Wiper device

Abstract

Provided is a wiper device capable of suppressing the formation of water streaks on a wiped surface on a driver's seat side, even when wiper blades on the driver's seat side and a passenger's seat side are operated in tandem. The wiper device includes drive units for individually driving wiper blades provided respectively on the driver's seat side and the passenger's seat side, the drive units causing the wiper blades to perform a tandem operation between a lower inverted position and an upper inverted position, wherein, when each wiper blade is moved to a stop position set at the lower inverted position or near the lower inverted position after the tandem operation, the drive units move the wiper blade on the passenger's seat side to the stop position on the passenger's seat side and then move the wiper blade on the driver's seat side to the stop position on the driver's seat side.

Description

Wiper device

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses an opposite-type wiper device, in which a pair of wiper blades are arranged in an opposite configuration, but the operating range of the passenger-side wiper blade is set narrower than that of the driver-side wiper blade and slightly overlaps with that of the driver-side wiper blade, the lower reversing position of the passenger-side wiper blade is set near the outer edge of the driver-side operating range, forming an overlapping operating range between the driver-side and passenger-side operating ranges, and the normal stop position of the passenger-side wiper blade when not in operation is set to the upper reversing position, thereby causing the pair of wiper blades to operate in tandem, reciprocating in the same direction.

[0003] JP 2016-088320 A

[0004] In the above-mentioned background art, the normal stop position of the passenger-side wiper blade when not in operation is set to the upper inverted position, which is undesirable in terms of appearance when not in operation. From the viewpoint of appearance, the normal stop position of the passenger-side wiper blade should be set to the lower inverted position, as in a general opposite-type wiper device.

[0005] However, if the normal stop position of the passenger-side wiper blade is changed from the upper inverted position to the lower inverted position, the passenger-side wiper blade will move to the normal stop position (lower inverted position) after the driver-side wiper blade has moved to the normal stop position (lower inverted position). This causes a water streak to form on the driver's side of the windshield (wiping surface) along the path of the tip of the passenger-side wiper blade, impairing the driver's visibility.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a wiper device that can prevent water streaks from forming on the wiping surface on the driver's side even when the wiper blades on the driver's side and passenger's side are operated in tandem.

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides, as a first solution relating to a wiper device, a wiper device that includes drive units that individually drive wiper blades provided on the driver's side and passenger's side, and each drive unit operates the wiper blades in tandem between a lower inverted position and an upper inverted position, and when each drive unit moves the wiper blade to the lower inverted position or a stop position set near the lower inverted position after the tandem operation, it adopts a means in which it moves the wiper blade on the passenger's side to the stop position on the passenger's side and then moves the wiper blade on the driver's side to the stop position on the driver's side.

[0008] In the present invention, as a second solution related to the wiper device, in the above-mentioned first solution, each drive unit adopts a means for moving the wiper blade on the passenger side to the stop position on the passenger side first, after the wiper blade on the driver's side has been moved to the stop position on the driver's side, by making the stop time of the wiper blade on the passenger side at the upper inverted position on the passenger side after the tandem operation longer than the stop time of the wiper blade on the passenger side at the upper inverted position during the tandem operation.

[0009] In the present invention, as a third solution related to the wiper device, in the first or second solution described above, each drive unit adopts a means for switching the movement order of the wiper blade on the passenger side and the wiper blade on the driver's side during tandem operation by making the stopping time of the wiper blade on the passenger side at the upper inverted position on the passenger side longer than the stopping time during tandem operation before the tandem operation.

[0010] The present invention adopts, as a fourth solution relating to a wiper device, a solution in which, in any of the first to third solutions described above, one of the drive units is connected to a first normal communication line for wired communication with a control unit and a dedicated communication line for wired communication with the other drive unit, and the other drive unit is connected to a second normal communication line for wired communication with the control unit and the dedicated communication line.

[0011] The present invention provides a fifth solution related to a wiper device, which is the same as the fourth solution described above, in which, when an abnormality occurs in the wired communication via the first normal communication line or the wired communication via the second normal communication line, each drive unit transmits and receives signals necessary for synchronously driving a pair of wiper blades via the dedicated communication line.

