DC Motor Wiper Control via Armature Current Ripple

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current windshield wiper systems for motor vehicles require additional position sensors and complex methods to determine the parking position of windshield wipers, increasing manufacturing, assembly, and maintenance costs, as well as system complexity.

Innovation Solution

A control method for non-reversing commutated windshield wiper motors that determines the parking position by counting the revolutions of the motor shaft based on the ripple of the armature current, eliminating the need for additional position sensors and allowing for cost-effective, reliable operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If additional position sensors are used to determine the parking position of the windshield wiper, then the measurement precision of the wiper position is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewiper position detection accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses the motor's own armature current ripple as a self-generated position signal. The commutated DC motor naturally produces current ripples during operation, which are evaluated to determine motor shaft revolutions and calculate the parking position, eliminating the need for external position sensors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces mechanical position sensors with an electrical measurement method. By evaluating the ripple of the armature current signal, the system determines motor shaft position and calculates wiper parking position electronically, substituting mechanical sensing components with signal processing.

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

2Reliability

If additional position sensors are installed to detect wiper position, then the reliability of position determination is improved, but the assembly effort and manufacturing costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition determination reliabilityVSAvoidassembly effort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The motor controller utilizes the motor's inherent electrical characteristics (armature current ripple) to determine position, making the system self-sufficient without requiring additional sensors that would increase assembly complexity and manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of manufacture

If the motor shaft position is determined by counting armature current ripples, then the manufacturing costs are reduced, but the measurement precision may be affected by disturbances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing costVSAvoidposition measurement accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors and evaluates the armature current ripple signal to track motor shaft position. By using feedback from the motor's own operational characteristics, the system achieves accurate position determination without additional sensors, resolving the contradiction between cost reduction and measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 reduces costs, assembly effort, and weight while enhancing the reliability of the windshield wiper system by using armature current ripple evaluation to determine the parking position without additional sensors, and enables stepless speed regulation through PWM voltage signals.

Implementation Method 1

The number of revolutions of the motor shaft is determined according to the invention by evaluating the ripple or ripple of an armature current of the direct current motor.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRipple of armature current:

Implementation Method 2

In a further embodiment, the control method according to the invention uses pulse-width-modulated (PWM) voltage signals to control the direct current motor, which enables stepless speed regulation of the at least one windshield wiper.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPulse-width modulation:

Implementation Method 3

a commutated direct current motor is usually used, the motor shaft of which is coupled to at least one windshield wiper of the windshield wiper system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2147836B1Control for window wiper motor
Publication Date: 2011.02.23 DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES INC
  • EP2147836B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2147836B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2147836B1 patent drawingFigure 3a

AI summary

The controlling method involves utilizing a direct current motor (3) with a stator, an armature and a motor shaft that is coupled with the anchor, and determining revolutions of the motor shaft for determining a stand-by position of the motor shaft. The revolutions of the motor shaft are determined by evaluating the ripples of an armature current of the direct current motor. An independent claim is included for a motor controller for a non reversing commutating windshield wiper motor for the execution of a controlling method.