Wiping device

Abstract

Provided is a wiping device with which it is possible to restrict a wiping cycle during high-speed travel.　This wiping device is mounted on a travelling vehicle and causes a wiper blade to perform a reciprocating motion by means of a predetermined drive control device. When the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined threshold, the control device restricts a wiping cycle of the wiper blade.

Description

Wiping device

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

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-144993 discloses a wiper system that can ensure a minimum level of visibility for the driver even during heavy rainfall such as a sudden downpour, without complicating the system structure or increasing costs. In this wiper system, the minimum level of visibility for the driver is ensured by increasing the wiping cycle of the wiper blades.

[0003] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-189275

[0004] However, if the wiping cycle is increased during heavy rainfall, the driver may be tempted to drive at a higher speed. Furthermore, if the wiping cycle is increased while the vehicle is traveling at a higher speed, the increased drive current of the motor may cause heat generation, which may cause the wiper system (wiping device) to enter a thermal protection mode, resulting in a slower wiping cycle than normal or even a complete stop of the wiping operation.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and has an object to provide a wiping device that is capable of limiting the wiping cycle when traveling at high speeds.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention adopts, as a first solution relating to a wiping device, a wiping device that is mounted on a moving vehicle and causes a wiper blade to move back and forth using a predetermined drive control device, and the control device limits the wiping cycle of the wiper blade when the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

[0007] In the present invention, as a second solution related to the wiping device, in the above-mentioned first solution, a means is adopted in which the control device has as control modes a normal mode and a high wiping mode in which the wiping cycle is higher than that of the normal mode, and when the vehicle speed exceeds the threshold value in the high wiping mode, the wiping cycle is limited.

[0008] In the present invention, as a third solution related to the wiping device, in the second solution described above, the control device adopts a means for gradually reducing the wiping cycle as the vehicle speed gradually increases in the high wiping mode.

[0009] In the present invention, as a fourth solution related to the wiping device, in the second or third solution described above, the control device adopts a means in which, when the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined speed threshold in the high wiping mode, the control mode is switched from the high wiping mode to the normal mode.

[0010] The present invention employs, as a fifth solution relating to the wiping device, a solution in which, in any of the second to fourth solutions described above, the high wiping mode has a higher wiping cycle than the normal mode and a narrower wiping range than the normal mode.

[0011] In the present invention, as a sixth solution related to the wiping device, in any of the first to fifth solutions above, the drive control device employs a means for reciprocating the pair of wiper blades using a single power source.

[0012] The present invention adopts, as a seventh solution relating to a wiping device, a solution in which, in any of the first to fifth solutions described above, the drive control device is provided with one drive source that reciprocates one of the wiper blades, and another drive source that reciprocates the other wiper blade.

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a wiping device that can limit the wiping cycle when traveling at high speeds.

[0014] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a wiping device A according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a flowchart showing the operation of the wiping device A according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing the operation of the wiping device A according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a wiping device A according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] First Embodiment First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. 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.

[0016] 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.

[0017] 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.

[0018] 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.

[0019] 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.

[0020] 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).

[0021] The driver's seat wiping range Rd is a 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 a position where the driver's seat side wiper blade 1d reverses from a downward motion to an upward motion. The upper reversal position PUd is a position where the driver's seat side wiper blade 1d reverses from an upward motion to a downward motion.

[0022] 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 upper reversal position PUp is the position where the passenger side wiper blade 1p reverses from an upward motion to a downward motion.

[0023] 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.

[0024] 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.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] 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.

[0030] 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.

[0031] 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).

[0032] 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.

[0033] 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.

[0034] 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.

[0035] 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).

[0036] 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 the switch signal and vehicle speed signal input from the higher-level control device, the 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, vehicle speed signal, angle signal, and operation map based on the control program.

[0037] 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.

[0038] 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.

[0039] The heavy rain mode is a control mode in which the upper inversion positions on the driver's side and passenger's side are equivalent to the upper inversion positions PUd and PUp, but the lower inversion positions on the driver's side and passenger's side are set to positions PMd and PMp (lower inversion positions for heavy rain mode) that are slightly higher than the lower inversion positions PLd and PLp.

[0040] 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 heavy rain mode lower reversal positions PMd and PMp. The heavy rain mode is also a control mode that corresponds to a wiping cycle that is slightly faster than the Hi mode.

[0041] The super heavy rain mode is a control mode in which the wiping range is the same as that of the heavy rain mode, but the wiping cycle 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, Hi mode, and heavy rain mode, and the wiping range is narrower than that of the normal mode and Hi mode.

[0042] 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.

[0043] 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.

[0044] When the CPU 63 starts operation, it receives a switch signal and a vehicle speed signal input from a higher-level control device at a predetermined timing to sequentially acquire a higher-level control command and vehicle speed information (step S1). The higher-level control command indicates a control mode, and the vehicle speed information indicates the vehicle's running speed (vehicle speed Ms).