[0012] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a wiper device that can prevent water streaks from forming on the wiping surface on the driver's side even when the wiper blades on the driver's side and passenger's side are operated in tandem.

[0013] Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the overall configuration of a wiper device A according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical connection relationship of the wiper device A according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the wiper device A according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 is a timing chart showing the operation of the wiper device A according to one embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 is a block diagram showing the connection relationship of a wiper device B according to a modified example of one embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. A wiper device A according to this embodiment is installed in various types of automobiles, such as gasoline-powered automobiles, hybrid automobiles, and electric automobiles, and is a device for wiping away rainwater adhering to the surface (wiped surface) of a member to be wiped, such as a windshield (windshield) or a rear window.

[0015] 1, the wiper device A is an opposite-type (opposing wiping type) wiper device in which one wiper blade 1d is disposed at the lower center of the surface to be wiped W, and the other wiper blade 1p is disposed below the one wiper blade 1d at the lower center of the surface to be wiped W. In a typical opposite-type wiper device, a pair of wiper blades performs a symmetrical operation (opposing operation) in which the pair of wiper blades wipes from the lower center of the surface to be wiped toward each end of the surface in the width direction. However, in the wiper device A according to this embodiment, the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p are disposed in an opposite-type (opposing wiping type) arrangement, but when wiping the surface to be wiped W, the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p perform a tandem operation.

[0016] As shown in the figure, the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p are rod-shaped members placed on the windshield W. The pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p abut against the surface (wiped surface) of the windshield W and wipe rainwater off the windshield W by reciprocating (oscillating) over the wiped surface. One end of each of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p is attached to the center of the respective longitudinal directions of wiper arms 11d, 11p.

[0017] 1, the symbol Rd denotes the wiping range of the driver's seat side wiper blade 1d, and the symbol Rp denotes the wiping range of the passenger's seat side wiper blade 1p. The driver's seat side wiping range Rd extends from the lower reversal position to the upper reversal position of the wiper blade 1d, and is the range of movement of the wiper blade 1d around the driver's seat side wiper shaft 2d to which the other end of one wiper arm 11d is connected.

[0018] In contrast, the wiping range Rp on the passenger side extends from the lower inverted position to the upper inverted position of the wiper blade 1p, and is the range of movement of the wiper blade 1p around the passenger side wiper shaft 2p to which the other end of the other wiper arm 11p is connected. The driver's side wiping range Rd and the passenger side wiping range Rp are partial areas on the surface of the windshield W (the surface to be wiped).

[0019] The pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p temporarily stop at the lower reversal position and the upper reversal position during the reciprocating motion in the wiping ranges Rd, Rp. Specifically, when the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p moves from the lower reversal position to the upper reversal position, they temporarily stop at the upper reversal position, and then move from the upper reversal position to the lower reversal position.

[0020] The pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p also temporarily stop at the lower reversal position and then move from the lower reversal position to the upper reversal position. That is, in this embodiment, the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p repeatedly move back and forth while temporarily stopping at the lower reversal position and the upper reversal position.

[0021] 1, the wiper device A includes a first wiper motor unit 3d and a second wiper motor unit 3p that individually drive a pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p. The first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p correspond to a pair of drive units in the present invention.

[0022] The first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p are drive units that individually drive the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p, respectively, and cause the pair of wiper blades 1d and 1p to reciprocate between a lower reversal position and an upper reversal position.

[0023] The first wiper motor unit 3d is a drive device that includes a driver's side motor (DS motor) whose output shaft is connected to the other end of the wiper arm 11d provided on the driver's side of the vehicle, and rotates the driver's side motor, while the second wiper motor unit 3p is a drive device that includes a passenger's side motor (PS motor) whose output shaft is connected to the other end of the wiper arm 11p provided on the passenger's side of the vehicle, and rotates the passenger's side motor.

[0024] Such a wiper device A has a wiring structure as shown in Fig. 2. That is, in terms of the wiring structure, the wiper device A includes a first wiper motor unit 3d (DS MOTOR) and a second wiper motor unit 3p (PS MOTOR), as well as a control unit 4 (BCM), a vehicle battery 5, a main power cable 6, three fuses 7 to 9, three branch power cables 10 to 12, a first communication cable 13, a second communication cable 14, and a third communication cable 15.

