Wiping device

Abstract

Provided is a wiping device capable of inhibiting the formation of an accumulated water line caused by the stopping of a wiper blade.　Specifically provided is a wiping device for moving a wiper blade in a reciprocating manner in a prescribed wiping range by means of a prescribed drive control device, wherein the drive control device has, as control modes, a normal mode and a narrow wiping mode in which the wiping range is narrower than in the normal mode, and, when stopping narrow angle wiping in the narrow wiping mode, the wiper blade is moved to a top inversion position of the wiping range and then moved to a stop position.

Description

Wiping device

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses a wiper device mounted on an autonomous vehicle that performs autonomous driving using images captured by an imaging device, and includes a wiper operation controller that controls the wiping operation by adjusting at least one of a wiping range, a wiping speed, and an intermittent time that is a waiting time from the completion of a wiping operation until the start of the next wiping operation, and the wiper operation controller performs a first wiping operation as the wiping operation when the vehicle is being manually driven, and performs a second wiping operation different from the first wiping operation as the wiping operation when the vehicle is being automatically driven.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2019-014408

[0004] In the wiper device of Patent Document 1, the first wiper blade is separated from the second wiper blade and temporarily stopped at the upper end of the wiping range during the second wiping operation, and the second wiper blade performs the second wiping operation. However, stopping the first wiper blade at the upper end of the wiping range in this manner may cause a puddle line to form at the stop position, which may obstruct the driver's view.

[0005] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has an object to provide a wiping device that can suppress the occurrence of puddle lines caused by the stoppage of the wiper blade.

[0006] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides, as a first solution relating to a wiping device, a wiping device in which a wiper blade is caused to reciprocate within a predetermined wiping range by a predetermined drive control device, wherein the drive control device has, as control modes, a normal mode and a narrow wiping mode in which the wiping range is narrower than the normal mode, and when narrow-angle wiping in the narrow wiping mode is to be stopped, the wiper blade is moved to an upper inverted position above the wiping range and then moved to a stop position.

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

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

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

[0010] In the present invention, as a fifth solution related to the wiping device, in any of the first to fourth solutions above, the drive control device employs a means for reciprocating the pair of wiper blades using a single power source.

[0011] In the present invention, as a sixth solution related to the wiping device, a solution is adopted in which, in any of the first to fourth solutions above, the drive control device is provided with one drive source that causes one of the wiper blades to move back and forth, and another drive source that causes the other wiper blade to move back and forth.

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a wiping device that can suppress the occurrence of puddle lines caused by the stoppage of the wiper blade.

[0013] It is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the wiping device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a flowchart showing the operation of the wiping device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the wiping device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the wiping device according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

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

[0015] 1, the wiping device A includes a pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p, a pair of wiper arms 2d, 2p, a link mechanism 3, a motor 4 (power source), an angle detection circuit 5, a control unit 6, and a drive circuit 7. Of these components, the control unit 6 includes a read only memory (ROM) 61, a random access memory (RAM) 62, and a central processing unit (CPU) 63, as shown in the figure.

[0016] The motor 4 (power source), angle detection circuit 5, control unit 6, and drive circuit 7 together constitute a drive control device, which works together to reciprocate the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p.

[0017] Such a wiping device A employs a single-motor drive system in which a pair of wiper arms 2d, 2p are mechanically connected using a link mechanism 3, and a single motor 4 (power source) is used to reciprocate a pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p. That is, the wiping device A according to the first embodiment has a basic configuration in which a single motor 4 (power source) simultaneously drives a pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p.

[0018] The wiping device A employs a parallel wiping system in which a pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p move in the same direction. That is, when the wiper arm 2d on the driver's side moves upward, the other wiper arm 2p on the passenger's side moves upward, similarly to the driver's side wiper arm 2d. When the driver's side wiper arm 2d moves downward, the passenger side wiper arm 2p also moves downward.

[0019] 1, "d" indicates a component or part related to the driver's seat side of the vehicle, and "p" indicates a component or part related to the passenger's seat side of the vehicle. Also, in FIG. 1, the symbol Rd indicates the wiping range of the driver's seat side wiper blade 1d (driver's seat wiping range), and the symbol Rp indicates the wiping range of the passenger's seat side wiper blade 1p (passenger seat wiping range).