[0045] The CPU 63 generates a control command based on the higher-level control command and vehicle speed information and outputs the control command to the drive circuit 7, thereby causing the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p to reciprocate within a wiping range and wiping cycle corresponding to the control mode. That is, the CPU 63 generates a drive signal based on the control command and outputs the drive signal to the motor 4, thereby causing the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p to reciprocate within a predetermined wiping range and wiping cycle.

[0046] For example, when a pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p are performing super heavy rain wiping in a wiping cycle corresponding to the super heavy rain mode as shown in Figure 3, the CPU 63 determines whether the vehicle speed Ms is 20 km / h or more (step S2).

[0047] If the determination in step S2 is "No," that is, if the vehicle speed Ms is lower than 20 km / h, the CPU 63 continues the very heavy rain wiping (step S3). That is, as shown in FIG. 3, in the vehicle speed range of 0 to less than 20 km / h, the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p reciprocate in the very heavy rain wiping cycle.

[0048] On the other hand, if the determination in step S2 is "Yes," that is, if the vehicle speed Ms is 20 km / h or higher, the CPU 63 determines whether the vehicle speed Ms is 80 km / h or higher (step S4).

[0049] If the determination in step S4 is "No," that is, if the vehicle speed Ms is in the range of 20 to 80 km / h, the CPU 63 reduces the wiping cycle in accordance with an increase in the vehicle speed Ms (step S5). That is, in the wiping device A according to the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the wiping cycle decreases linearly in accordance with an increase in the vehicle speed Ms in the vehicle speed range of 20 to less than 80 km / h.

[0050] On the other hand, if the judgment in step S4 is "Yes", that is, if the vehicle speed Ms is 80 km / h or more, the CPU 63 switches the control mode from the super heavy rain mode to the Hi mode and causes the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p to perform Hi wiping in the wiping cycle corresponding to the Hi mode (step S6).

[0051] Here, "20 km / h" in step S2 and "80 km / h" in step S4 are speed thresholds (predetermined thresholds) for limiting the wiping cycle of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p in accordance with the vehicle speed Ms. "20 km / h" is the first speed threshold, and "80 km / h" is the second speed threshold.

[0052] The wiping device A of the first embodiment has a basic configuration in which a pair of wiper arms 2d, 2p are mechanically connected using a link mechanism 3, thereby simultaneously driving a pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p with a single motor 4 (power source), and the drive control device (motor 4, angle detection circuit 5, control unit 6 and drive circuit 7) controls the wiping cycle of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p by using a first speed threshold value and a second speed threshold value.

[0053] In other words, this wiping device A is mounted on a moving vehicle and causes a pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p to move back and forth using a predetermined drive control device (motor 4, angle detection circuit 5, control unit 6 and drive circuit 7), and the drive control device limits the wiping cycle of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p when the vehicle speed Ms exceeds a first speed threshold and a second speed threshold (predetermined thresholds).

[0054] According to the first embodiment, it is possible to provide the wiping device A that can limit the wiping cycle when the vehicle is traveling at high speeds. That is, according to the first embodiment, by limiting the wiping cycle when the vehicle is traveling at high speeds, it is possible to suppress heat generation from the motor 4 (power source) when the vehicle is traveling at high speeds.

[0055] In addition, in the wiping device A of the first embodiment, the drive control device has control modes including a normal mode and an extra-heavy rain mode (high wiping mode) which has a faster wiping cycle than the normal mode, and when the vehicle speed Ms exceeds a speed threshold value (20 km / h, 80 km / h) in the extra-heavy rain mode (high wiping mode), the wiping cycle is limited.

[0056] According to the first embodiment, it is possible to limit the wiping cycle when the vehicle is traveling at high speeds in the heavy rain mode (high wiping mode). That is, according to the first embodiment, it is possible to suppress heat generation from the motor 4 (power source) when the vehicle is traveling at high speeds in the heavy rain mode (high wiping mode).

[0057] Furthermore, in the wiping device A according to the first embodiment, the drive control device gradually reduces the wiping cycle as the vehicle speed Ms gradually increases in the vehicle speed range of 20 to less than 80 km / h in the heavy rain mode (high wiping mode). According to this first embodiment, it is possible to gradually suppress heat generation from the motor 4 (power source) in the heavy rain mode (high wiping mode).

[0058] In the wiping device A according to the first embodiment, when the vehicle speed Ms exceeds 80 km / h (threshold speed) in the heavy rain mode (high wiping mode), the drive control device switches the control mode from the heavy rain mode (high wiping mode) to the Hi mode. According to the first embodiment, the wiping cycle is limited, so that heat generation by the motor 4 (power source) can be reliably suppressed.

[0059] 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.

[0060] 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.

[0061] 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.

[0062] 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.

[0063] 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).

[0064] 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.

[0065] 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.

[0066] 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.

[0067] 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.

[0068] 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.

[0069] 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.

[0070] 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.

[0071] 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 and vehicle speed 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.