[0025] 2, the first wiper motor unit 3d (DS MOTOR) and the second wiper motor unit 3p (PS MOTOR) each have a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal as functional parts related to the wiring structure. These first terminal, second terminal, third terminal, and fourth terminal are all connection terminals.

[0026] As shown in the figure, the control unit 4 (BCM) has a first terminal, a second terminal, a third terminal, and a fourth terminal as connection terminals. The first terminal of this control unit 4 (BCM) is connected to the first branch power cable 10. The second terminal of the control unit 4 (BCM) is connected to the second terminal of the first wiper motor unit 3d via the first communication cable 13.

[0027] The control unit 4 (BCM) has a third terminal connected to the second terminal of the second wiper motor unit 3p via the second communication cable 14. The control unit 4 (BCM) has a fourth terminal connected to the reference potential (GND). The control unit 4 (BCM) controls the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p by outputting predetermined control signals from the second and third terminals.

[0028] As shown in the figure, the vehicle battery 5 has its positive electrode connected to one end of the main power cable 6 and its negative electrode connected to a reference potential (GND). The vehicle battery 5 is the vehicle's main power supply (voltage source) that outputs DC power of a predetermined voltage, and supplies DC power to the first wiper motor unit 3d, the second wiper motor unit 3p, and the control unit 4 via the main power cable 6, three fuses 7 to 9, and three branch power cables 10 to 12.

[0029] As shown in the figure, one end of the main power cable 6 is connected to the positive electrode of the vehicle battery 5, and the other end is commonly connected to one end of each of the three branch power cables 10 to 12. The main power cable 6 transmits DC power supplied from the positive terminal of the vehicle battery 5 to the three branch power cables 10 to 12.

[0030] Of the three fuses 7 to 9, the first fuse 7 is provided midway along the first branch power cable 10 as shown in the figure. One end of the first fuse 7 is connected to the other end of the main power cable 6, and the other end is connected to a first terminal of the control unit 4. When an abnormally large current flows through the first branch power cable 10, the first fuse 7 melts and cuts off the supply of DC power to the control unit 4.

[0031] As shown in the figure, the second fuse 8 is provided in a midpoint of the second branch power cable 11. One end of the second fuse 8 is connected to the other end of the main power cable 6, and the other end is connected to the first terminal of the first wiper motor unit 3d. When an abnormally large current flows through the second branch power cable 11, the second fuse 8 melts and blows, cutting off the supply of DC power to the first wiper motor unit 3d.

[0032] As shown in the figure, the third fuse 9 is provided in a midpoint of the third branch power cable 12. One end of the third fuse 9 is connected to the other end of the main power cable 6, and the other end is connected to a first terminal of the second wiper motor unit 3p. When an abnormally large current flows through the third branch power cable 12, the third fuse 9 melts and blows, cutting off the supply of DC power to the second wiper motor unit 3p.

[0033] Of the three branch power cables 10 to 12, the first branch power cable 10 has one end connected to the other end of the power cable 6 and the other end connected to a first terminal of the control unit 4. The first branch power cable 10 is a power line for supplying DC power output by the vehicle battery 5 to the control unit 4.

[0034] One end of the second branch power cable 11 is connected to the other end of the power cable 6, and the other end is connected to a first terminal of the first wiper motor unit 3d. The second branch power cable 11 is a power line for supplying DC power output from the vehicle battery 5 to the first wiper motor unit 3d.

[0035] One end of the third branch power cable 12 is connected to the other end of the power cable 6, and the other end is connected to a first terminal of the second wiper motor unit 3 p. The third branch power cable 12 is a power line for supplying DC power output from the vehicle battery 5 to the second wiper motor unit 3 p.

[0036] As shown in the figure, one end of the first communication cable 13 is connected to the second terminal of the control unit 4, and the other end is connected to the second terminal of the first wiper motor unit 3d. The first communication cable 13 is a signal line that mediates wired communication between the control unit 4 and the first wiper motor unit 3d, and transmits a communication signal of the first method.

[0037] The first method is, for example, an in-vehicle local area network (LAN). That is, the control unit 4 and the second wiper motor unit 3p transmit and receive communication signals conforming to the in-vehicle LAN, i.e., LIN signals, via the first communication cable 13.