[0020] The driver's seat wiping range Rd is the range of the movement locus of the driver's seat side wiper blade 1d from the lower reversal position PLd to the upper reversal position PUd. The lower reversal position PLd is the position where the driver's seat side wiper blade 1d reverses from a downward motion to an upward motion. The lower reversal position PLd is the stop position of the driver's seat side wiper blade 1d when wiping is stopped. On the other hand, the upper reversal position PUd is the position where the driver's seat side wiper blade 1d reverses from an upward motion to a downward motion.

[0021] The passenger side wiping range Rp is a fan-shaped range extending from the lower reversal position PLp to the upper reversal position PUp as the movement trajectory of the passenger side wiper blade 1p. The lower reversal position PLp is the position where the passenger side wiper blade 1p reverses from a downward motion to an upward motion. The lower reversal position PLp is the stopping position of the passenger side wiper blade 1p when wiping is stopped. On the other hand, the upper reversal position PUp is the position where the passenger side wiper blade 1p reverses from an upward motion to a downward motion.

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

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

[0024] As shown in the figure, the pair of wiper arms 2d, 2p are rod-shaped members, one end of which is connected to the middle of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p, and the other end of which is connected to the pair of wiper shafts Td, Tp. That is, the driver's seat side wiper arm 2d has one end connected to the middle of the driver's seat side wiper blade 1d, and the other end connected to the driver's seat side wiper shaft Td.

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

[0026] The pair of wiper arms 2d, 2p function as power transmission components that mechanically transmit the rotational power of the motor 4 to the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p. The pair of wiper arms 2d, 2p also function as biasing members that press the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p against the surface W to be wiped 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, 2p and the output shaft of the motor 4. The link mechanism 3 has 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. The motor 4 reciprocates the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p by manipulating the rotation angle of the link mechanism 3. The 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 angle of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p mechanically connected by the link mechanism 3. More specifically, this angle signal is made up of a relative position signal indicating the relative position of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p and an absolute position signal indicating the absolute position of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p.

[0029] The relative position signal is a pulse signal (motor pulse) generated in accordance with the rotation of the motor 4, 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 pulse signal generated when the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p reaches a control reference position. The control reference position is, for example, the bottom reversal positions PLd, PLp.

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

[0031] The switch signal is a higher-level control command that instructs the wiping device A to turn on / off a wiper switch provided on the vehicle, specify heavy rain mode, turn on / off a mist switch, intermittent operation (Lo, Hi, INT), etc. The drive command is, for example, a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal, and is a control command that operates the drive circuit 7 based on the duty ratio, which is attribute information, that is, the ratio between the Hi (high) period and 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 feedback control the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p via the motor 4 (power source). This ROM 61 also stores an operation map that the CPU 63 needs to execute the control program.

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

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

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

[0036] The CPU 63 generates a drive command to perform a wiping cycle corresponding to a control mode (operation mode). The control modes include a normal mode, a high mode, a heavy rain mode, and an extremely heavy rain mode. The CPU 63 references an operation map corresponding to the control mode to realize the reciprocating motion (oscillating motion) of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p corresponding to the control mode.

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

[0038] The heavy rain mode is a control mode in which the upper reversal positions on the driver's side and passenger's side are equivalent to the upper reversal positions PUd and PUp, but the lower reversal positions on the driver's side and passenger's side are set to positions PMd and PMp (lower reversal positions for sandwich wiping mode) slightly higher than the lower reversal positions PLd and PLp.

[0039] In other words, the heavy rain mode is an operating mode in which the wiping range is narrowed by the upper reversal positions PUd and PUp and the lower reversal positions PMd and PMp for the sandwich wiping mode. This heavy rain mode corresponds to the narrow wiping mode of the present invention. Furthermore, the heavy rain mode is a control mode in which the wiping cycle is set to a high wiping cycle that is faster than the normal mode.

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

[0041] The drive circuit 7 is a signal generating circuit that generates a drive signal based on a drive command input from the CPU 63. The drive circuit 7 outputs the drive signal to the motor 4 to rotate the motor 4 at a desired rotation speed. The drive circuit 7 is, for example, a three-phase inverter circuit equipped with 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 control processing in the CPU 63 that constitutes the drive control device.

[0043] When the CPU 63 starts operation, it receives switch signals from a higher-level control device at predetermined timings to sequentially acquire higher-level control commands. For example, when the heavy rain mode is instructed by the switch signal (higher-level control command), the CPU 63 controls the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p to perform narrow-angle wiping corresponding to the heavy rain mode, i.e., narrow-angle wiping between the upper reversal positions PUd, PUp and the lower reversal positions PMd, PMp for the sandwich wiping mode.

