Wiping system and control of cleaning fluid injection in the wiping system - Patents.com

Abstract

The invention relates to a wiping system comprising an arm (103) and a wiper blade configured to wipe a visible zone of a windshield of a motor vehicle, capable of being driven by the arm, comprising at least one longitudinal channel, with a nozzle element configured to inject a washing fluid towards at least one sensor in fluid communication with said at least one longitudinal channel and arranged outside the visible zone. The nozzle element is arranged in a longitudinal end zone of the wiper blade. An injection assembly (301) is capable of injecting the washing fluid into the longitudinal channel under the control of a control unit (303). The injection of the washing fluid into the longitudinal channel is commanded when the control unit determines that the arm or the wiper blade is within a predefined angular sector (312).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to wiping systems, particularly for motor vehicles, and more particularly to controlling the injection of cleaning fluid into such systems. [Background technology]

[0002] It is a well-known practice in the field of wiping systems for shiny surfaces, in particular for the windshield or rear window of a motor vehicle, to provide a wiper blade with longitudinal channels to spray a cleaning fluid onto the shiny surface of the vehicle in front of the wiper blade in order to enable window washing.

[0003] Wiping systems are known that have two longitudinal channels, one for spraying cleaning fluid ahead of the blade in a first wiping direction and the other for spraying cleaning fluid ahead of the blade in a second wiping direction.

[0004] Other wiping systems provide a jet of fluid onto the window at a location other than the blade; for example, some wiping systems, called "wet arms," provide a jet from an arm that rotates the blade or from a predetermined location on the hood of the motor vehicle.

[0005] Automotive vehicles increasingly contain sensors, most of which have optical surfaces that need to be cleaned to improve the quality of the data acquired.

[0006] However, providing a dedicated cleaning system for each sensor on a vehicle is expensive and bulky.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need to simplify the cleaning systems to reduce their cost and their bulk and to optimize the use of cleaning fluids, while enabling the cleaning of shiny or optical surfaces of vehicles without increasing the number of cleaning systems. Summary of the Invention [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention provides -Arm and a motor that can rotate the arm; a wiper blade configured to wipe a visible zone of a windshield of a motor vehicle, capable of being driven by an arm, and comprising at least one longitudinal channel and at least one nozzle element configured to spray washing fluid towards at least one sensor in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinal channel and arranged outside the visible zone, said nozzle element being arranged in a longitudinal end zone of the wiper blade; an injection assembly capable of injecting a cleaning fluid into the longitudinal channel and comprising at least one pump; a control unit capable of controlling the injection assembly in real time based on position data relating to the arm or wiper blade; The present invention relates to a wiping system comprising:

[0009] When the control unit determines that the arm or wiper blade is in a predetermined angular sector that is smaller than the angular wiping range of the wiping system or that is more restricted than the angular wiping range, the control unit can control injection by the cleaning fluid injection assembly into at least the longitudinal channel.

[0010] Thus, the nozzle elements can be directed in a direction other than the direction toward the visible surface of the windshield, to which other nozzle elements can spray cleaning fluid. For example, the direction of spray toward the sensor outside the visible zone can be primarily in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade, which means that the angle that the given direction makes with the longitudinal direction is smaller than the angle that the given direction makes with the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. This allows the end zones of the wiper blade to clean the optical surfaces of the motor vehicle sensors facing in a given angular sector.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the predetermined angular sector is determined according to the geometry of the wiping system, the geometry of the optical surface of the sensor, and the relative position of the wiping system and the sensor when the wiping system is mounted on a motor vehicle equipped with the sensor, so that the nozzle element may spray cleaning fluid toward the optical surface of the sensor when the arm or blade is positioned within the angular sector.

[0012] Thus, injection of the cleaning fluid into the longitudinal channel is optimized, since the fluid is only injected when the blade passes in front of or near the optical surface of the sensor. Such an angular sector may be predefined, but may also be configurable, particularly depending on the addition or movement of sensors and their optical surfaces.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the present invention, position data regarding the arm or blade may come from a motor or may come from a sensing device.

[0014] By using position data provided by the wiping system motor, it is possible to limit the number of sensing devices used while still having real-time data on the position and speed of the arm or wiper blade.

[0015] According to an embodiment, the wiper blade may have at least one other longitudinal channel and at least one other nozzle element that is in fluid communication with the other longitudinal channel and that is capable of injecting cleaning fluid into the visibility zone in a direction inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the blade, and the injection assembly may be capable of selectively injecting cleaning fluid into the longitudinal channel and / or into the other longitudinal channel.

[0016] The direction of inclination relative to the longitudinal direction of the blade may in particular be perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the blade or may form a small angle of less than 20° relative to the normal to the longitudinal direction of the blade.