[0038] One end of the second communication cable 14 is connected to the third terminal of the control unit 4, and the other end is connected to the second terminal of the second wiper motor unit 3p. The second communication cable 14 is a signal line that mediates wired communication between the control unit 4 and the second wiper motor unit 3p, and transmits communication signals of the first method, just like the first communication cable 13.

[0039] That is, similar to the control unit 4 and the first wiper motor unit 3d, the control unit 4 and the second wiper motor unit 3p transmit and receive LIN signals conforming to the in-vehicle LAN via the second communication cable 14. Note that the first communication cable 13 and the second communication cable 14 are the first normal communication line and the second normal communication line in this embodiment.

[0040] One end of the third communication cable 15 is connected to the third terminal of the first wiper motor unit 3 d, and the other end is connected to the third terminal of the second wiper motor unit 3 p. The third communication cable 15 is a signal line that mediates wired communication between the first wiper motor unit 3 d and the second wiper motor unit 3 p, and transmits a communication signal (CLN signal) of a second method that is different from the first method.

[0041] In addition, wired communication between the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p using the third communication cable 15 is performed only when an abnormality occurs in the wired communication using the first communication cable 13 between the control unit 4 and the first wiper motor unit 3d, or in the wired communication using the second communication cable 14 between the control unit 4 and the second wiper motor unit 3p.

[0042] That is, in the normal state, the wiper device A causes a pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p to reciprocate based on wired communication conforming to the in-vehicle LAN between the control unit 4 and the first wiper motor unit 3d, and wired communication conforming to the in-vehicle LAN between the control unit 4 and the second wiper motor unit 3p.

[0043] The third communication cable 15 is a dedicated communication line specific to the first wiper motor unit 3 d and the second wiper motor unit 3 p. Therefore, the second method is a communication method different from the in-vehicle LAN. The first wiper motor unit 3 d and the second wiper motor unit 3 p transmit and receive information necessary for the synchronous rotation of the pair of wiper shafts 2 d and 2 p, i.e., signals necessary for the synchronous drive of the pair of wiper blades 1 d and 1 p, via the third communication cable 15.

[0044] 2, the number of connection terminals in the first wiper motor unit 3d is four (first terminal, second terminal, third terminal, and fourth terminal). In contrast, the number of connection terminals in the second wiper motor unit 3p is also four (first terminal, second terminal, third terminal, and fourth terminal). In other words, the wiper apparatus A according to this embodiment includes the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p that have the same connection terminals.

[0045] Next, we will explain the detailed configurations of the first wiper motor unit 3d, the second wiper motor unit 3p, and the control unit 4. The first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p each include at least a motor (power source), a drive control circuit, and a communication circuit.

[0046] That is, the first wiper motor unit 3d includes a first motor that rotates the wiper shaft 2d on the driver's seat side, a first drive circuit that outputs a drive signal to the first motor, and a first communication circuit that outputs a control signal to the first drive circuit by communicating with the control unit 4 via a wired connection.

[0047] On the other hand, the second wiper motor unit 3p includes a second motor that rotates the wiper shaft 2p on the passenger side, a second drive circuit that outputs a drive signal to the second motor, and a second communication circuit that outputs a control signal to the second drive circuit by communicating with the control unit 4 via a wired connection.

[0048] The first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p rotate the pair of wiper shafts 2d, 2p based on control signals received from the control unit 4. That is, the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p synchronously rotate the pair of wiper shafts 2d, 2p at a predetermined rotational speed, thereby causing the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p to reciprocate on the surface of the windshield W (the surface to be wiped).

[0049] The control unit 4 is, for example, a one-chip microcomputer, and includes at least a storage unit, a calculation unit, and a communication unit as functional components. The storage unit stores a predetermined wiper control program (application program) in advance. The calculation unit executes the wiper control program to generate a control signal. The communication unit transmits the control signal to the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p.

[0050] That is, the control unit 4 is a software control device that synchronously controls the first wiper motor unit 3 d and the second wiper motor unit 3 p through cooperation of hardware resources and software resources. The control unit 4 synchronously controls the first wiper motor unit 3 d and the second wiper motor unit 3 p, thereby controlling the reciprocating motion of the pair of wiper blades 1 d, 1 p.

