CN117980197A - Wiper system and control of cleaning fluid injection in a wiper system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a wiper system comprising an arm (103) and a wiper blade configured to brush a visible area of a windscreen of a motor vehicle, the wiper blade being drivable by the arm. The wiper blade includes at least one longitudinal channel, and a nozzle element in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinal channel and configured to spray cleaning fluid toward at least one sensor located outside the viewable area. The nozzle element is arranged in a longitudinal end region of the wiper blade. An injection assembly (301) is capable of injecting a cleaning fluid into the longitudinal channel under control of a control unit (303). When the control unit determines that the arm or wiper blade is in a given angular sector (312), a command is issued to inject cleaning fluid into the longitudinal channel.

Description

Wiper system and control of cleaning fluid injection in a wiper system

The present invention relates to a wiper system, in particular for a motor vehicle, in particular to control of the injection of a cleaning fluid into such a system.

In the field of windscreen wiper systems for motor vehicles, in particular windshields or rear windows, it is known practice to provide longitudinal channels in the wiper blade in order to spray a cleaning fluid onto the glass surface of the vehicle in front of the wiper blade in order to achieve cleaning of the window.

Wiper systems are known which have two longitudinal channels, one for spraying cleaning fluid in front of the wiper blade in a first wiping direction and the other for spraying cleaning fluid in front of the wiper blade in a second wiping direction.

Other wiper systems provide for the spraying of fluid onto the vehicle window elsewhere than on the wiper blade: for example, some wiper systems (known as "wet arms") provide for spraying from an arm that rotates a wiper blade or from a fixed location on a motor vehicle hood.

Motor vehicles increasingly include sensors, most of which have optical surfaces. In order to improve the quality of the acquired data, it is necessary to clean such optical surfaces.

However, providing a dedicated cleaning system for each sensor of the vehicle is expensive and takes up volume.

Therefore, there is a need to achieve cleaning of glass or optical surfaces of a vehicle without increasing the number of cleaning systems while simplifying the cleaning systems to reduce their cost and reduce their volume while optimizing the use of cleaning fluids.

The present invention relates to a wiper system comprising:

-an arm;

-a motor capable of rotating the arm;

-a wiper blade configured to brush a visible area of a windshield of a motor vehicle, the wiper blade being drivable by an arm, and comprising at least one longitudinal channel and at least one nozzle element in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinal channel and configured to spray a cleaning fluid towards at least one sensor arranged outside the visible area, the nozzle element being arranged in a longitudinal end region of the wiper blade;

-an injection assembly capable of injecting a cleaning fluid into the longitudinal channel, said injection assembly comprising at least one pump;

-a control unit capable of controlling the injection assembly in real time based on position data relating to the arm or wiper blade.

When the control unit determines that the arm or wiper blade is in a given angular sector, which is smaller than or more limited than the angular wiping range of the wiper system, the control unit is able to control the injection of cleaning fluid through the cleaning fluid injection assembly at least into the longitudinal channel.

Thus, the nozzle element may be directed in a direction other than towards the visible surface of the windscreen, onto which the other nozzle elements may be able to spray cleaning fluid. For example, the direction of the sensor spray towards the outside of the visible area may be mainly in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade, which means that the angle formed by the given direction with respect to the longitudinal direction is smaller than the angle formed by the given direction with respect to the direction normal to the longitudinal direction. This makes it possible to clean the optical surface of the motor vehicle sensor, which the end region of the wiper blade faces in a given angular sector.

According to one embodiment, a given angular sector may be determined according to: geometry of the wiper system; geometry of the optical surface of the sensor; and the relative position of the wiper system and the sensor when the wiper system is mounted on a motor vehicle comprising the sensor such that the nozzle element sprays cleaning fluid towards the optical surface of the sensor when the arm or wiper blade is positioned in the angular sector.