[0044] While controlling the reciprocating motion of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p corresponding to the heavy rain mode, the CPU 63 determines whether or not it has received a switch signal (higher control command) instructing "switch OFF" (to stop wiping) (Step S1). If the determination in Step S1 is "No," that is, if it has not received a switch signal to turn the heavy rain mode "OFF," the CPU 63 continues narrow-angle wiping corresponding to the heavy rain mode (Step S2).

[0045] On the other hand, if the judgment in step S1 is "Yes," that is, if the heavy rain mode is turned "OFF" and a switch signal (higher control command) is obtained instructing switching from the heavy rain mode to the normal mode, the CPU 63 determines whether the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p have moved to the upper reversal positions PUd, PUp (step S3).

[0046] If the determination in step S3 is "No," that is, if the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p have not yet reached the upper reversal positions PUd, PUp, the CPU 63 determines whether the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p are at the stop position (step S4). If the determination in step S4 is "No," that is, if the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p have not yet reached 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, if the determination in step S4 is "Yes," that is, if the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p have moved to the stop position, the CPU 63 stops the wiping action of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p (step S6).

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

[0049] Here, as described above, when narrow-angle wiping in heavy rain mode (narrow wiping mode) is stopped based on the switch signal (higher-level control command), the CPU 63 controls the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p differently depending on the direction of movement (downward movement / upward movement) of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p.

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

[0051] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 3 (b), when the CPU 63 stops narrow-angle wiping in the heavy rain mode or extra-heavy rain mode (narrow wiping mode) while the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p are moving from the upper reversal positions PUd, PUp, the CPU 63 causes the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p to turn back at the lower reversal positions PMd, PMp for the narrow wiping mode, move to the upper reversal positions PUd, PUp, and then move to the stop position (lower reversal positions PLd, PLp).

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

[0053] In addition, in this wiping device A, the drive control device (motor 4, angle detection circuit 5, control unit 6 and drive circuit 7) has control modes of normal mode and heavy rain mode (narrow wiping mode) in which the wiping range is narrower than that of the normal mode, and when narrow-angle wiping in heavy rain mode (narrow wiping mode) is stopped, the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p are moved to upper reversal positions PUd, PUp in the wiping range Rd, Rp, and then moved to a stop position (lower reversal positions PLd, PLp).

[0054] According to the first embodiment, the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p pass through the narrow wiping mode lower reversal positions PMd, PMp and move to the stop positions (lower reversal positions PLd, PLp). Therefore, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of puddle lines caused by the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p stopping at the narrow wiping mode lower reversal positions PMd, PMp.

[0055] Second Embodiment A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Fig. 4. In Fig. 4, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0056] Like 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 off the surface of a windshield or rear windshield (wiped surface W). As shown in the figure, the wiping device B includes a drive control device 10 that individually drives a pair of motors 4d, 4p. As shown in the figure, the drive control device 10 includes a pair of motors 4d, 4p and a pair of wiper drive control units 10d, 10p corresponding to the pair of motors 4d, 4p.

[0057] That is, this wiping device B is a dual-motor drive type wiping device having a basic configuration including one motor 4d (power source) that reciprocates one wiper blade 1d, and another motor 4p (power source) that reciprocates the other wiper blade 1p. Also, as shown in the figure, this wiping device B employs an opposing wiping system in which a pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p reciprocate opposite to each other.

[0058] Of the pair of motors 4d, 4p, the driver's seat side motor 4d (one of the power sources) is the driver's seat side power source that reciprocates the corresponding driver's seat side wiper blade 1d (one of the wiper blades). This motor 4d includes a motor main body 8d and a speed reduction mechanism 9d. The passenger's seat side motor 4p (the other power source) is the passenger's seat side power source that reciprocates the corresponding passenger's seat side wiper blade 1p (the other wiper blade). This motor 4p includes a motor main body 8p and a speed reduction mechanism 9p.

[0059] Of the pair of wiper drive controllers 10d, 10p, the first wiper drive controller 10d drives and controls the driver's side motor 4d (one of the power sources) corresponding to the driver's side wiper blade 1d (one of the wiper blades), and the second wiper drive controller 10p drives and controls the passenger's side motor 4p (the other power source) corresponding to the passenger's side wiper blade 1p (the other wiper blade).