[0051] Next, the operation of the wiper device A according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the schematic diagram shown in FIG. 3 and the timing chart shown in FIG.

[0052] 3A shows a pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p in a standby state (initial state). That is, when the wiper device A is not in operation, the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p are stopped in a state where they are vertically overlapped at a lower reversal position or at a stop position provided near the lower reversal position on the wiped surface W. As shown in the figure, the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side is on the upper side, and the wiper blade 1p on the passenger's seat side is on the lower side.

[0053] In the wiper device A according to this embodiment, when the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p are activated by the wiper switch, they operate in tandem (parallel interlocking) from this initial state to wipe away rainwater adhering to the surface (wiped surface) of the windshield W. That is, the first wiper motor unit 3d in this wiper device A moves the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side from the lower reversal position to the upper reversal position.

[0054] The second wiper motor unit 3p moves the passenger-side wiper blade 1p toward the upper inverted position slightly later than the movement of the driver-side wiper blade 1d. Then, as shown in Figure 3(b), when the passenger-side wiper blade 1p moves to a position where it does not interfere with the driver-side wiper blade 1d, the first wiper motor unit 3d moves the driver-side wiper blade 1d from the upper inverted position toward the lower inverted position.

[0055] When the driver's side wiper blade 1d reaches the lower reversal position as shown in Fig. 3(b), the first wiper motor unit 3d moves the driver's side wiper blade 1d from the lower reversal position to the upper reversal position as shown in Fig. 3(c). When the driver's side wiper blade 1d moves to a position where it does not interfere with the passenger's side wiper blade 1p, the second wiper motor unit 3p moves the passenger's side wiper blade 1p from the upper reversal position to the lower reversal position.

[0056] That is, when the wiper device A is activated by a wiper switch ON signal or the like, the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p operate in tandem (parallel wiping) as shown in Figures 3(b) and 3(c), and repeat the tandem operation (parallel wiping) of Figures 3(b) and 3(c) until an operation change is made by a wiper switch OFF signal or the like. During this tandem operation, the passenger-side wiper blade 1p reverses from a lower reversal position that partially overlaps the wiping range of the driver-side wiper blade 1d toward an upper reversal position. When an operation change command is made by a wiper switch OFF signal or the like to change the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p from the tandem operation described above to a stopped state (non-operating state), the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p are in a vertical relationship in which the driver-side wiper blade 1d is on the bottom, and therefore the passenger-side wiper blade 1p is on the top.

[0057] In other words, if the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p are switched to a standby state (non-operating state) while operating in tandem (parallel interlocking), the wiper blade 1d on the driver's seat side will move from the upper inverted position to the lower inverted position, and then the wiper blade 1p on the passenger's seat side will move from the upper inverted position to the lower inverted position. As a result, a streak of water will be formed on the surface of the windshield W (the surface to be wiped) along the path of movement of the tip of the passenger's side wiper blade 1p, impairing the driver's visibility.

[0058] To address this problem, in this embodiment, when the tandem operation is ended and the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p are moved to the lower inverted position, the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p adjust the rotation speed of the driver's side motor (DS motor) (driver's side motor rotation speed) and the rotation speed of the passenger's side motor (PS motor) (passenger's side motor rotation speed) so that the passenger's side wiper blade 1p moves from the upper inverted position to the lower inverted position after the driver's side wiper blade 1d moves from the upper inverted position to the lower inverted position.

[0059] That is, from the time when the wiper device A is started by the wiper switch until it is stopped, the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p set the driver's seat side motor rotation speed Nd and the passenger's seat side motor rotation speed Np as shown in Figure 4. The first wiper motor unit 3d moves the driver's seat side motor rotation speed Nd up and down at a constant cycle as shown by the solid line in Figure 4, thereby reciprocating the driver's seat side wiper blade 1d between the minimum rotation angle and the maximum rotation angle (between the lower reversal position and the upper reversal position).

[0060] In contrast, the second wiper motor unit 3p stops the passenger side wiper blade 1p at the maximum rotation angle (upper reversal position) for a predetermined period by setting the motor rotation speed of the passenger side motor (PS motor) to zero for a predetermined period before and after tandem operation, as shown by the dashed line in Figure 4.