Thus, the injection of cleaning fluid into the longitudinal channel is optimized, as the fluid will only be sprayed when the wiper blade passes in front of or near the optical surface of the sensor. Such angular sectors may be predetermined, but may also be configurable, in particular in accordance with the addition or movement of the sensor and its optical surface.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the position data relating to the arm or the wiper blade may come from the motor or may come from the detection means.

Using position data from the motor of the wiper system makes it possible to limit the number of detection devices used while acquiring data on the position and speed of the arm or wiper blade in real time.

According to an embodiment, the wiper blade may comprise at least one further longitudinal channel and at least one further nozzle element in fluid communication with the further longitudinal channel and capable of spraying the cleaning fluid onto the view area in a direction inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade, and the injection assembly may be capable of selectively injecting the cleaning fluid into the longitudinal channel and/or into the further longitudinal channel.

The direction inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade may in particular be normal to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade or form a small angle of less than 20 ° with respect to the normal to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade.

Further, according to an embodiment, the other longitudinal channels comprise at least a first longitudinal channel and a second longitudinal channel, and the longitudinal channel is a third longitudinal channel. These other nozzle elements include at least a first nozzle element in fluid communication with the first longitudinal channel and configured to spray cleaning fluid in a first direction inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade, and at least a second nozzle element in fluid communication with the second longitudinal channel and configured to spray cleaning fluid in a second direction inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade, and the nozzle element is a third nozzle element. The injection element may be capable of selectively injecting a cleaning fluid into the first longitudinal channel, the second longitudinal channel and/or the third longitudinal channel.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the injection assembly may comprise a first pump connected to the first longitudinal channel through a first injection channel, a second pump connected to the second longitudinal channel through a second injection channel, and a third pump connected to the third longitudinal channel through a third injection channel, the control unit being able to selectively activate the first pump, the second pump, and the third pump.

Such an embodiment allows each of these pumps to be controlled independently by the control unit. Thus, cleaning fluid may be injected into each of these pumps at different pressure levels.

Alternatively, the injection assembly may comprise a first dual pressure pump capable of injecting the cleaning fluid into the first injection channel depending on at least the first pressure level or the second pressure level, and a pressure differential valve connecting the injection channel to the first longitudinal channel or the second longitudinal channel depending on whether the fluid is injected into the injection channel at the first pressure level or the second pressure level. The control unit may be capable of controlling the pressure level of the first dual pressure pump.

This allows the number of pumps in the injection assembly to be reduced by having one pump be shared for injection into the first longitudinal channel and injection into the second longitudinal channel. Furthermore, it is not necessary to inject fluid into both channels at the same time, since both channels can be dedicated to different wiping directions. Thus, the volume and cost associated with the wiper system is reduced.

Additionally, the injection assembly may further comprise a second pump capable of injecting a cleaning fluid into a second injection channel connected to the third longitudinal channel, and the control unit may be capable of controlling activation of the second pump.

Thus, the injection into the third longitudinal channel is controlled independently of the injection into the other two longitudinal channels. Thus, only two pumps are used in the injection system, while allowing for selective injection into the longitudinal channels.

Alternatively, the first pump is a dual pressure, bi-directional pump capable of selectively injecting the cleaning fluid into the first injection channel or into the second injection channel connected to the third longitudinal channel depending on the direction of rotation of the pump motor of the first pump. The control unit may be capable of controlling the rotational direction of the pump motor of the first pump.

Thus, injection into three longitudinal channels is performed using a single pump, which greatly reduces the volume associated with the system, while allowing injection to be selectively performed.

Further, alternatively, the first pump may be connected via a single channel to a solenoid valve capable of delivering the cleaning fluid injected by the first pump into the single channel towards the first injection channel or towards a second injection channel connected to the third longitudinal channel, depending on a control signal received from the control unit.

Also, the use of a single pump to inject into the three longitudinal channels greatly reduces the volume associated with the system while allowing for selective injection.