[0017] Further, according to the embodiment, the other longitudinal channel comprises at least a first longitudinal channel and a second longitudinal channel, the longitudinal channel being the third longitudinal channel. The other nozzle element comprises at least a first nozzle element in fluid communication with the first longitudinal channel and configured to eject cleaning fluid in a first direction oblique to the longitudinal direction of the blade, and at least a second nozzle element in fluid communication with the second longitudinal channel and configured to eject cleaning fluid in a second direction oblique to the longitudinal direction of the blade, the nozzle element being the third nozzle element. The injection element may be capable of selectively injecting cleaning fluid into the first longitudinal channel, the second longitudinal channel, and / or the third longitudinal channel.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the injection assembly may include a first pump connected to the first longitudinal channel by a first injection channel, a second pump connected to the second longitudinal channel by a second injection channel, and a third pump connected to the third longitudinal channel by a third injection channel, and the control unit is capable of selectively activating the first, second, and third pumps.

[0019] Such an embodiment allows each of the pumps to be independently controlled by the control unit, and therefore it is possible to inject cleaning fluid into each of the pumps at different pressure levels.

[0020] Alternatively, the injection assembly may include a first dual-pressure pump capable of injecting the cleaning fluid into the first injection channel according to at least a first pressure level or a second pressure level, and a differential pressure valve connecting the injection channel to the first longitudinal channel or the second longitudinal channel depending on whether the fluid is injected into the injection channel at the first pressure level or the second pressure level. The control unit may be capable of controlling the pressure level of the first dual-pressure pump.

[0021] This allows for a reduction in the number of pumps in the injection assembly by sharing a pump for injecting into the first and second longitudinal channels. Furthermore, because the two channels may be dedicated to different wiping directions, it is not necessary to inject fluid into these two channels simultaneously. This reduces the bulk and cost associated with the wiping system.

[0022] Furthermore, the injection assembly may further comprise a second pump capable of injecting a cleaning fluid into a second injection channel connected to the third longitudinal channel, and the control unit may be capable of controlling the operation of the second pump.

[0023] Thus, injection into the third longitudinal channel is controlled independently of injection into the other two longitudinal channels, thus allowing selective injection into the longitudinal channels while using only two pumps in the injection system.

[0024] Alternatively, the first pump may be a dual-pressure, bidirectional pump that can selectively inject irrigation fluid into the first infusion channel or the second infusion channel connected to the third longitudinal channel depending on the rotation direction of a pump motor of the first pump. The control unit may be capable of controlling the rotation direction of the pump motor of the first pump.

[0025] Thus, a single pump is used to infuse into the three longitudinal channels, which significantly reduces the bulk associated with the system while allowing for selective infusion.

[0026] Alternatively, the first pump may be connected to the solenoid valve via a single channel, and the solenoid valve can direct the cleaning fluid injected by the first pump into the single channel, either towards the first injection channel or towards a second injection channel connected to the third longitudinal channel, depending on a control signal received from the control unit.

[0027] Again, a single pump is used to infuse the three longitudinal channels, thereby significantly reducing the bulk associated with the system while still allowing for selective infusion.

[0028] Alternatively, the injection assembly may include a first bidirectional pump connected to the first longitudinal channel by a first injection channel and to the second longitudinal channel by a second injection channel, and the first pump can inject irrigation fluid into either the first injection channel or the second injection channel depending on the direction of rotation of a pump motor of the first pump. The injection system may further include a second pump connected to the third longitudinal channel by a third injection channel, and the control unit can control operation of the second pump.

[0029] It is therefore possible to reduce the number of pumps to two while still allowing selective injection of wash fluid between the three longitudinal channels.

[0030] A second aspect of the present invention relates to a method for controlling the injection of washing fluid into a wiping system for a motor vehicle, the wiping system comprising: an arm; a motor capable of rotating the arm; and a wiper blade configured to wipe a visible zone of the windshield of the motor vehicle and capable of being driven by the arm, the wiper blade comprising at least one longitudinal channel and at least one nozzle element configured to spray washing fluid towards at least one sensor arranged outside the visible zone in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinal channel, the nozzle element being arranged in a longitudinal end zone of the wiper blade.

[0031] The method comprises the following steps performed by the control unit: receiving real-time position data relating to the arm or wiper blade; - generating a control signal for controlling the injection of a cleaning fluid into the longitudinal channel in real time based on the position data; - transmitting a control signal to an injection assembly of a wiping system; Includes:

[0032] When the control unit determines that the arm or wiper blade is in a predetermined angular sector that is less than the angular wiping range of the wiping system, the generated control signal controls injection by the cleaning fluid injection assembly into at least the longitudinal channel.

[0033] Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent both from the following description and from some exemplary embodiments, given by way of non-limiting indication with reference to the attached schematic drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0034] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates a wiping system according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a wiper blade of a wiping system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] 1 shows a wiping system according to the present invention mounted on the windshield of a motor vehicle. [Figure 4a] 1 shows an injection assembly of a wiping system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4b] 10 shows an injection assembly of a wiping system according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4c] 10 shows an injection assembly of a wiping system according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4d] 10 shows an injection assembly of a wiping system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4e] 10 shows an injection assembly of a wiping system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 illustrates a method for controlling injection of cleaning fluid into a wiping system according to an embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] First, it should be noted that although the figures illustrate the invention in detail for its implementation, they may, of course, be used to better define the invention, if necessary. It should also be noted that in all figures, components that are similar and / or perform the same function are designated using the same numerals.