[0061] That is, as shown in Figure 4, the second wiper motor unit 3p switches the movement order of the passenger side wiper blade 1p and the driver side wiper blade 1d by making the stopping time of the passenger side wiper blade 1p at the upper inverted position longer than the stopping time during tandem operation.

[0062] 4, the second wiper motor unit 3p reverses the vertical relationship of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p at the stop positions by making the stop time of the passenger-side wiper blade 1p at the upper reversal position longer than the stop time during tandem operation. That is, the vertical relationship of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p is such that the driver-side wiper blade 1d is on the upper side, and therefore the passenger-side wiper blade 1p is on the lower side, as shown in FIG.

[0063] Such a wiper device A includes a first wiper motor unit 3d and a second wiper motor unit 3p (a pair of drive units) that individually drive a pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p provided on the driver's side and passenger's side, and the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p (a pair of drive units) operate the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p in tandem between a lower inverted position and an upper inverted position.

[0064] In addition, in this wiper device A, when the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p (a pair of drive units) move the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p to a stop position set at or near the lower reversal position after tandem operation, they move the wiper blade 1p on the passenger side to a stop position and then move the wiper blade 1d on the driver's side to a stop position.

[0065] According to this embodiment, after tandem operation, the passenger-side wiper blade 1p is moved to its stop position first, and then the driver-side wiper blade 1d is moved to its stop position, so that the driver-side wiper blade 1d removes or suppresses the water streaks that form along the path of the tip of the passenger-side wiper blade 1p. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the driver's visibility is not impaired.

[0066] In addition, in this wiper device A, the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p (a pair of drive units) move the passenger side wiper blade 1p to a stop position after moving the passenger side wiper blade 1p to a stop position by making the stop time of the passenger side wiper blade 1p at the upper inverted position longer than the stop time in tandem operation.

[0067] According to this embodiment, after the tandem operation, the wiper blade 1p on the passenger side can be more reliably moved to the stop position, and then the wiper blade 1d on the driver side can be moved to the stop position.

[0068] In addition, in this wiper device A, the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p (a pair of drive units) switch the movement order of the passenger side wiper blade 1p and the driver side wiper blade 1d in tandem operation by making the stopping time of the passenger side wiper blade 1p at the upper inverted position longer before tandem operation than the stopping time in tandem operation.

[0069] According to this embodiment, it is possible to reliably realize the transition from the upper and lower relationship of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p at the stopped position, i.e., the driver's side wiper blade 1d being on top (the passenger side wiper blade 1p being on the bottom), to tandem operation.

[0070] In addition, in the wiper device A of this embodiment, the first wiper motor unit 3d (one of the drive units) is connected to a first communication cable 13 (first normal communication line) that performs wired communication with the control unit 4, and a third communication cable 15 (dedicated communication line) that performs wired communication with the second wiper motor unit 3p (the other drive unit), and the second wiper motor unit 3p (the other drive unit) is connected to a second communication cable 14 (second normal communication line) and the third communication cable 15 (dedicated communication line) that perform wired communication with the control unit 4.

[0071] That is, according to this embodiment, the first wiper motor unit 3 d and the second wiper motor unit 3 p (a pair of drive units) can have the same number of connection terminals, and therefore, according to this embodiment, parts of the same specifications can be used for the first wiper motor unit 3 d and the second wiper motor unit 3 p (a pair of drive units), and therefore, it is possible to provide a wiper apparatus A in which parts management is easier than before.

[0072] In addition, in the wiper device A of this embodiment, the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p (a pair of drive units) transmit and receive signals necessary for synchronously driving the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p via a third communication cable 15 (dedicated communication line) when an abnormality occurs in wired communication via the first communication cable 13 (first normal communication line) or wired communication via the second communication cable 14 (second normal communication line).

[0073] That is, according to this embodiment, it is possible to continue synchronous driving of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p even when an abnormality occurs in wired communication using the first communication cable 13 (first normal communication line) and the second communication cable 14 (second normal communication line). Therefore, according to this embodiment, it is possible to continue synchronous driving of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p even when an abnormality occurs in wired communication, and to simplify parts management by using parts with the same specifications for the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p (a pair of drive units).