[0072] That is, the CPU 15d generates a drive command based on a control program by referring to the switch signal, the vehicle speed signal, the angle signal, the control information, and the operation map. The drive command is a control command that instructs the drive circuit 16d to drive the driver's seat side wiper blade 1d and also takes into account the drive control state of the passenger seat side wiper blade 1p in the second wiper drive control unit 10p.

[0073] 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.

[0074] 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).

[0075] 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.

[0076] 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.

[0077] 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.

[0078] 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.

[0079] 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 and vehicle speed 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.

[0080] That is, the CPU 15p generates a drive command based on a control program by referring to the switch signal, the vehicle speed signal, the angle signal, the control information, and the operation map. 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.

[0081] 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.

[0082] 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.

[0083] 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.

[0084] 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.

[0085] The control of the driver's seat side wiper blade 1d by the first wiper drive control unit 10d is similar to the control of the passenger's seat side wiper blade 1p by the second wiper drive control unit 10p. 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 characteristic diagram shown in FIG. 3, similar to the CPU 63 in the first embodiment.

[0086] That is, when the pair of CPUs 15d, 15p starts operation, they acquire the upper control command and the vehicle speed information of the vehicle by taking in the switch signal and the vehicle speed signal input from the upper control device at a predetermined timing (step S1). Then, as shown in Fig. 3, the pair of CPUs 15d, 15p determine whether the vehicle speed Ms is 20 km / h or more when the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p are performing the very heavy rain wiping in the wiping cycle corresponding to the very heavy rain mode (step S2).

[0087] If the determination in step S2 is "No," that is, if the vehicle speed Ms is lower than 20 km / h, the pair of CPUs 15d, 15p continue wiping in the very heavy rain (step S3). That is, in the wiping device B according to the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p reciprocate in the very heavy rain wiping cycle in the vehicle speed range of 0 to less than 20 km / h.

[0088] On the other hand, if the determination in step S2 is "Yes," i.e., if the vehicle speed Ms is 20 km / h or higher, the pair of CPUs 15d, 15p determines whether the vehicle speed Ms is 80 km / h or higher (step S4). If the determination in step S4 is "No," i.e., if the vehicle speed Ms is in the range of 20 to 80 km / h, the pair of CPUs 15d, 15p reduce the wiping cycle in accordance with an increase in the vehicle speed Ms (step S5).

[0089] 3, in the wiping device B according to the second embodiment, the wiping cycle decreases linearly with an increase in vehicle speed Ms in the vehicle speed range of 20 to less than 80 km / h. On the other hand, if the determination in step S4 is "Yes," that is, if the vehicle speed Ms is 80 km / h or higher, the pair of CPUs 15d, 15p switch the control mode from the very heavy rain mode to the Hi mode and cause the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p to perform Hi wiping of the wiping cycle corresponding to the Hi mode (step S6).

[0090] The wiping device B of the second embodiment has 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, and the drive control device 10 controls the wiping cycle of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p by using a first speed threshold value and a second speed threshold value.

[0091] In other words, this wiping device B is mounted on a moving vehicle and is a wiping device that causes a pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p to move back and forth using a specified drive control device 10, and the drive control device 10 limits the wiping cycle of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p when the vehicle speed Ms exceeds a first speed threshold value and a second speed threshold value (specified threshold value).

[0092] The second embodiment as described above provides the same effects as the first embodiment. That is, the second embodiment makes it possible to provide a wiping device B that can limit the wiping cycle when the vehicle is traveling at high speeds. That is, the second embodiment makes it possible to suppress heat generation from the pair of motors 4d, 4p (power sources) when the vehicle is traveling at high speeds by limiting the wiping cycle when the vehicle is traveling at high speeds.

[0093] A, B... wiping device, W... wiped surface, PUd, PUp... upper inverted position, PLd, PLp... lower inverted position, 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 unit, 61... ROM, 62... RAM, 63... CPU, 7... drive circuit, 8d, 8p... motor body, 9d, 9p... reduction mechanism, 10... drive control device, 10d, 10p... wiper drive control unit, 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 mounted on a moving vehicle and reciprocating a wiper blade by a predetermined drive control device, wherein the drive control device restricts the wiping cycle of the wiper blade when the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

2. The drive control device includes a normal mode and a high wiping mode having a higher wiping cycle than the normal mode as control modes, and restricts the wiping cycle when the vehicle speed exceeds the threshold value in the high wiping mode. The wiping device according to claim 1.

3. The drive control device gradually decreases the wiping cycle as the vehicle speed gradually increases in the high wiping mode. The wiping device according to claim 2.

4. The drive control device switches the control mode from the high wiping mode to the normal mode when the vehicle speed exceeds a predetermined speed threshold value in the high wiping mode. The wiping device according to claim 2 or 3.

5. The high wiping mode is characterized in that the wiping cycle is higher than that of the normal mode and the wiping range is narrower than that of the normal mode. The wiping device according to claim 2 or 3.

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

7. 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. The wiping device according to claim 1 or 2.

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