[0036] 1 shows a wiping system 100 for a motor vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention. The wiping system is adapted to be installed on a shiny surface of the vehicle, preferably the windshield or rear window.

[0037] The wiping system comprises at least one arm 103, a wiper blade 105 attached to the arm by a mounting device 104 and configured to wipe a visible zone of the windshield of the vehicle, and a drive device 101 for the arm 103.

[0038] The visibility zone is the portion of the windshield that is positioned facing the driver or passenger of the vehicle and through which the passenger or driver can see the environment outside the vehicle.

[0039] The drive 101 is configured to operate the wiper blade 104 via the arm 103, the wiper blade 105 being in contact with the visibility zone. The movement of the arm 103 is typically a back and forth movement, preferably a circular movement. For this purpose, the drive 101 itself may be moved by a motor about a pivotal connection 101 which allows the circular movement of the wiping system 100 to be performed.

[0040] No restrictions are imposed on the mounting device 104, which is adapted to allow the mechanical attachment of the wiper blade 105 to the arm 103. The mechanical attachment may in particular be performed by clamping, by fitting together or by any other means. No restrictions are imposed on the degrees of freedom allowed by the mechanical connection provided by the mounting device 104.

[0041] As will be better understood from the following, the wiping system 100 according to the present invention further comprises an assembly for injecting a cleaning fluid from a reservoir (not shown in FIG. 1 but described below) towards the arm 103 and thereafter towards the wiper blade 105, in order to selectively distribute the cleaning fluid into at least one longitudinal channel in fluid communication with at least one nozzle element 113 configured to spray or distribute the cleaning fluid primarily in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade 115 towards the optical surface of the sensor located outside the visibility zone. For this purpose, the nozzle element 113 may be arranged in a longitudinal end zone 120 of the wiper blade 105, in particular at a longitudinal end that faces upward when the wiping system is mounted on the windshield. The term "longitudinal end zone" refers to a zone whose positions are all closer to the longitudinal ends of the wiper blade than to the central position of the wiper blade. The central position may in particular correspond to the position of the mounting device 104 between the wiper blade 105 and the arm 103 of the wiping system. Preferably, the longitudinal end zones include all positions that are two times closer, or even three times closer, to the longitudinal ends of the wiper blade relative to the central position.

[0042] The nozzle element 113 may have an inlet for receiving the cleaning fluid from the conveying assembly and at least one opening, for example two openings, for injecting the cleaning fluid. If the nozzle element 113 has two openings, two longitudinal channels 230 may be provided in the wiper blade 103 to feed each opening of the nozzle element 113.

[0043] In the following, by way of example, the longitudinal channel in fluid communication with the nozzle element 113 located in the longitudinal end zone is considered to be the third longitudinal channel, and the injection assembly is configured to inject the cleaning fluid into into a first longitudinal channel in fluid communication with the first nozzle element 111 for spraying or dispersing cleaning fluid in a downward wiping direction over the visible zone; into a second longitudinal channel in fluid communication with the second nozzle element 112 for spraying or dispersing cleaning fluid in a downward wiping direction over the visible zone; The upward direction can correspond to a wiping action from the hood towards the roof of the vehicle. This ensures that the washer fluid is always sprayed in front of the wiper blades 105. This can improve the driver's visibility through the windshield visibility zone and allow the wiper blades 105 to wipe more efficiently.

[0044] Therefore, hereinafter, the nozzle element 113 will be referred to as the third nozzle element 113.

[0045] No limitations are imposed on the structure of such nozzle elements, which are well known to those skilled in the art.

[0046] It should be noted that the first and second longitudinal channels and the second and third nozzle elements 111 and 112 are optional and correspond to certain embodiments in which the wiper blade can inject cleaning fluid in two different wiping directions onto the visible zone to be wiped. The wiper blade 105 is referred to as a "dual injector" wiper blade.

[0047] Alternatively, the wiper blade 105 may include only one of the first and second longitudinal channels, in addition to the third longitudinal channel, leading to at least one nozzle element, such as the first nozzle element 111 or the second nozzle element 112, that can spray cleaning fluid downward and / or upward onto the shiny surface. Thus, the wiper blade includes two longitudinal channels.

[0048] Alternatively, the wiper blade 105 only comprises longitudinal channels connected to nozzle elements 113 arranged in the longitudinal end zones of the wiper blade. In this case, the injection of the washing fluid onto the shiny surface may be ensured by a nozzle element located on the arm 103 rather than on the wiper blade 105. Alternatively, the system 100 comprises a nozzle element in a fixed position on the hood of the vehicle, which is able to inject the washing fluid onto the shiny surface.

[0049] In the following, the invention will be described in the context of a dual-injector wiper blade 105 with two longitudinal channels for injecting fluid into the visibility zone and a third longitudinal channel for injecting onto the sensor, it being understood that such a situation is presented for illustrative purposes only, and that the nozzle elements capable of injecting cleaning fluid onto the shiny surface may be located elsewhere than on the wiper blade 105, on the arm 103, or especially on the hood.

