JP3975564B2 - Wiper control device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a wiper control device that is employed in vehicles such as automobiles and trains, airplanes, ships, and the like, and more particularly, to a wiper control device that uses a raindrop sensor.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, for example, in a wiper control device for an automobile, the wiper automatically wipes the wiping area on the outer surface of the front windshield in response to the detection of the raindrop by the raindrop sensor under the operation of the wiper switch to the auto mode. Wiping is activated.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, for example, when refueling is received at a gas station after traveling in the rain of the vehicle, a front windshield cleaning service may be received by an employee at the gas station.
Here, in the wiper control device, the wiper wiping operation is performed based on the detection of raindrops by the raindrop sensor as described above. For this reason, even if the wiper is not wiped in appearance, this state corresponds to a state in which the raindrop sensor is not actually detecting raindrops, or, unlike this, the wiper switch off mode. Whether this corresponds to the operation state of cannot be determined immediately and is originally unknown.
[0004]
However, even when the driver has forgotten to set the wiper switch to the off mode, the above-mentioned employee tends to think that the wiper wiping operation is properly stopped during the cleaning service. It is.
Therefore, in accordance with the cleaning service for the employee, when the moisture from the cleaning service is detected by the raindrop sensor, and the wiper starts wiping operation unexpectedly, the front windshield by the employee as described above is There arises a problem that the cleaning service is hindered and the wiper blade of the wiper is damaged.
[0005]
In response to this, for example, an indicator lamp is provided on the instrument panel provided in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, and the indicator lamp is turned on to notify that the wiper switch is forgotten to be in the off mode. Is also possible.
However, it is difficult for employees who are outside the car to check the lighting of the indicator lamp, and the necessity of a separate indicator lamp increases the cost due to increased components. To do.
[0006]
Therefore, in order to deal with the above-described problem, the present invention causes the wiper blade to perform a wiping notice operation based on the detection of the raindrop sensor even if the wiper switch is forgotten to be turned off when the windshield is cleaned. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a wiper control device that can prevent an inadvertent wiping operation of a wiper blade without using extra components separately.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In solving the above problem, according to the invention described in claim 1,
Wiper blades (30a, 30b) provided in a wiping area (W1, W2) on the outer surface of the windshield of the moving body,
First driving means (10, 20a, 20b, 31, 31a, 32, 32a, 40a, 40b, 120) for driving the wiper blade to perform wiping operation in the wiping area;
Second driving means (50, 110) for driving the wiper blade to be stored in the storage position or to be displaced from the storage position to the wiping area;
Raindrop detection means (80) for detecting raindrops;
Storage position detection means (70) for detecting the storage position of the wiper blade;
A wiper switch means (60) which is operated when the wiper blade wiping operation is automatically performed and is in the auto mode, and is operated when the wiper blade automatic wiping operation is stopped and is in the off mode;
The drive of the first drive means is controlled according to the amount of raindrop detected by the raindrop detection means so that the wiper blade automatically wipes based on the automode of the wiper switch means, and this control is based on the off mode of the wiper switch means. A wiper control device comprising a control means (250) that stops and controls the drive of the second drive means according to the detection result of the storage position detection means,
Speed detecting means (90) for detecting the speed of the moving body;
Forgetting to cut determination means (200, 210, 220) for determining whether or not the wiper switch means is forgotten to be cut,
Stop state determination means (230) for determining whether or not the moving body is in a stop state based on the detection output of the speed detection means;
Based on the determination of forgetting to cut by the forgetting to cut determining means and the determination of stopping by the stop state determining means, the control means performs the second drive so that the wiper blade performs the wiping notice operation prior to the automatic wiping operation control of the wiper blade. A wiper control device is provided which controls the drive of the means.
[0008]
Thus, prior to the automatic wiping operation control of the wiper blade, the control means causes the wiper blade to perform a wiping notice operation based on the determination of forgetting to cut by the forgetting to cut determination means and the determination of stopping by the stop state determining means. And controls the driving of the second driving means.