[0060] The first wiper drive control unit 10d is a drive control unit corresponding to the driver's seat side motor 4d (one of the power sources), 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 side, and is equipped with 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 and controls the driver's side motor 4d to cause the driver's side wiper blade 1d to reciprocate (oscillate) about the wiper axis Td as a fulcrum, and the second wiper drive control unit 10p drives and controls the passenger's side motor 4p to cause the passenger's side wiper blade 1p to reciprocate (oscillate) about the wiper axis Tp as a fulcrum.

[0063] In the first wiper drive control unit 10d, the driver's seat side angle detection circuit 11d 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 driver's seat side motor main body 8d to the driver's seat side CPU 15d. This angle signal indicates the operating angle of the driver's seat side wiper blade 1d, and is composed of the relative position signal and absolute position signal described in the first embodiment.

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

[0065] The operation map indicates the target speed of the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side within the wiping range Rd of the driver's seat. 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 driver's seat side communication circuit 14d transmits and receives control information to and from the second wiper drive control unit 10p. The communication circuit 14d receives, as the control information, for example, the current position of the wiper blade 1p on the passenger's seat side from the communication circuit 14p of the second wiper drive control unit 10p. The communication circuit 14d also 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 the drive command to the drive circuit 16d. When executing the control program, the CPU 15d refers to the switch signal input from the higher-level control device, the angle signal input from the angle detection circuit 11d, the control information input from the communication circuit 14d on the driver's seat side, and the operation map stored in advance in the ROM 12d.

[0068] That is, the 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. The drive command is a control command that instructs the drive circuit 16d to drive the driver's side wiper blade 1d and takes into account the drive control state of the passenger's side wiper blade 1p in the second wiper drive control unit 10p.

[0069] The 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 becomes equal to the target speed in the operation map and synchronizes with the movement of the wiper blade 1p on the passenger's seat side. This drive command is a PWM signal, as in the first embodiment.

[0070] The driver's seat side drive circuit 16d is a three-phase inverter circuit equipped with 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 driver's seat side CPU 15d, and outputs the signals to the motor 4 (power source).

[0071] On the other hand, in the second wiper drive control unit 10p, the passenger-side angle detection circuit 11p 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 passenger-side motor main body 8p to the passenger-side CPU 15p. This angle signal indicates the operating angle of the passenger-side wiper blade 1p, and is composed of the relative position signal and absolute position signal described in the first embodiment.

[0072] The passenger-side ROM 12p is a non-volatile memory. This ROM 12p stores a control program that the passenger-side CPU 15p uses to feedback-control the passenger-side wiper blade 1p. This ROM 12p also stores an operation map that the passenger-side CPU 15p uses to execute the control program.

[0073] The operation map indicates the target speed of the wiper blade 1p on the passenger's side within the passenger's side wiping range Rp. The control program stored in the 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's side is a volatile memory. The RAM 13p temporarily stores various data generated when the CPU 15p on the passenger's side executes the control program.

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

[0075] The passenger-side CPU 15p generates drive commands by executing a control program stored in advance in the passenger-side ROM 12p, and outputs the drive commands to the passenger-side drive circuit 16p. When executing the control program, the CPU 15p refers to the switch signal input from the higher-level 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 stored in advance in the ROM 12p.

[0076] That is, the 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. The drive command is a control command that instructs the passenger side drive circuit 16p to drive the passenger side wiper blade 1p and takes into account the drive control state of the driver side wiper blade 1d in the first wiper drive control unit 10d.

[0077] The drive command controls the passenger side wiper blade 1p so that the movement speed of the passenger side wiper blade 1p obtained from the angle signal becomes equal to the target speed in the operation map and synchronizes with the movement of the driver side wiper blade 1d. This drive command is a PWM signal, just like the driver side drive command.

[0078] The passenger-side drive circuit 16p is a three-phase inverter circuit equipped with multiple switching transistors, similar to the driver-side drive circuit 16d. This drive circuit 16p generates three-phase drive signals based on multiple PWM signals input from the passenger-side CPU 15p and outputs the signals to the passenger-side motor 4p.

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

[0080] In addition, in this wiping device B, control information from the first wiper drive control unit 10d and control information from the second wiper drive control unit 10p are exchanged via a pair of communication circuits 14d and 14p, so that the driver's side wiper blade 1d and the passenger's side wiper blade 1p perform wiping operations in synchronization.