[0050] In the context described below, all of the nozzle elements are located on the wiper blade 105 .

[0051] The blade 105 comprises at least three longitudinal channels as shown with reference to FIG.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a wiper blade 105 of a wiping system 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0053] The cross section is therefore along a plane XZ perpendicular to the longitudinal direction Y of the wiper blade 105 shown in FIG.

[0054] 2 shows a triangular cross-section wiper blade 105 by way of example only, it being understood that wiper blade 105 may have a cross-section of a different shape.

[0055] The first longitudinal channel 210 is capable of conveying cleaning fluid towards the aforementioned first nozzle element 111 , in particular in the downward wiping direction of the wiper blade 105 .

[0056] The second longitudinal channel 220 is capable of conveying cleaning fluid towards the aforementioned second nozzle element 112 , particularly in the upward wiping direction of the wiper blade 105 .

[0057] Thus, in embodiments where the nozzle elements 111 and 112 are on the arm 103 or on the hood, the wiper blade does not include the first and second longitudinal channels 210 and 220 .

[0058] As will be explained more clearly below, when the moving part of the wiping system, i.e., the arm or blade, is within a predetermined angular sector defining a set of positions, the third longitudinal channel 230 can convey cleaning fluid towards the aforementioned third nozzle element 113. The third nozzle element 113 may be able to distribute or spray cleaning fluid mainly in the longitudinal direction, and therefore mainly parallel to the plane YX, for example substantially along the axis Y. Alternatively, the third nozzle element 113 may spray obliquely with an inclination directed towards the shiny surface.

[0059] Therefore, it is advantageous for the third channel 230 to be in a central position relative to the other two channels 210 and 220. The third channel 230 may be further away from the glossy surface along axis Z than the other two channels 210 and 220, particularly when the wiping system 100 is installed in a vehicle.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 2, the spray direction of the first and second nozzle elements is preferably oblique to the visible zone to be wiped, which extends primarily in plane XY, so as to spray onto the shiny surface before it is wiped by the wiper blade 105.

[0061] FIG. 3 shows a wiping system 100 mounted on a windshield 310 of a motor vehicle according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0062] As shown, the wiping system 100 may further include a motor 302 for driving the arm 105, a control unit 303, and an injection assembly 301 for injecting fluid into the transport assembly.

[0063] No limitations are placed on the motor 302, and the motor 302 includes any reversible motor that allows the moving parts of the wiping system 100 to rotate in one direction and then the other.

[0064] As will be more clearly understood from the description of the figures below, the injection assembly 301 may comprise an arm 105 and / or an element that is mounted to the hood of the vehicle.

[0065] There are no restrictions on the control unit 303, which may be a dedicated control unit for the wiping system 100 or may be the vehicle's central control unit, also called ECU or "Body Controller", an abbreviation for "Electronic Control Unit".

[0066] In accordance with the present invention, the ECU 303 is capable of receiving position data regarding the moving parts of the wiping system, including, among other things, the arm 103 and the wiper blade 105. Such position data is preferably received periodically at a frequency greater than about 10 hertz when the wiping system 100 is operated.

[0067] The position data may be received from the motor 302 or from a detector 304 capable of detecting the position of a moving part of the wiping system. No restrictions are imposed on the detector 304, and the detector may be, for example, a camera.

[0068] The location data is the angular position of the arm 103 and / or wiper blade 105 within a predetermined range of wiping angles 311 corresponding to the visibility zone of the windshield, and / or the rotational speed of the arm 103 and / or the wiper blade 105; may include:

[0069] Based on the control signal, the injection assembly 301 can selectively inject cleaning fluid into the third longitudinal channel 230, i.e., inject or not inject cleaning fluid into the third longitudinal channel 230. In an example where the wiper blade has three longitudinal channels, the injection assembly 301 can selectively inject cleaning fluid into one or more of the longitudinal channels 210, 220, and 230. An embodiment of such an injection assembly 301 is presented in connection with FIGS. 4a-4e. In particular, the injection assembly 301 can inject fluid into one or two of the longitudinal channels 210, 220, and 230 at a given moment in time (or over a range of time between successive receipts of position data).

[0070] The selection of one or two longitudinal channels 210 , 220 and 230 depends on a control signal sent by the control unit 303 .

[0071] The control unit 303 determines such control signals based on position data received from either the motor 302 or the detection device 304. In particular, the control unit 303 may determine whether the wiper blade 105 is wiping upward or downward based on the position data. The control unit 303 then issues a control signal to the injection unit 301 to: - injecting a cleaning fluid into the first longitudinal channel 210 when the blade 105 is in a downward wiping direction; When the blade 105 is in a downward wiping direction, a cleaning fluid is injected into the second longitudinal channel 220.

[0072] Therefore, preferably, at a given moment, the cleaning fluid is never injected into both the first longitudinal channel 210 and the second longitudinal channel 220 .

[0073] As a change in wiping direction approaches, the injection of cleaning fluid into the first and second longitudinal channels 210, 220 may be stopped when the velocity of the blade 105 becomes low in absolute value before reaching zero.