Thus, when cleaning the windshield of the moving body, if the water content of the cleaning is detected by the raindrop detection means, the wiper blade performs a wiping notice operation in response to the detection. Therefore, even if the wiper switch means is forgotten to be cut off and the wiper blade may start wiping operation unexpectedly, the wiper switch means can be placed in the off mode with good timing based on the wiping notice operation. Therefore, the wiper blade does not start to wipe off unexpectedly.
[0009]
As a result, the above-described windshield cleaning is not hindered and the wiper blade or the like is not damaged.
Here, since the wiper blade wiping notice operation is informed that the wiper switch means is forgotten to be turned off, it is not necessary to separately employ extra components.
According to the invention described in claim 2, in the wiper control device according to claim 1,
The forgetting to cut decision means
Auto mode determination means (200) for determining whether or not the wiper switch means is in the auto mode;
A wiping operation timing determination means (210) for determining whether or not the wiper blade is in a wiping operation timing based on the detection of the raindrop detection means;
Storage position determination means (220) for determining whether or not the wiper blade is in its storage position based on the detection output of the storage position detection means;
Based on the determination that the automatic mode determination unit is in the auto mode, the determination that the wiping operation timing determination unit is in the wiping operation timing, and the determination that the storage position determination unit is in the storage position, the determination that the forgetting to cut is made. .
[0010]
Thereby, the effect of Claim 1 can be achieved more reliably.
According to the invention of claim 3, in the wiper control device of claim 1 or 2,
The control means controls the drive of the second drive means so that the wiper blade is displaced from its retracted position to a predetermined position so that a wiper blade wiping notice operation is performed.
[0011]
Thereby, the function and effect of the invention of claim 1 or 2 can be further improved.
[0012]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 and 2 show an example in which the present invention is applied to a wiper control device for an automobile. The wiper control device includes a wiper W and a control circuit E. FIG.
[0013]
As shown in FIG. 2, the wiper W includes a wiper motor 10. The wiper motor 10 reciprocates the link rod 20a so that the pivot lever 40a for the passenger seat side wiper blade 30a is moved to the wiper blade. The pivot shaft 31 of 30a is swung in the horizontal direction shown in FIG.
For this reason, the wiper blade 30a has a fan-shaped wiping area on the passenger seat side (in FIG. 2) of the outer surface of the front windshield of the automobile in accordance with the reciprocating rotation of the pivot shaft 31 accompanying the swing of the pivot lever 40a. The wiping operation is performed at reference W1).
[0014]
Further, the link rod 20b reciprocates as the pivot lever 40a swings, so that the pivot lever 40b for the driver's seat side wiper blade 30b moves in the horizontal direction shown in FIG. 2 with reference to the pivot shaft 32 of the wiper blade 30b. Rock.
For this reason, the wiper blade 30b is provided with a fan-shaped wiping area on the driver's seat side on the outer surface of the front windshield of the automobile (in FIG. 2) in response to the reciprocating rotation of the pivot shaft 32 accompanying the swing of the pivot lever 40b. The wiping operation is performed at reference W2.
[0015]
As described above, the wiper motor 10 wipes both the wiper blades 30a and 30b in the range of the both wiping areas W1 and W2.
The wiper blades 30a and 30b are connected to the pivot shafts 31 and 32 via wiper arms 31a and 32a, respectively.
The wiping angle variable motor 50 controls the pivot angle range of the pivot lever 40a according to the rotation thereof to an angle range of θ or α as shown in FIG. Here, when the pivoting angle range of the pivot lever 40a is in the range of θ, the wiping range of the wiper blade 30b is the range of the driver seat side fan-shaped wiping region W2 (see symbol A in FIG. 2). Further, when the pivot angle range of the pivot lever 40a is in the range of α, the wiping range of the wiper blade 30b is a fan-shaped wiping area indicated by a symbol B in FIG.
