference between the passenger side wiper blade 1p and the driver side wiper blade 1d, and then to ensure the driver's visibility by changing the operating range of the passenger side wiper blade 1p toward the lower reversal position Ld of the driver side wiper blade 1d.

[0063] In addition, in the wiper device A of this embodiment, the second wiper motor unit 3p (drive unit on the passenger's side) moves the lower reversal position Lp of the passenger's side wiper blade 1p toward the lower reversal position Ld of the driver's side wiper blade 1d without changing the upper reversal position Up of the passenger's side wiper blade 1p, thereby expanding the operating range of the passenger's side wiper blade 1p toward the lower reversal position Ld of the driver's side wiper blade 1d.

[0064] According to this embodiment, in order to ensure the driver's field of view, only the lower reversal position Lp of the passenger side wiper blade 1p is moved toward the lower reversal position Ld of the driver side wiper blade 1d, making it easy to change the operating range of the passenger side wiper blade 1p.

[0065] In addition, in the wiper device A according to this embodiment, the first wiper motor unit 3d (driver's seat side drive unit) and the second wiper motor unit 3p (passenger's seat side drive unit) are directly connected by a third communication cable 15, and drive information is transmitted and received via the third communication cable 15. According to this embodiment, it is easy to obtain drive information when the first wiper motor unit 3d (driver's seat side drive unit) breaks down.

[0066] Furthermore, in the wiper device A according to this embodiment, the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side and the wiper blade 1p on the passenger's seat side are arranged opposite each other. According to this embodiment, in the wiper device A in which the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side and the wiper blade 1p on the passenger's seat side are arranged opposite each other, it is easy to ensure the driver's field of view even if the first wiper motor unit 3d (drive unit on the driver's seat side) fails.

[0067] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment and various modifications are possible. For example, in the above embodiment, the lower reversal position Lp of the passenger-side wiper blade 1p is moved toward the lower reversal position Ld of the driver-side wiper blade 1d, i.e., toward the stop position Sp, without changing the upper reversal position Up of the passenger-side wiper blade 1p, thereby expanding the operating range of the passenger-side wiper blade 1p and ensuring the driver's visibility. However, the driver's visibility may be ensured by moving the upper reversal position Up of the passenger-side wiper blade 1p in addition to the lower reversal position Lp of the passenger-side wiper blade 1p.

[0068] As a method for ensuring such visibility for the driver, it is possible to, for example, move the lower reversal position Lp of the passenger side wiper blade 1p to the stop position Sp of the driver side wiper blade 1d, and also to move the upper reversal position Up of the passenger side wiper blade 1p to the lower reversal position Lp of the passenger side wiper blade 1p.

[0069] In other words, the present invention ensures the driver's visibility by changing the wiping range Rp (narrow wiping range, operating range) of the passenger side wiper blade 1p to the lower reversal position Ld of the driver side wiper blade 1d when the first wiper motor unit 3d (drive unit on the driver's side) fails.

[0070] As described above, if the lower reversal position Lp of the passenger-side wiper blade 1p is moved to the stop position Sp of the driver-side wiper blade 1d, and the upper reversal position Up of the passenger-side wiper blade 1p is moved to the lower reversal position Lp of the passenger-side wiper blade 1p, it is possible to ensure the driver's visibility at the expense of the visibility of the passenger in the passenger seat. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] A...Wiper device, Ld, Lp...Lower inverted position, Sp...Stop position, Ud, Up...Upper inverted position, Rd, Rp...Wiping range, Rpw...Expanded wiping range, 1d, 1p...Wiper blade, 2d, 2p...Wiper shaft, 3d...First wiper motor unit (drive unit), 3p...Second wiper motor unit (drive unit), 4...Control unit (BCM), 5...Vehicle battery, 6...Main power cable, 7-9...Fuses, 10-12...Branch power cable, 13...First communication cable, 14...Second communication cable, 15...Third communication cable

Claims

1. A wiper device comprising: a driver's seat side wiper blade; a passenger's seat side wiper blade; a driver's seat side drive unit for operating the driver's seat side wiper blade in tandem; and a passenger's seat side drive unit for operating the passenger's seat side wiper blade in tandem, wherein the driver's seat side drive unit and the passenger's seat side drive unit transmit and receive drive information, and the operating range of the passenger's seat side wiper blade is set narrower toward the upper inverted position of the driver's seat side wiper blade than the operating range of the driver's seat side wiper blade, When the passenger side drive unit detects a failure of the driver side drive unit based on the drive information, the wiper device is characterized in that it changes the operating range of the passenger side wiper blade to the lower reversal position of the driver side wiper blade.

2. 2. The wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the passenger side drive unit changes the operating range of the passenger side wiper blade toward the lower reversal position of the driver side wiper blade when the passenger side drive unit detects based on the drive information that the passenger side wiper blade does not interfere with the driver side wiper blade.

3. 3. The wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the passenger side drive unit moves the lower reversal position of the passenger side wiper blade toward the lower reversal position of the driver side wiper blade without changing the upper reversal position of the passenger side wiper blade, thereby expanding the operating range of the passenger side wiper blade toward the lower reversal position of the driver side wiper blade.

4. 3. The wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the driver's seat side drive unit and the passenger's seat side drive unit are directly connected by a communication cable, and the drive information is transmitted and received via the communication cable.

Images