[0074] According to the invention, the control unit 330 is configured to control the injection of cleaning fluid by the injection assembly 301 into the third longitudinal channel 230 when the arm 103 and / or the wiper blade 105 are positioned in an angular sector 312 strictly included in the aforementioned angular range 311. The angular sector may in particular be less than 30°, for example less than 20°.

[0075] The angular sector 312 is defined such that the wiping system injects cleaning fluid via the third nozzle element 113 towards an optical surface 321 of a vehicle sensor 320 located outside the visibility zone of the windshield. No restrictions are imposed on the target sensor 320, which may be, for example, a LIDAR, or on the location of this sensor 320. By way of example, Figure 3 shows a LIDAR-type sensor centrally located above the vehicle windshield 310.

[0076] Angular sector 312 therefore makes it possible to define a set of positions in which third nozzle element 113 faces a part of optical surface 321 of sensor 320 or is close to the optical surface.

[0077] The angular sector 312 is preferably: the geometrical characteristics of the wiping system, in particular the arms 103 and the wiper blades 105; - geometrical characteristics of the optical surface 321; the respective positioning between the wiping system 100 and the optical surface 321; the portion of the optical surface 321 to be cleaned, in particular the angular sector 312, may be defined so as to inject cleaning fluid only onto a portion of the optical surface 321, for example onto a central portion, and / or - Wiping system 100 wiping speed, Thus, the control signal can cause the injection of the product before the third nozzle element 113 faces the optical surface 321.

[0078] The control unit 303 controls the injection of the cleaning fluid into the third longitudinal channel, i.e. - when the arm and / or wiper blade 105 is in the angular sector 312, to inject in an upward wiping direction; to inject in a downward wiping direction when the arm and / or wiper blade 105 is in the angular sector 312; and / or When the arm and / or wiper blade 105 is within the angular sector 312, injection occurs regardless of the wiping direction. The injection assembly 301 may be controlled.

[0079] This allows cleaning of the optical surfaces of sensors located close to the shiny surface on which the wiping system is mounted, without the need for additional cleaning equipment specifically for the sensors, while optimizing the consumption of cleaning fluid.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 3 , the wiping system includes a single arm / wiper blade assembly. However, the wiping system may include two such assemblies, one located on the driver's side and the other on the passenger's side. The two assemblies may be controlled by the control unit 303 as described above. Alternatively, only one of the assemblies includes the nozzle element 113 and the longitudinal channel 230. Such an assembly may be, for example, the passenger's side arm / blade assembly or the driver's side arm / blade assembly.

[0081] The embodiments described below differ with respect to the washing fluid injection assembly 301. Again, all of these embodiments are described in the context of a dual injector blade 103 having three longitudinal channels. However, it can be understood that the injection assembly 301 can more generally selectively inject washing fluid into the longitudinal channel 230 that enables the sensor to be washed, i.e., can or cannot inject fluid into the longitudinal channel 230. In a complementary manner, the injection assembly 301 can also selectively control the injection of washing fluid into one or more other longitudinal channels of the wiper blade 105 in the context of a single injector blade or dual injector blade, at a fixed nozzle element or nozzle element of the arm 103 on the vehicle hood.

[0082] FIG. 4a shows a first fluid injection assembly 301 of a wiping system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0083] In a first embodiment, the injection assembly 301 includes: a first pump 401.1 and a first injection channel 402.1 capable of injecting a cleaning fluid from a cleaning fluid reservoir into the first longitudinal channel 210; a second pump 401.2 and a second injection channel 402.2 capable of injecting a cleaning fluid from a cleaning fluid reservoir into the second longitudinal channel 220; a third pump 401.3 and a third injection channel 402.3 capable of injecting a cleaning fluid from a cleaning fluid reservoir into the third longitudinal channel 230; Equipped with.

[0084] There is no limitation on the type of pumps 401.1 to 401.3, which may be selectively activated / deactivated by control signals from the control unit 303 to perform the control functions described with reference to FIG.

[0085] Therefore, the control unit 303, via the control signal, - operating the first pump 401.1 in a downward wiping direction, - operating the second pump 401.2 in an upward wiping direction, - actuating the third pump 401.3 in an upward and / or downward direction within the angular sector 312, It is understood that this is possible.

[0086] The injection channels 402.1 to 402.3 are preferably connected to the arm 103 or integrated under the protection of the arm 103 so as not to interfere with wiping by the moving parts of the wiping system 100. The same is true for the injection channels shown in the embodiments of the following figures. The longitudinal channels 210, 220 and 230 can join with the injection channels 402.1 to 402.3 in the mounting device 104.

[0087] FIG. 4b shows a second fluid injection assembly 301 of a wiping system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0088] In a second embodiment, the injection assembly 301 includes: a first pump 411.1 associated with the first injection channel 412.1 and the second injection channel 412.2, the first pump 411.1 being able to inject a cleaning fluid from a cleaning fluid reservoir into the first longitudinal channel 210 or into the second longitudinal channel 220. To this end, the first pump 411.1 may be a bidirectional pump able to inject the cleaning fluid into the first injection channel 412.1 or into the second injection channel 412.2 depending on the direction of rotation of the motor of the first pump 411.1.