[0016]
The variable wiping angle motor 50 stores each wiper blade 30a, 30b in each storage position, and each wiper blade 30a, 30b is moved from each storage position to the left wiping operation position of each wiping area W1, W2 (FIG. 4). And (see FIG. 5).
As shown in FIG. 1, the control circuit E includes a wiper switch 60. The wiper switch 60 controls the operation of the wiper W (that is, the wiping operation of both wiper blades 30a and 30b) in an automatic mode (automatic mode). Alternatively, it is operated when switching to the off mode (stop mode). Here, operating the wiper switch 60 to the off mode means that the wiper switch 60 is turned off. The wiper switch 60 is provided on the steering column of the automobile.
[0017]
Further, the control circuit E includes a storage position sensor 70, and the storage position sensor 70 detects the storage of the wiper blade 30b at the storage position.
The control circuit E includes a raindrop sensor 80, which is attached to the front windshield of the automobile from the inner wall side corresponding to the passenger seat wiping area. As a result, the raindrop sensor 70 optically detects the amount of raindrops dripping onto the front windshield.
[0018]
The vehicle speed sensor 90 detects the vehicle speed of the automobile.
The microcomputer 100 executes the computer program according to the flowchart of FIG. 3, and during this execution, the wiper motor 10 and the wiping angle variable motor 50 are respectively based on the outputs of the wiper switch 60, the raindrop sensor 80 and the vehicle speed sensor 90. Arithmetic processing required to drive and control the connected drive circuits 110 and 120 is performed.
[0019]
Note that the microcomputer 100 is powered by the battery Ba via the ignition switch IG of the vehicle, and starts to execute the computer program. The computer program is stored in advance in the ROM of the microcomputer 100.
The drive circuit 110 is controlled to rotate the wiping angle variable motor 50 under the control of the microcomputer 100, and the drive circuit 120 is controlled to rotate the wiper motor 10 in the normal direction under the control of the microcomputer 100.
[0020]
In the present embodiment configured as described above, when the microcomputer 100 is activated by turning on the ignition switch IG, the microcomputer 100 starts executing the computer program according to the flowchart of FIG. Note that the processing speed of the microcomputer 100 is, for example, 5 msec.
[0021]
First, in step 200, it is determined whether or not the wiper switch 60 is operated in the auto mode.
If the wiper switch 60 is in the off mode, the determination in step 200 is NO. On the other hand, if the wiper switch 60 is operated in the auto mode, the determination in step 200 is YES.
[0022]
After the determination of YES, in the next step 210, it is determined whether or not it is the wiping operation timing of both wiper blades 30a and 30b. Specifically, this determination is made based on the detection output of the raindrop sensor 80.
Here, if there is no detection output of the raindrop sensor 80, the determination in step 210 is NO.
[0023]
On the other hand, if there is a detection output of the raindrop sensor 80, the determination in step 210 is YES. Accordingly, in step 220, it is determined based on the detection output of the storage position sensor 70 whether or not the wiper blade 30b is in the storage position.
Here, if there is no detection output of the storage position sensor 70, the determination in step 220 is NO. This means that each wiping operation of both wiper blades 30a, 30b is performed in each wiping area W1, W2. For this reason, in step 250, a wiper driving process is performed.
[0024]
In the wiper driving process, the wiping operation mode of both wiper blades 30 a and 30 b is determined according to the amount of raindrop detected by the raindrop sensor 80. For example, the wiping operation mode of both wiper blades 30a and 30b is determined according to the amount of raindrops detected by the raindrop sensor 80 so as to automatically become the intermittent mode, the low speed mode, or the high speed mode.
