Wiper Control Method for Heavy Rain Field of View
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing automatic wiper systems face difficulties in maintaining a clear field of view during heavy rainfall, especially in localized heavy rain conditions, due to the complexity and cost of dual wiper configurations, and the unsuitability of rotary wipers for passenger cars.
Innovation Solution
A control method and device that narrows the wiping range of the wiper blade to a narrower area when heavy rain is detected, activating the wiper blade in a high-speed mode within a limited area to ensure a clear field of view without altering the device configuration or increasing system complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dual wiper configuration (reciprocating swing wiper and rotary wiper) is used to clear heavy rainfall, then the field of view can be secured during torrential rain, but the system configuration becomes extremely complicated and device weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The windshield wiping area is segmented into a predetermined wiping range (first area) and a non-wiping range (second area). The wiper blade selectively wipes only the predetermined range during heavy rain, dividing the wiping function into critical and non-critical zones to maintain field of view without requiring dual wiper systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Different wiping strategies are applied to different regions of the windshield. The predetermined wiping range (center region) receives frequent wiping attention to maintain driver visibility, while the non-wiping range (peripheral regions) is left unwiped during heavy rain conditions.
2Reliability
If a dual wiper configuration is implemented to handle localized heavy rain, then the transparency can be increased, but the device weight and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper control device dynamically adjusts the wiping operation based on detected rainfall conditions. During heavy rain, the system switches to a specialized mode that concentrates wiping efforts on the predetermined range, optimizing the use of the single wiper blade's capabilities without adding extra hardware weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiping parameters (wiping range, wiping frequency, wiping speed) are changed based on rainfall detection. During heavy rain, the system modifies these parameters to focus on the predetermined wiping range, achieving effective clearing with the existing wiper blade rather than adding more blades.
3Productivity
If the wiper speed is increased to Hi activation state during heavy rain, then more rain can be removed, but rain adheres to the windshield immediately after wiping reducing field of view
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary concentration of wiping efforts on the predetermined wiping range before rain can adhere to the entire windshield. By focusing high-speed wiping on the critical central area, the system prevents rain accumulation in the most important viewing zone rather than attempting to clear the entire windshield after saturation.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper blade performs continuous or frequent wiping actions within the predetermined range during heavy rain, maintaining uninterrupted clearing of the critical field of view area. This continuous action on the focused range prevents rain adhesion better than intermittent full-surface wiping.
4Area of stationary object
If the entire windshield wiping range is used during heavy rain, then complete coverage is achieved, but the wiping frequency decreases and field of view is not maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The windshield is segmented into a predetermined wiping range (first area) and a non-wiping range (second area). During heavy rain, the wiper blade operates only within the predetermined range, concentrating all wiping actions on this smaller area to achieve high wiping frequency and maintain field of view, rather than distributing efforts across the entire windshield surface.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of wiping the entire windshield surface, the system applies partial action by concentrating wiping efforts on the predetermined range that corresponds to the driver's field of view. This excessive focus on a specific area ensures that the critical viewing zone is maintained at the expense of peripheral areas.
Data Source
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AI summary
A wiper system according to the present invention includes wiper blades (2a, 2b) that perform a reciprocating wiping operation on a windshield (3), and a raindrop sensor (9) that detects the current amount of rainfall based on water droplets adhering to the windshield (3). If rainfall more than or equal to a predetermined amount is detected by the raindrop sensor (9), a heavy rain mode in which a wiping range of the wiper blades (2a, 2b) is made narrower than in a normal wiping operation is carried out. In the heavy rain mode, the wiper blade (2a) arranged on the driver's side is activated at high speed (Hi) within a heavy rain time wiping area X set near the forward field of view of the driver to ensure the field of view of the driver.