[0089] The injection assembly 301 includes: a second pump 411.2 and a third injection channel 412.3 capable of injecting a cleaning fluid from a cleaning fluid reservoir into the third longitudinal channel 230; Equipped with.

[0090] The pump may be controlled by a control unit 303 in the manner described with reference to FIG.

[0091] Therefore, the control unit 303, via the control signal, - activating the motor of the first pump 411.1 in a first direction of rotation when the wiping system is wiping downwards; - operating the motor of the first pump 411.1 in a second direction of rotation when the wiping system is wiping upwards; - actuating the second pump 411.2 upward and / or downward when the wiping system 100 is in the angular sector 312; It is understood that this is possible.

[0092] This allows for a reduction in the number of pumps in the wiping system, thereby reducing bulk and cost. Furthermore, the first bi-directional pump 412.1 is preferably shared between the first and second longitudinal channels 210 and 220, eliminating the need for simultaneous pumping between these two longitudinal channels.

[0093] FIG. 4c shows a third fluid injection assembly 301 of a wiping system according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0094] In the third embodiment, the injection assembly 301 includes: The pump 421.1 comprises a first pump 421.1 and a first injection channel 422.1 connecting the first pump 421.1 to a differential pressure valve 423, which is connected to the first longitudinal channel 210 via a first distribution channel 424.1 and to the second longitudinal channel 220 via a second distribution channel 424.2. The differential pressure valve 423, also called a "Y-valve," can direct fluid from the first injection channel 424.1 towards the first distribution channel 422.1 or towards the second distribution channel 424.2, depending on the pressure of the fluid in the first injection channel 422.1. The first pump 421.1 can vary the injection pressure of the cleaning fluid to select one or the other of the injection channels 422.1 and 422.2. This is called a dual-pressure pump.

[0095] The injection assembly 301 includes: a second pump 411.2 and a second injection channel 422.2 capable of injecting a cleaning fluid from a cleaning fluid reservoir into the third longitudinal channel 230; Equipped with.

[0096] The pumps 421.1 and 421.2 can be controlled by the control unit 303 in the manner described with reference to FIG.

[0097] Therefore, the control unit 303, via the control signal, - when the wiping system is wiping downwards, actuating the motor of the first pump 421.1 to inject cleaning fluid at a first pressure level into the first injection channel 422.1; - when the wiping system is wiping upwards, actuating the motor of the first pump 421.1 to inject cleaning fluid at a second pressure level into the first injection channel 422.1; - actuating the second pump 421.2 upward and / or downward when the wiping system 100 is in the angular sector 312; It is understood that this is possible.

[0098] Thus, the number of pumps is reduced compared to the first embodiment, and the number of injection channels is reduced compared to the second embodiment, thereby reducing the bulk associated with injection assembly 301.

[0099] FIG. 4d shows a fourth fluid injection assembly 301 of a wiping system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[0100] In the fourth embodiment, the injection assembly 301 includes: It comprises a single pump 431 connected by a single channel 432 to a solenoid valve 436 which can be controlled to connect the single channel 432 to either the first injection channel 435.1 or the second injection channel 435.2, or to both injection channels 435.1 and 435.2. Both pump 431 and solenoid valve 436 are controlled by control unit 303. Thus, solenoid valve 436 acts as a switch between the two injection channels 435.1 and 435.2 and the single channel 432 and can be controlled by a control signal.

[0101] The injection assembly 301 includes: a differential pressure valve 433 connected via a first distribution channel 434.1 to the first longitudinal channel 210 and via a second distribution channel 434.2 to the second longitudinal channel 220; The Y-valve 433 can direct the fluid from the first injection channel 435.1 towards the first distribution channel 434.1 or towards the second distribution channel 434.2 depending on the pressure of the fluid in the first injection channel 435.1. Thus, the pump 431 can vary the injection pressure of the cleaning fluid to select one or the other of the injection channels 435.1 and 422.2 when the solenoid valve 436 selects at least the first injection channel 422.1.

[0102] The pump 431 and the solenoid valve 436 may be controlled by the control unit 303 in the manner described with reference to FIG.

[0103] Therefore, the control unit 303, via the control signal, - when the wiping system is wiping downwards, actuating the motor of the pump 431 to inject cleaning fluid at a first pressure level and controlling the solenoid valve to select at least the first injection channel 435.1; - when the wiping system is wiping upwards, actuating the motor of the pump 431 to inject cleaning fluid at a second pressure level and controlling the solenoid valve to select at least the first injection channel 435.1; - in the upward and / or downward direction, when the wiping system 100 is in the angular sector 312, actuating the motor of the pump 431 and controlling the solenoid valve 436 to select at least the second injection channel 435.2; It is understood that this is possible.

[0104] Therefore, the number of pumps is reduced compared to the first embodiment, and a single dual pressure pump is provided. The number of injection channels is also two, as in the third embodiment. However, compared to the previous embodiment, an additional solenoid valve must also be provided.