[0025]
Along with this, the drive circuit 120 rotates the wiper motor 10 normally or intermittently in accordance with the determination mode. Thereby, the wiper blades 30a and 30b are automatically wiped. For example, when the determination mode is the intermittent mode, the wiper blades 30a and 30b perform the wiping operation intermittently between the left wiping operation position and the right wiping operation position shown in FIG. 4).
[0026]
When the wiper switch 60 is operated in the off mode after the wiper driving process, the storage process of both wiper blades 30a and 30b is performed after the determination of NO in step 200. Thereby, the wiping angle variable motor 50 stores each wiper blade 30a, 30b in each storage position under the drive of the drive circuit 100.
[0027]
By the way, before the computer program reaches step 220 after determining YES in step 210, for example, if the vehicle moves into a gas station to receive fuel after running in the rain and the detection output of the raindrop sensor 80 disappears, The wiper blades 30a and 30b are respectively stored in the storage positions by the variable wiping angle motor 50 after a predetermined short time (for example, 30 seconds).
[0028]
Here, storing the wiper blades 30a and 30b in the storage position while the wiper switch 60 is in the auto mode means that the wiper switch 60 is forgotten to be turned off when the vehicle receives fuel.
For this reason, when the computer program reaches step 220, it is determined YES based on the detection output of the storage position sensor 70.
[0029]
Next, at step 230, it is determined based on the detection output of the vehicle speed sensor 90 whether or not the vehicle is stopped.
Here, if the vehicle is stopped after moving into the gas station as described above, the determination in step 230 is YES based on the detection output of the vehicle speed sensor 90.
[0030]
Accordingly, a wiping notice operation process for both wiper blades 30a and 30b in step 240 is performed.
That is, the reason why the stop of the vehicle is determined before the wiping notice operation process is as follows.
This is because, when the automobile moves into the gas station to receive refueling as described above, the automobile needs to be stopped in advance. In addition, with the above refueling, it is normal to receive a front windshield cleaning service by an employee at the gas station. And in order to receive this cleaning service, it is necessary that the said vehicle has stopped previously.
[0031]
Therefore, the wiping notice operation process is performed as follows.
That is, as shown in FIG. 5, both wiper blades 30a and 30b are processed so as to be displaced from their respective storage positions to the left wiping operation position and stopped for a predetermined time T.
Therefore, when receiving the refueling, even if the front windshield cleaning service is received by the employee of the gas station with the wiper switch 60 forgotten to be turned off while the vehicle is stopped, both wiper blades 30a as described above. , 30b performs a wiping notice operation, and based on this, the driver of the car can set the wiper switch 60 to the off mode with good timing.
[0032]
Therefore, both the wiper blades 30a and 30b do not begin to wipe off unexpectedly automatically, and the front windshield cleaning service by the employee can be performed smoothly, as well as damage to the wiper blade and the like. There is no invitation.
Also, as described above, not only when receiving a front windshield cleaning service at the time of refueling at a gas station, for example, even when the driver stops the car and cleans the front windshield independently, Since the wiping advance notice operation process is performed after the determination of YES in step 230, the driver sets the wiper switch 60 in the off mode in a timely manner so that the wiper blade is not damaged and the front windshield is not damaged. Cleaning can be done smoothly.
[0033]
When the determination in step 220 or 230 is NO, the process in step 250 is performed, and the wiper blades 30a and 30b are automatically wiped as described above.
In implementing the present invention, the present invention may be applied to, for example, the rear windshield wiper control device of the automobile, without being limited to the front windshield wiper control device of the automobile.
[0034]
In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the present invention is applied to the wiper control device having the wiper for both the passenger seat and the driver seat has been described. Instead, the present invention is applied to either the passenger seat or the driver seat. You may apply this invention to the wiper control apparatus provided with the wiper made.
In implementing the present invention, the wiper switch 60 may be operated not only in the auto mode and the off mode, but also in the high speed mode and the low speed mode, for example.