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

[0082] That is, when the pair of CPUs 15d, 15p start operation, they sequentially acquire higher-level control commands by receiving switch signals input from a higher-level control device at predetermined timings. For example, when the pair of CPUs 15d, 15p receives a switch signal (higher-level control command) indicating a heavy rain mode, they cause the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p to perform narrow-angle wiping corresponding to the heavy rain mode, i.e., narrow-angle wiping between the upper reversal positions PUd, PUp and the narrow wiping mode lower reversal positions PMd, PMp.

[0083] While controlling the reciprocating motion of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p corresponding to the heavy rain mode, the pair of CPUs 15d, 15p determine whether or not they have received a switch signal (higher control command) instructing "switch OFF" (stop wiping) (Step S1). If the determination in Step S1 is "No," that is, if they have not received a switch signal to turn the heavy rain mode "OFF," the pair of CPUs 15d, 15p continue narrow-angle wiping corresponding to the heavy rain mode (Step S2).

[0084] On the other hand, if the judgment in step S1 is "Yes," that is, if the heavy rain mode is turned "OFF" and a switch signal (higher control command) is obtained instructing switching from heavy rain mode to normal mode, the pair of CPUs 15d, 15p judges whether the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p have moved to the upper reversal positions PUd, PUp (step S3).

[0085] If the determination in step S3 is "No," that is, if the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p have not yet reached the upper reversal positions PUd, PUp, the pair of CPUs 15d, 15p determine whether the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p are at the stop position (step S4). If the determination in step S4 is "No," that is, if the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p have not yet reached the stop position, the pair of CPUs 15d, 15p continue the wiping operation by the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p (step S5).

[0086] On the other hand, if the judgment in step S4 is "Yes", that is, if the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p have moved to the stop position, the pair of CPUs 15d, 15p stop the wiping action of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p (step S6).

[0087] Furthermore, if the judgment in step S3 is "Yes," that is, if the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p have moved to the upper reversal positions PUd, PUp, the pair of CPUs 15d, 15p set the specified speed indicated by the switch signal as the movement speed of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p (step S7), and then move the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p to the stop position (lower reversal positions PLd, PLp) (step S8).

[0088] Here, as described above, when narrow-angle wiping in heavy rain mode (narrow wiping mode) is stopped based on the switch signal (higher-level control command), the pair of CPUs 15d, 15p control the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p differently depending on the direction of movement (downward movement / upward movement) of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p.

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

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

[0091] The wiping device B of this second embodiment drives a pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p using a dual-motor drive system, and causes the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p to reciprocate within a predetermined wiping range Rd, Rp using a predetermined drive control device 10.

[0092] In addition, in this wiping device B, the drive control device 10 has control modes of a normal mode and a heavy rain mode (narrow wiping mode) in which the wiping range is narrower than that of the normal mode, and when narrow-angle wiping in the heavy rain mode (narrow wiping mode) is stopped, the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p are moved to upper reversal positions PUd, PUp in the wiping range Rd, Rp, and then moved to a stop position (lower reversal positions PLd, PLp).

[0093] According to the second embodiment, the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p pass through the narrow wiping mode lower reversal positions PMd, PMp and move to the stop positions (lower reversal positions PLd, PLp). Therefore, according to the second embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of puddle lines caused by the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p stopping at the narrow wiping mode lower reversal positions PMd, PMp.

[0094] A, B... wiping device, W... wiped surface, PUd, PUp... upper inverted position, PLd, PLp... lower inverted position (stop position), PMd, PMp... lower inverted position for narrow wiping mode, Rd, Rp... wiping range, Td, Tp... fulcrum, 1d, 1p... wiper blade, 2d, 2p... wiper arm, 3... link mechanism, 4, 4d, 4p... motor (power source), 5... angle detection circuit, 6... control section, 61...ROM, 62...RAM, 63...CPU, 7...drive circuit, 8d, 8p...motor body, 9d, 9p...speed reduction mechanism, 10...drive control device, 10d, 10p...wiper drive control section, 11d, 11p...angle detection circuit, 12d, 12p...ROM, 13d, 13p...RAM, 14d, 14p...communication circuit, 15d, 15p...CPU, 16d, 16p...drive circuit

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.

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 wiper blade.

Images