[0105] FIG. 4e shows a fifth fluid injection assembly 301 of a wiping system according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

[0106] In the fifth embodiment, the injection assembly 301 includes: - a single dual-pressure, bidirectional pump 441 connected by a first injection channel 442.1 to the differential pressure valve 443 and by a second injection channel 442.2 to the third longitudinal channel 230. The pump 441 is bidirectional in that it can selectively inject fluid into the first injection channel 442.1 or the second injection channel 442.2 depending on the direction of rotation of the pump motor. Furthermore, it is possible to inject cleaning fluid at at least two different pressure levels.

[0107] The injection assembly 301 includes: a differential pressure valve 443 connected to the first longitudinal channel 210 via a first distribution channel 444.1 and to the second longitudinal channel 220 via a second distribution channel 444.2; The Y-valve 443 can direct fluid from the first injection channel 442.1 towards the first distribution channel 444.1 or towards the second distribution channel 444.2 depending on the pressure of the fluid in the first injection channel 442.1. Thus, the pump 441 can vary the injection pressure of the wash fluid to select one or the other of the distribution channels 444.1 and 444.2 when the pump 441 rotates in a direction associated with injection into the first injection channel 442.1.

[0108] The pumps 441.1 and 441.2 can be controlled by the control unit 303 in the manner described with reference to FIG.

[0109] Therefore, the control unit 303, via the control signal, - actuating the motor of the pump 441 in a first direction to inject cleaning fluid at a first pressure level when the wiping system is wiping downward; - operating the motor of the pump 441 in a first direction to inject cleaning fluid at a second pressure level when the wiping system is wiping upward; - actuating the motor of the pump 441 in a second direction in order to select the second jet channel 435.2 when the wiping system 100 is in the angular sector 312, in an upward and / or downward direction; It is understood that this is possible.

[0110] The fifth embodiment therefore allows for the number of elements of the injection assembly 301 to be limited as much as possible while still allowing for selective injection into longitudinal channels 210, 220, and 230. Thus, the bulk associated with the injection assembly is reduced.

[0111] More generally than the previously described embodiments mentioned in connection with dual injector wiper blades, all having three longitudinal channels, the control unit 303 can selectively control the injection of cleaning fluid into the third longitudinal channel 230 in a predetermined angular sector via at least one pump of the injection assembly 301.

[0112] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the steps of a method for controlling the injection of cleaning fluid carried out by the control unit 303 of the wiping system 100 according to the present invention.

[0113] In step 500, the control unit 303 receives real-time position data regarding the arm 103 or the blade 105. There is no limitation on the frequency at which the real-time position data is received. Such a frequency is preferably greater than 10 Hz, or even 100 Hz.

[0114] In step 501, the control unit 303 generates, based on the received position data, a control signal for selectively controlling the injection of cleaning fluid into the longitudinal channel 230. The control signal is generated as described above according to the position of the arm 103 or blade 105 relative to a predetermined angular sector.

[0115] Complementarily, in the context of a dual injector wiper blade, the control unit 303 generates control signals in response to the received position data for selectively controlling injection of cleaning fluid into the first longitudinal channel 210, the second longitudinal channel 220, and / or the third longitudinal channel 230. The control signals are generated as described above in response to the wiping direction of the wiper blade 105 and the position of the arm 103 or blade 105 relative to a predetermined angular sector.

[0116] In step 502 , control unit 303 sends a control signal to injection assembly 301 .

[0117] Depending on the embodiment, the injection assembly 301 may vary, and therefore the control signal may be: - Pump start / stop signal, - the level of pump injection pressure when the pump is dual pressure, - the direction of rotation of the pump motor if the pump is bidirectional; a solenoid valve control signal when the injection assembly includes a solenoid valve; It may consist of:

[0118] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described, and many modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A wiping system (100) for a motor vehicle, comprising: - an arm (103), a motor (302) capable of rotating said arm; a wiper blade (105) configured to wipe a visible zone of the windshield of said motor vehicle, capable of being driven by said arm, and comprising at least one longitudinal channel (230) and at least one nozzle element (113) configured to inject washing fluid towards at least one sensor (320) in fluid communication with said at least one longitudinal channel and arranged outside said visible zone, said nozzle element being arranged in a longitudinal end zone (120) of said wiper blade; an injection assembly (301) capable of injecting a cleaning fluid into said longitudinal channel and comprising at least one pump; a control unit (303) capable of controlling in real time an injection assembly based on position data relating to said arm or said wiper blade; Equipped with when the control unit determines that the arm or the wiper blade is within a predetermined angular sector (312) that is smaller than an angular wiping range (311) of the wiping system, the control unit can control injection into the longitudinal channel by the injection assembly; the predetermined angular sector (312) is determined according to the geometric shape of the wiping system (100), the geometric shape of the optical surface (321) of the sensor (320), and the relative position of the wiping system and the sensor when the wiping system is mounted on a motor vehicle equipped with the sensor, so that the nozzle element sprays cleaning fluid towards the optical surface of the sensor when the arm or the wiper blade is positioned within the angular sector; the wiper blade comprises at least one other longitudinal channel (220; 230) and at least one other nozzle element (111; 112) in fluid communication with the other longitudinal channel and configured to inject the washing fluid provided by the other longitudinal channel into the visibility zone in a direction oblique to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade, the injection assembly (301) is capable of selectively injecting a cleaning fluid into the longitudinal channel and / or into the other longitudinal channel; the at least one other longitudinal channel comprises at least a first longitudinal channel (210) and a second longitudinal channel (220), the longitudinal channel being a third longitudinal channel (230); the at least one other nozzle element comprises a first nozzle element (111) in fluid communication with at least the first longitudinal channel and configured to spray cleaning fluid in a first direction inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade, and at least a second nozzle element (112) in fluid communication with the second longitudinal channel and configured to spray cleaning fluid in a second direction inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade, the nozzle element being a third nozzle element; the injection assembly (301) is capable of selectively injecting the cleaning fluid into the first longitudinal channel, the second longitudinal channel, and / or the third longitudinal channel; A wiping system (100).