Alternatively, the injection assembly may comprise a first bi-directional pump connected to the first longitudinal channel by a first injection channel and to the second longitudinal channel by a second injection channel, the first pump being capable of injecting a cleaning fluid into the first injection channel or into the second injection channel depending on the direction of rotation of the pump motor of the first pump. The injection system may further comprise a second pump connected to the third longitudinal channel through a third injection channel, the control unit being capable of controlling the activation of the second pump.

Thus, the number of pumps can be reduced to two while allowing selective injection of cleaning fluid between the three longitudinal channels.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a method for controlling the injection of a cleaning fluid into a wiper system for a motor vehicle, the wiper system comprising: an arm; a motor capable of rotating the arm; and a wiper blade configured to brush a viewable area of a windshield of a motor vehicle, the wiper blade being drivable by the arm, and the wiper blade comprising at least one longitudinal channel and at least one nozzle element in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinal channel and configured to spray cleaning fluid toward at least one sensor disposed outside the viewable area, the nozzle element disposed in a longitudinal end region of the wiper blade;

the method comprises the following steps realized by the control unit:

-receiving in real time position data relating to the arm or wiper blade;

-generating control signals based on the position data to control the injection of cleaning fluid into the longitudinal channel in real time;

-transmitting a control signal to an injection component of the wiper system.

When the control unit determines that the arm or wiper blade is in a given angular sector, which is smaller than the angular wiping range of the wiper system, the generated control signal controls the injection of cleaning fluid through the cleaning fluid injection assembly at least into the longitudinal channel.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description, given as non-limiting examples with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which:

Fig. 1 depicts a wiper system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a wiper blade of a wiper system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 depicts a wiper system according to the present invention mounted on a windshield of a motor vehicle;

fig. 4a depicts an injection assembly of a wiper system according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4b depicts an injection assembly of a wiper system according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4c depicts an injection assembly of a wiper system according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4d depicts an injection assembly of a wiper system according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 4e depicts an injection assembly of a wiper system according to a fifth embodiment of the invention;

fig. 5 depicts a method for controlling the injection of cleaning fluid into a wiper system according to an embodiment of the invention.

It should be noted at the outset that although the drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention in detail, these drawings may, of course, be used to better define the invention where appropriate. It should also be noted that throughout the appended drawings, similar and/or functionally equivalent components are indicated by the same reference numerals.

Fig. 1 depicts a wiper system 100 for a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wiper system is adapted to be mounted on a glass surface (preferably a windscreen) or a rear window of a vehicle.

The wiper system comprises at least one arm 103, a wiper blade 105 attached to the arm by means of an attachment device 104 and configured to wipe the visible area of the vehicle windscreen, and a drive device 101 for the arm 103.

The viewable area is the portion of the windshield facing the driver or occupant of the vehicle that the occupant or driver can see the environment outside the vehicle through.

The drive device 101 is configured to maneuver the wiper blade 104 via the arm 103, the wiper blade 105 being in contact with the field of view. The movement of the arm 103 is typically a reciprocating movement, preferably a circumferential movement. For this purpose, the drive device 101 itself can be moved about the pivot connection 101 by means of a motor, so that the wiper system 100 can perform a circumferential movement.

There is no limitation on the attachment means 104, which is adapted to allow the wiper blade 105 to be mechanically attached to the arm 103. The mechanical attachment may in particular be performed by clamping, by fitting together, or by any other means. There is no limitation on the degrees of freedom permitted by the mechanical connection created by the attachment means 104.