[0074] Furthermore, by sharing the hardware resources of the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p (a pair of drive units), it is possible to swap the upper and lower set positions of the two wiper devices (the stop positions of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p in Figure 1 are swapped up and down) and the operating directions of the pair of wiper blades 1d, 1p, simply by changing the software resources, making it possible to produce vehicles for left-hand drive and right-hand drive.

[0075] The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and the following modifications are possible: For example, the connection of the first wiper motor unit 3d, the second wiper motor unit 3p (a pair of drive units), and the control unit 4 (BCM) is not limited to that shown in FIG.

[0076] As a connection configuration of the first wiper motor unit 3d, the second wiper motor unit 3p, and the control unit 4 (BCM), for example, a modified example as shown in Fig. 5 is conceivable. The wiper apparatus B according to this modified example is the wiper apparatus A according to the above-described embodiment, except that instead of the second communication cable 14 connecting the control unit 4 (BCM) and the second wiper motor unit 3p, a fourth communication cable 16 connecting the first wiper motor unit 3d and the second wiper motor unit 3p is provided.

[0077] The first wiper motor unit 3d1 in the wiper apparatus B has four terminals corresponding to the first to fourth terminals of the first wiper motor unit 3d in the wiper apparatus A, as well as a fifth terminal corresponding to the second terminal of the second wiper motor unit 3p in the wiper apparatus A. On the other hand, the second wiper motor unit 3p1 in the wiper apparatus B does not have a terminal corresponding to the second terminal of the second wiper motor unit 3p in the wiper apparatus A.

[0078] One end of the fourth communication cable 16 is connected to the third terminal of the control unit 4, and the other end is connected to the fifth terminal of the first wiper motor unit 3d1. The fourth communication cable 16 is a signal line that mediates wired communication between the control unit 4 and the first wiper motor unit 3d1, and transmits communication signals of the first method, similar to the first communication cable 13.

[0079] That is, in such a wiper apparatus B, the control unit 4 does not communicate directly with the second wiper motor unit 3p1, but communicates with the second wiper motor unit 3p1 via the first wiper motor unit 3d1 and the third communication cable 15. According to such a wiper apparatus B, it is possible to achieve the same effects as those of the wiper apparatus A according to the above-described embodiment.

[0080] A, B...Wiper device, 1d, 1p...Wiper blade, 2d, 2p...Wiper shaft, 3d, 3d1...First wiper motor unit (drive unit), 3p, 3p1...Second wiper motor unit (drive unit), 4...Control unit (BCM), 5...Vehicle battery, 6...Main power cable, 7-9...Fuses, 10-12...Branch power cables, 13...First communication cable, 14...Second communication cable, 15...Third communication cable, 16...Fourth communication cable

Claims

1. A wiper device comprising drive units that individually drive wiper blades provided on the driver's seat side and passenger's seat side, each drive unit causing the wiper blades to operate in tandem between a lower inverted position and an upper inverted position, wherein when each wiper blade is to be moved to the lower inverted position or a stop position set near the lower inverted position after the tandem operation, each drive unit moves the wiper blade on the passenger's seat side to the stop position on the passenger's seat side and then moves the wiper blade on the driver's seat side to the stop position on the driver's seat side.

2. The wiper device according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the drive units makes the stop time of the wiper blade on the passenger side at the upper inverted position after the tandem operation longer than the stop time of the wiper blade at the upper inverted position during the tandem operation, thereby moving the wiper blade on the passenger side to the stop position first and then moving the wiper blade on the driver's side to the stop position.

3. A wiper device as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pair of drive units switch the movement order of the wiper blade on the passenger's side and the wiper blade on the driver's side during tandem operation by making the stopping time of the wiper blade on the passenger's side at the upper inverted position longer than the stopping time during tandem operation before the tandem operation.

4. A wiper device as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that one of the drive units is connected to a first normal communication line for wired communication with the control unit and a dedicated communication line for wired communication with the other drive unit, and the other drive unit is connected to a second normal communication line for wired communication with the control unit and the dedicated communication line.

5. The wiper device described in claim 4, characterized in that when an abnormality occurs in the wired communication via the first normal communication line or the wired communication via the second normal communication line, the pair of drive units transmit and receive signals necessary for synchronously driving the pair of wiper blades via the dedicated communication line.

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