2. 2. The wiping system of claim 1, wherein the position data regarding the arm (103) or the wiper blade (105) is provided by the motor (302) or by a detection device (304).

3. 2. The wiping system of claim 1, wherein the injection assembly (301) comprises a first pump (401.1) connected to the first longitudinal channel (210) by a first injection channel (402.1), a second pump (401.2) connected to the second longitudinal channel (220) by a second injection channel (402.2), and a third pump (401.3) connected to the third longitudinal channel (230) by a third injection channel (402.3), and the control unit (303) is capable of selectively activating the first, second, and third pumps.

4. the injection assembly comprises a first dual pressure pump (421.1; 431; 441) capable of injecting a cleaning fluid into a first injection channel (422.1; 435.1; 442.1) according to at least a first pressure level or a second pressure level, and a differential pressure valve (423; 433; 443) connecting the first injection channel to the first longitudinal channel (210) or the second longitudinal channel (220) depending on whether the cleaning fluid is injected into the first injection channel at the first pressure level or the second pressure level; The control unit (303) is capable of controlling the pressure level of the dual pressure pump. The wiping system of claim 1 .

5. 5. The wiping system of claim 4, further comprising a second pump (421.2) capable of injecting a cleaning fluid into a second injection channel (422.2) connected to the third longitudinal channel (230), wherein the control unit (303) is capable of controlling the operation of the second pump.

6. the first dual pressure pump is a dual pressure bidirectional pump (441) that can selectively inject a cleaning fluid into the first injection channel (442.1) or into a second injection channel (442.2) connected to the third longitudinal channel (230) depending on the direction of rotation of a pump motor of the first dual pressure pump; the control unit (303) is capable of controlling the direction of rotation of the pump motor of the first dual pressure pump; The wiping system of claim 4.

7. 5. The wiping system of claim 4, wherein the first dual pressure pump (431) is connected to a solenoid valve (436) via a single channel (432), and the solenoid valve can direct the cleaning fluid injected by the first dual pressure pump into the single channel towards the first injection channel (435.1) or towards a second injection channel (435.2) connected to the third longitudinal channel (230) depending on a control signal received from the control unit (303).

8. the injection assembly (301) comprises a first bidirectional pump (411.1), which is connected to the first longitudinal channel (210) by a first injection channel (412.1) and to the second longitudinal channel (220) by a second injection channel (412.2), and which is capable of injecting a cleaning fluid into the first injection channel or the second injection channel depending on the direction of rotation of a pump motor of the first bidirectional pump; the injection assembly further comprises a second pump (411.2) connected to the third longitudinal channel (230) by a third injection channel (412.3), the control unit (303) being able to control the operation of the second pump; The wiping system of claim 1 .

9. 1. A method for controlling injection of a washing fluid into a wiping system (100) for a motor vehicle, the wiping system comprising: an arm (103); a motor (302) capable of rotating the arm; and a wiper blade (105) configured to wipe a visible zone of a windshield of the motor vehicle and capable of being driven by the arm, the wiper blade having longitudinal channels (230) and at least one nozzle element (113) configured to inject washing fluid towards at least one sensor (320) in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinal channel and arranged outside the visible zone, the nozzle element being arranged in a longitudinal end zone (120) of the wiper blade. The method comprises the following steps implemented by a control unit (303): receiving (500) position data relating to the arm or the wiper blade in real time; - generating (501) a control signal for controlling in real time the injection of a cleaning fluid into said longitudinal channel based on said position data; - sending a control signal to an injection assembly of said wiping system (502); Including, When the control unit determines that the arm or the wiper blade is within a predetermined angular sector (312) that is smaller than an angular wiping range (311) of the wiping system, the generated control signal controls injection by the injection assembly into at least the longitudinal channel; the predetermined angular sector (312) is determined according to the geometric shape of the wiping system (100), the geometric shape of the optical surface (321) of the sensor (320), and the relative position of the wiping system and the sensor when the wiping system is mounted on a motor vehicle equipped with the sensor, so that the nozzle element sprays cleaning fluid towards the optical surface of the sensor when the arm or the wiper blade is positioned within the angular sector; method.

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