[0035]
In this case, the operation of the wiper switch 60 in the high speed mode is performed when the amount of rainfall is large, and the operation of the wiper switch 60 in the low speed mode is performed when the amount of rainfall is small. In the high speed mode, the wiping operation of both wiper blades 30a, 30b is performed at high speed, and in the low speed mode, the wiping operation of both wiper blades 30a, 30b is performed at low speed.
[0036]
Further, in carrying out the present invention, the present invention may be applied to a wiper control device employed in various moving bodies such as various vehicles, ships and aircrafts, without being limited to the wiper control device for automobiles.
In implementing the present invention, the raindrop sensor of the wiper control device is not limited to the raindrop sensor 80. For example, a sensor that detects raindrops by collision of raindrops with the hood of the vehicle may be employed.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a control circuit of an embodiment of an automotive wiper control device according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a wiper of the wiper control device.
FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the operation of the microcomputer of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing a wiping operation when both wiper blades do not perform a wiping notice operation.
FIG. 5 is a timing chart showing a wiping operation when both wiper blades perform a wiping notice operation.
[Explanation of symbols]
W ... Wiper, W1, W2 ... Wiping area, 10 ... Wiper motor,
20a, 20a ... link rod, 30a, 30b ... wiper blade,
31, 32 ... pivot shaft, 31a, 32a ... wiper arm,
40a, 40b ... pivot lever, 60 ... wiper switch,
70 ... Storage position sensor, 80 ... Raindrop sensor, 90 ... Vehicle speed sensor,
100: Microcomputer, 110, 120: Drive device.

Claims (3)

Wiper blades (30a, 30b) provided in a wiping area (W1, W2) on the outer surface of the windshield of the moving body,
First driving means (10, 20a, 20b, 31, 31a, 32, 32a, 40a, 40b, 120) for driving the wiper blade to perform wiping operation in the wiping area;
Second driving means (50, 110) for storing the wiper blade in the storage position or driving the wiper blade to be displaced from the storage position to the wiping area;
Raindrop detection means (80) for detecting raindrops;
Storage position detection means (70) for detecting the storage position of the wiper blade;
A wiper switch means (60) which is operated when the wiping operation of the wiper blade is automatically performed to be in an auto mode, and is operated when the automatic wiping operation of the wiper blade is stopped to be in an off mode;
The drive of the first drive means is controlled in accordance with the amount of raindrop detected by the raindrop detection means so that the wiper blade automatically wipes based on the auto mode of the wiper switch means, and this control is controlled by the wiper switch means. And a control means (250) for controlling the driving of the second drive means according to the detection result of the storage position detection means,
Speed detecting means (90) for detecting the speed of the moving body;
Forgetting to cut determination means (200, 210, 220) for determining whether or not the wiper switch means is forgotten to be cut.
Stop state determination means (230) for determining whether or not the moving body is in a stop state based on the detection output of the speed detection means;
Based on the determination of forgetting to cut by the forgetting to cut determination unit and the determination of stopping by the stop state determining unit, the control unit performs a wiping notice operation for the wiper blade prior to the automatic wiping operation control of the wiper blade. A wiper control device for controlling the driving of the second driving means. The forgetting to cut determination means
Auto mode determination means (200) for determining whether or not the wiper switch means is in the auto mode;
A wiping operation time determination means (210) for determining whether or not the wiper blade is in a wiping operation time based on detection of the raindrop detection means;
Storage position determination means (220) for determining whether or not the wiper blade is in its storage position based on the detection output of the storage position detection means;
Based on the determination that the auto mode determination means is in the auto mode, the determination that the wiping operation timing determination means is in the wiping operation timing, and the determination that the storage position determination means is in the storage position, the forgetting to cut The wiper control device according to claim 1, wherein the determination is performed. The control means controls the drive of the second drive means so that the wiper blade is displaced from its retracted position to a predetermined position so as to perform a wiping notice operation of the wiper blade. Item 3. The wiper control device according to Item 1 or 2.

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