Vehicle Wiper Acceleration Sensor Timing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor vehicle window wiper systems spray washing liquid during both the upward outward and downward return phases of the wiper blade, which can degrade visibility and is inefficient, as the liquid is not effectively wiped during the return phase.
Innovation Solution
A system equipped with a windscreen wiper blade and drive arm that includes an acceleration sensor connected to a control circuit, which analyzes the acceleration signals to control the liquid sprayer device, ensuring it only sprays during the upward outward phase by interrupting the pump's power supply during the downward return phase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sprayer device sprays liquid during both upward outward and downward return phases, then the window surface is continuously wetted, but visibility is degraded during the return phase and the system is inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The sprayer device operates periodically, activating only during the upward outward phase of the wiper blade and remaining inactive during the downward return phase. This periodic operation is controlled by detecting the wiper blade's movement direction through acceleration sensors, ensuring liquid is sprayed only when it can be effectively wiped, thereby maintaining visibility and improving wiping efficiency
2Reliability
If the sprayer device is controlled to spray only during the upward outward phase, then visibility is maintained, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system replaces complex mechanical direction-sensing mechanisms with acceleration sensors that electrically detect the wiper blade's movement phase. The control circuit analyzes acceleration signals to determine whether the blade is in the upward outward or downward return phase, providing a simpler and more reliable control mechanism compared to traditional mechanical approaches
Solution Approach 2:
The control system utilizes the existing motion of the wiper blade itself to generate the control signal through acceleration sensors mounted on the blade or drive arm. The system self-regulates by detecting its own movement characteristics, eliminating the need for external control inputs or additional sensors to determine spray timing
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
This solution ensures that washing liquid is only applied during the upward outward phase of the wiper blade's movement, improving visibility and efficiency by preventing liquid from being sprayed and not wiped during the return phase, thus enhancing the wiping process.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor of acceleration of the windscreen wiper that is carried by the drive arm or by the windscreen wiper blade and that is connected to the control circuit in order to supply to the control circuit signals representing the value of the acceleration
Data Source
AI summary
The invention proposes a system (10) for wiping a vehicle window (12), comprising:at least one windscreen wiper blade (14) adapted to be driven by a drive arm (16) of the wiper system (10) with alternating movements sweeping at least one portion of the exterior surface of a window to be wiped between two positions at which the sweeping direction is reversed;a device (18) for spraying a liquid onto the exterior surface;a pump for feeding the sprayer device (18) with liquid;a circuit (CP) for controlling the feeding of the sprayer device (18) by the pump (38) as a function of the sweeping direction,characterized in that it includes a sensor (CA) of acceleration of the windscreen wiper that is carried by the windscreen wiper and that is connected to the control circuit (CP) in order to supply to the control circuit (CP) signals representing the value of the acceleration of the windscreen wiper (11).