Electromagnetic Wiper Actuator with Linear Guide Rail
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional windshield wiper systems face issues with power efficiency due to friction, corrosion, and difficulty in adapting to complex windshield curvatures, which can obstruct the driver's or in-vehicle camera's field-of-view and compromise driver-assist or autonomous-driving functions, especially in harsh weather conditions.
Innovation Solution
An electromagnetic windshield wiper system with a modular design featuring a linear mono wiper and a guide rail with permanent magnet bars, utilizing an electromagnetic moving block and coil to minimize friction and adjust the wiper arm's angle for effective cleaning, allowing for efficient and unobstructed windshield clearing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional electrical motors with mechanical components are used to move wiper blades, then the wiper system can effectively clean the windshield, but significant friction is created resulting in high power consumption and reduced vehicle range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional electrical motors with mechanical components with an electromagnetic linear actuator system. The actuator uses a movable block with electromagnetic coils that interact with permanent magnet bars mounted on the guide rail, creating direct linear motion without mechanical gears, bearings, or sliding components. This substitution eliminates the friction and power losses associated with traditional mechanical drive systems while maintaining effective windshield cleaning capability.
2Productivity
If conventional electrical motors with mechanical components are used to move wiper blades, then the wiper system can effectively clean the windshield, but the mechanical components are susceptible to rust and wear leading to poor cleaning performance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical components such as gears, bearings, and sliding parts that are prone to rust and wear. Instead, it employs an electromagnetic linear actuator with a movable block containing electromagnetic coils that interact with permanent magnet bars on the guide rail. This contactless electromagnetic drive system has no mechanical wear points, significantly improving reliability and durability in harsh weather conditions while maintaining effective windshield cleaning.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional wiper systems are used, then they can clean flat windshields, but they have difficulty adapting to varying surface profiles and complex windshield curvatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a guide rail with permanent magnet bars that can be dynamically positioned along the guide rail to match the curvature of the windshield. The movable block with electromagnetic coils can adjust its position along the guide rail, allowing the wiper system to adapt to varying surface profiles and complex windshield curvatures. This dynamic configuration enables effective cleaning across different windshield geometries while maintaining the electromagnetic drive's power efficiency and reliability advantages.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The electromagnetic wiper system reduces friction and corrosion, enhances power efficiency, and provides an unobstructed field-of-view for drivers and autonomous systems, improving cleaning performance and reliability in various weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
The linear actuator includes an electromagnetic moving block and a guide rail. The guide rail includes a plurality of permanent magnet bars that are disposed horizontally along a curvature of the windshield of the vehicle. The electromagnetic moving block includes a plurality of perforations and at least an electromagnetic coil that surrounds the plurality of perforations in the electromagnetic moving block.
Data Source
AI summary
An electromagnetic wiper system for a windshield of a vehicle includes a linear actuator, a wiper-arrangement, and control circuitry. The linear actuator includes at least one guide rail having permanent magnets and an electromagnetic moving block. The electromagnetic moving block includes at least one perforation that surrounds the at least one guide rail and at least one electromagnetic coil that surrounds the at least one perforation. The wiper-arrangement includes a wiper arm and a wiper blade, wherein at least the wiper arm is coupled to the electromagnetic moving block. The control circuitry controls a linear motion of the electromagnetic moving block along the at least one guide rail to steer the wiper arm that is coupled to the electromagnetic moving block back and forth across a length of the windshield to the windshield, wherein the electromagnetic moving block induces minimal friction during the linear motion.