Wiper Blade High Park Position for Winter Ice

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional windshield wiper apparatuses are prone to ice and snow accumulation when in the park position, leading to reduced visibility and wiper efficiency during winter months due to direct contact with the windshield.

Innovation Solution

A wiper apparatus with a controller that allows the wiper blade to pivot to a high park position further up from the bottom edge of the windshield, reducing ice and snow accumulation by selecting a high park mode via a predetermined switching sequence of the wiper control switch.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the wiper blade is positioned at the standard park position (proximate to the in-wipe position along the base of the windshield), then driver visibility is improved and wind noise is minimized, but ice and snow accumulation occurs on the wiper blade during winter months

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewiper operation reliabilityVSAvoidice and snow accumulation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The wiper system implements dynamic park position selection, allowing the wiper blade to be positioned at either a standard park position or a high park position based on operating conditions. The controller selectively commands the wiper drive motor to stop at different positions, enabling the system to adapt between minimizing wind noise/visibility obstruction (standard position) and reducing ice/snow accumulation (high position) during winter months

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the positional parameter of the wiper blade by introducing a high park position located higher on the windshield compared to the conventional standard park position. This parameter change (vertical position) allows the wiper blade to be placed in an area less prone to ice and snow accumulation while still maintaining effective wiping coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the wiper blade is positioned at the high park position (further up from the bottom edge of the window), then ice and snow accumulation is reduced, but wind noise and driver visibility may be adversely affected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveice and snow accumulationVSAvoidwiper operation reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically selects between standard and high park positions based on environmental conditions. During winter months when ice and snow accumulation is a concern, the controller commands the high park position. During other conditions, it returns to the standard park position, ensuring optimal performance for each operating scenario

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The wiper system can periodically transition between park positions or use the high park position intermittently during winter months to prevent ice and snow buildup, then return to the standard position when conditions improve, creating a periodic action pattern that maintains reliability across varying conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Adaptability or versatility

If a selectable high park position feature is added to the wiper system, then adaptability to winter conditions is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to winter conditionsVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The existing wiper control system is enhanced to perform multiple functions: it controls wiping operations and selectively positions the wiper blade at either a standard or high park position. The controller and existing switch infrastructure are utilized to manage both wiping cycles and park position selection, making the system multi-functional without requiring entirely separate control mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The controller acts as an intermediary between the wiper drive motor and the park position selection logic. It receives input from the control switch regarding desired park position selection and translates this into appropriate motor control signals, mediating between user input and motor execution while integrating the new functionality into the existing control architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9260081B2Wiper apparatuses, motor vehicles having wiper apparatuses, and methods for operating wiper apparatuses

Publication Date: 2016.02.16 GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC

AI summary

Wiper apparatuses are provided herein. In one example, a wiper apparatus includes a wiper that has a wiper arm and a wiper blade. The wiper blade is mounted to the wiper arm for contact with a window of a motor vehicle. A wiper drive motor pivots the wiper arm between an out-wipe position and an in-wipe position. A controller controls operation of the wiper drive motor to cause the wiper drive motor to selectively stop the wiper blade in a standard park position when in a standard park mode and in a high park position when in a high park mode. The wiper blade in the high park position is located further up from a bottom edge of the window than in the standard park position. A wiper control switch causes the controller to toggle between the standard park mode and the high park mode when moved according to a predetermined switching sequence.