Vehicle Wiper Strip Warpage Detection and Parking Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vehicle wiper blades experience warpage due to rubber-elastic material deformation when turned off, leading to jerking phenomena and potential deformation, which existing technologies fail to detect and prevent effectively.
Innovation Solution
A wiper control apparatus and method that includes a detector connected to flexible printed circuit boards (FPCBs) in the wiper strip to detect warpage by voltage disconnection, triggering the wiper motor to move the blade to a parking position for a predetermined time, using a controller and storage for reference times specific to each vehicle model.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the wiper blade is made of rubber-elastic material to maintain flexibility and contact with the glass surface, then the wiper can adapt to different glass shapes and maintain good contact, but the rubber-elastic material is prone to warpage and deformation when the wiper is turned off, causing jerking phenomena and performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The controller detects warpage of the wiper strip before it causes severe deformation or failure, and activates the wiper motor in advance to reposition the wiper blade to its proper parking position. This preliminary corrective action prevents the warpage from progressing into permanent deformation, thereby maintaining the reliability of the rubber-elastic material while preserving its adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates a detector that continuously monitors the state of the wiper strip and provides feedback to the controller. When warpage is detected through changes in electrical resistance or other physical properties, the controller receives this feedback and automatically activates the wiper motor to correct the position. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures the wiper strip maintains its reliability while retaining the flexibility needed for glass surface adaptability.
2Reliability
If a detector is added to detect warpage of the wiper strip, then the reliability and performance of the wiper system is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the wiper strip itself as an intermediary element that serves dual purposes: it maintains its primary function of wiping the glass surface while also acting as the detection medium for warpage. The detector monitors physical or electrical properties of the wiper strip material, allowing the strip to mediate between its structural role and the sensing function, thereby adding detection capability without requiring separate complex sensing mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper strip is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it serves as the flexible wiping element that contacts the glass surface, and it also functions as the sensing element for detecting its own warpage condition. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional dedicated detection components, thereby improving reliability while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
3Reliability
If the wiper motor is activated continuously to prevent warpage, then the wiper strip maintains its proper position and performance, but the energy consumption increases and the motor lifespan decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous operation, the wiper motor is activated periodically only when the detector identifies warpage conditions. The controller monitors the wiper strip state and triggers the motor intermittently to reposition the blade back to its correct parking position. This periodic corrective action maintains position stability and prevents permanent deformation while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The wiper system incorporates self-diagnosis and self-correction capabilities through the integrated detector and controller. The system automatically detects warpage conditions and activates the motor only when needed, without requiring continuous external control or monitoring. This self-service approach ensures position stability while minimizing unnecessary motor activation and energy waste.
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
Prevents deformation of the wiper strip by ensuring proper parking of the wiper blade, maintaining its performance and preventing jerking phenomena by detecting and addressing warpage in the wiper strip.
Implementation Method 1
a detector that is connected to a contact at one end of the first FPCB and a contact at an opposite end of the last FPCB and that detects warpage of the wiper strip, based on voltage
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle wiper control apparatus monitors whether warpage occurs in a wiper strip made of a rubber-elastic material that is provided in a wiper blade. When a wiper of a vehicle is turned off and the warpage occurs in the wiper strip, the control apparatus controls the wiper mechanism to move the wiper blade to a parking position thereby preventing deformation of the wiper strip and maintaining the performance thereof.