Wiper Device Wireless Boundary Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wiper devices lack user-friendly and adaptable mechanisms for setting and adjusting wiping area limits, particularly in terms of convenience, reliability, and flexibility, especially considering end-user preferences and environmental conditions.

Innovation Solution

A wiper device with a control and regulation unit and an external end-user unit for wireless communication, allowing users to set and adjust wiping area limits via a portable interface, which includes a detection unit for automatic adjustments based on wiper arm and blade positions, environmental parameters, and a camera for precise optical detection, enabling flexible and intuitive control of wiper arm movements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If an external end-user unit with wireless communication is added for adjusting wiping area boundaries, then ease of operation and adaptability are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into separate functional modules: the existing wiper device with control unit, and an external end-user unit with detection unit and camera. This segmentation allows the external unit to handle user interaction and detection tasks wirelessly, improving ease of operation while distributing complexity across independent components rather than consolidating everything in one device

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A wireless communication interface acts as an intermediary between the external end-user unit and the control unit of the wiper device. This intermediary enables data exchange for setting and adjusting wiping area boundaries without physical connections, enhancing operational convenience while managing system complexity through standardized communication protocols

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If a detection unit with camera is added for automatic detection of wiper arm position, then measurement precision and automation are improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement precisionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detection unit with camera enables the system to automatically detect and determine the position of the wiper arm and wiping area boundaries without manual intervention. The system serves itself by using the camera to capture images and the detection unit to process this visual data, automatically calculating positions and adjusting boundaries, thereby improving measurement precision and automation while keeping the added complexity manageable through self-contained functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanical or manual methods for determining wiper arm position are replaced with an optical detection system using a camera and detection unit. This substitution enables non-contact, automated visual measurement of positions and boundaries, significantly improving measurement precision and enabling automatic adjustment without complex mechanical sensors or manual measurement devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If the control unit sets wiping area boundaries exclusively within a fixed parameter range, then reliability is improved, but adaptability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidadaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic boundary adjustment within a fixed parameter range. The control unit is designed to accept and process adjustment requests from the external end-user unit, dynamically modifying the wiping area boundaries within pre-defined safety and operational limits. This dynamic capability within fixed constraints ensures reliability by preventing unsafe configurations while maintaining adaptability for user preferences and different environmental conditions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enables convenient, reliable, and flexible adjustment of wiping areas to meet user preferences and environmental conditions, ensuring precise control and compliance with legal and technical specifications, while avoiding cabling and requiring minimal additional investment.

Implementation Method 1

The external end-user unit includes a camera for optical detection of the wiper arm position and/or wiper blade position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical detection: Photography

Data Source

PatentEP3448727B1Wiper device
Publication Date: 2020.01.22 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3448727B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a wiper device comprising at least one wiper drive (10) which is provided for driving a wiper arm (12) over a wiping region (14) of a vehicle window (16) in a direction-changing manner and comprising at least one control and/or regulating unit (18) which is provided for actuating the at least one wiper drive (10) in order to move the wiper arm (12) between a first wiping region boundary (20) and a second wiping region boundary (22). The wiper device comprises at least one interface (24) which is provided for establishing communication between the control and/or regulating unit (18) and an external end user unit (26), wherein the external end user unit (26) is provided at least for adjusting the first wiping region boundary (20).