Vehicle Wiper Control System for Ice Prevention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicle wipers often fail to operate effectively in cold weather due to snow and ice accumulation, leading to inoperability until the snow and ice are melted or dispersed.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle wiper control system that includes an actuator and controller, which moves the wiper blade off the vehicle surface when weather conditions indicate possible snowfall or ice formation, using weather information from sources like sensors and satellite data to determine when to deploy the wiper away from the surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wiper remains engaged with the vehicle surface during cold weather, then it can perform normal cleaning function, but it becomes stuck with snow and ice leading to inoperability
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting weather conditions (temperature, precipitation) before snow and ice accumulation becomes problematic, and proactively moves the wiper to a storage position to prevent adhesion. This anticipatory approach eliminates the need for reactive ice scraping while maintaining wiper operability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper blade is extracted from its normal operating position on the vehicle surface and moved to a separate storage position when adverse weather conditions are detected. This separation removes the wiper from the harmful environment where snow and ice accumulation would cause inoperability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the wiper is moved to deployed position away from vehicle surface, then snow and ice accumulation is prevented, but normal cleaning function is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The wiper system dynamically changes its position based on real-time weather conditions. The controller continuously monitors temperature and precipitation data, automatically transitioning the wiper between operating and storage positions to optimize both protection from ice accumulation and availability for cleaning functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from weather sensors and precipitation detectors to automatically control wiper positioning. When sensors detect conditions conducive to ice formation, the controller activates the actuator to move the wiper to storage position, and reverses the action when conditions improve, creating a self-regulating system.
3Productivity
If the wiper operates in icy conditions, then cleaning function is maintained, but damage to wiper blade and vehicle surface occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary anti-action by preventing the wiper from contacting the vehicle surface under icy conditions. By detecting freezing temperatures and precipitation beforehand, the controller proactively positions the wiper away from the surface, eliminating the harmful interaction that would cause damage to both the blade and surface.
Data Source
AI summary
In at least one implementation, a vehicle wiper control system includes an actuator and a controller. The actuator is coupled to the wiper and operable to selectively move the wiper from a normal operating position engaged with a vehicle surface to be wiped and to a deployed position not engaged with said vehicle surface. The controller is communicated with the actuator and with a source of weather information regarding one or more weather factors, the controller being operable to cause the actuator to move the wiper from its normal position to its deployed position when one or more of the weather factors are at or beyond a threshold for said one or more weather factors. This may cause, for example, a wiper blade to be moved off of a vehicle surface if the current or predicted weather is indicative of possible snow fall or ice formation.