Wiper Motor Fuse Element Circuit Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wiper motor actuating devices for electrically drivable wiper motors fail to effectively mitigate voltage errors and electrical disturbances, potentially causing damage to the wiper motor and other vehicle electronic components.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a fuse element connected between the ground circuit of the filtering unit and the wiper motor, along with overvoltage protection components, to interrupt the electric circuit if current exceeds a threshold, thereby preventing damage and protecting other components from electrical disturbances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a filtering unit is integrated to compensate voltage errors, then electrical disturbances are limited, but the risk of damage from filtering unit failure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectrical disturbancesVSAvoidsystem reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

A fuse element is integrated into the ground electric circuit of the filtering unit to provide beforehand protection. The fuse element is designed to interrupt the circuit before damage can propagate to the wiper motor or other vehicle electronics, cushioning against the potential harmful effects of filtering unit failure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

The fuse element acts as an intermediary protective component between the filtering unit and the rest of the electric circuit. When the filtering unit fails and generates excessive current, the fuse element intermediates by interrupting the ground circuit, preventing direct damage to the wiper motor and other sensitive electronics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the filtering unit is connected directly to the wiper motor ground, then voltage compensation is effective, but thermal events and short circuits can damage the wiper motor

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage compensation effectivenessVSAvoidwiper motor durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The fuse element provides beforehand protection by being positioned in the ground circuit between the filtering unit and the wiper motor. In case of filtering unit failure causing excessive current, the fuse interrupts the circuit before thermal events or short circuits can reach and damage the wiper motor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Device complexity

If no fuse element is integrated, then the device complexity is low, but other vehicle electronic components are vulnerable to electrical disturbances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecircuit complexityVSAvoidelectrical disturbances to other components
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The fuse element serves as a simple intermediary protective device in the ground circuit. It adds minimal complexity while effectively protecting other vehicle electronic components (such as electronic throttle control) from electrical disturbances caused by wiper motor operation or filtering unit failure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 effectively prevents damage to the wiper motor and other electronic components by safely interrupting the electric circuit in case of filtering unit failure, ensuring safe operation and protecting against overvoltage and overcurrent events.

Implementation Method 1

the at least one fuse element is provided to interrupt the ground electric circuit if a current in the at least one filtering unit exceeds a predetermined threshold value

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFusing: Fusible Alloy

Implementation Method 2

at least one filtering unit to compensate voltage errors generated by the wiper motor in an electric circuit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVoltage filtering: Filter (electronic)

Implementation Method 3

the at least one filtering unit comprises at least one overvoltage protection unit to limit an overvoltage generated by the wiper motor in a first electric circuit

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOvervoltage suppression: Filter (electronic)

Data Source

PatentEP3176893B1Wiper motor actuating device for an electrically drivable wiper motor
Publication Date: 2021.03.03 PSA AUTOMOBILES SA
  • EP3176893B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to a wiper motor actuating device for an electrically drivable wiper motor (10), comprising at least one filtering unit (12, 14) to compensate voltage errors generated by the wiper motor (10) in an electric circuit (16, 18) and at least one fuse element (20) for interrupting an electric circuit (52) in case of a failure of the at least one filtering unit (12, 14).