The wiper system 100 according to the present invention further comprises an assembly for injecting a cleaning fluid from a reservoir (not shown in fig. 1, but described below) towards the arm 103 and then towards the wiper blade 105 for selectively dispensing the cleaning fluid into at least one longitudinal channel in fluid communication with at least one nozzle element 113 configured to spray or spread the cleaning fluid in a direction primarily in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade 115 towards the optical surface of a sensor located outside the viewable area, as will be better understood upon reading the following. For this purpose, the nozzle element 113 may be arranged in a longitudinal end region 120 of the wiper blade 105, in particular at a longitudinal end which is oriented upwards when the wiper system is mounted on a windshield. The term "longitudinal end zone" means a zone whose all positions are closer to the longitudinal end of the wiper blade than to the central position of the wiper blade. The central position may particularly correspond to the position of the attachment means 104 of the wiper system between the wiper blade 105 and the arm 103. Preferably, the longitudinal end regions comprise all positions which are twice or even three times as far from the central position of the wiper blade as from the longitudinal ends of the wiper blade.

The nozzle element 113 may include an inlet for receiving cleaning fluid from the delivery assembly, and at least one opening (e.g., two openings) for spraying the cleaning fluid. When the nozzle element 113 comprises two openings, two longitudinal channels 230 may be provided in the wiper blade 103 to provide each of the openings of the nozzle element 113.

Hereinafter, by way of illustration, the longitudinal channel in fluid communication with the nozzle element 113 arranged in the longitudinal end zone is considered a third longitudinal channel, the injection assembly being further capable of selectively dispensing a cleaning fluid into the following longitudinal channels:

A first longitudinal channel in fluid communication with first nozzle elements 111 for spraying or spreading a cleaning fluid over the viewable area in a downward wiping direction;

a second longitudinal channel in fluid communication with second nozzle elements 112 for spraying or spreading a cleaning fluid over the viewable area in a downward wiping direction. The upward direction may correspond to a wiper movement from a hood of the vehicle toward a roof. This ensures that cleaning fluid is always sprayed in front of the wiper blade 105. This makes it possible to improve the visibility of the driver's view through the windshield and to make the wiping of the wiper blade 105 more efficient.

Accordingly, the nozzle element 113 is hereinafter referred to as a third nozzle element 113.

There is no limitation on the structure of such nozzle elements, which are well known to those skilled in the art.

It should be noted that the first and second longitudinal channels and the second and third nozzle elements 111, 112 are optional and correspond to a given embodiment in which the wiper blade is capable of spraying cleaning fluid in two different wiping directions onto the viewable area to be wiped. The wiper blade 105 is then referred to as a "dual spray" wiper blade.

Alternatively, in addition to the third longitudinal channel, the wiper blade 105 may comprise only one of the first and second longitudinal channels leading to at least one nozzle element, such as the first nozzle element 111 or the second nozzle element 112, capable of spraying cleaning fluid onto the glass surface in a downward and/or upward direction. Thus, the wiper blade comprises two longitudinal channels.

Further alternatively, the wiper blade 105 comprises only longitudinal channels connected with nozzle elements 113 arranged in the longitudinal end regions of the wiper blade. In this case, the spraying of the cleaning fluid onto the glass surface can be ensured by nozzle elements located in the arm 103 instead of the wiper blade 105. Further alternatively, the system 100 includes a nozzle element in a fixed position on the vehicle hood that is capable of spraying cleaning fluid onto the glass surface.

Hereinafter, the invention is described in the context of a dual-head wiper blade 105 comprising two longitudinal channels for spraying fluid onto the viewable area and a third longitudinal channel for spraying a sensor. It should be understood that this background is for illustrative purposes only, and that nozzle elements capable of spraying cleaning fluid onto a glass surface may be placed specifically elsewhere than in wiper blade 105, in arm 103, or on the hood.

In accordance with the background described below, the nozzle elements are all arranged in the wiper blade 105.

The wiper blade 105 includes at least three longitudinal channels as shown with reference to fig. 2.

Fig. 2 depicts a cross section of a wiper blade 105 of a wiper system 100 according to an embodiment of the invention.

The cross-section is thus taken along a plane X-Z normal to the longitudinal direction Y of the wiper blade 105 shown in fig. 1.

By way of illustration only, a wiper blade 105 of triangular cross section is shown in fig. 2. It should be appreciated that the wiper blade 105 may have a cross-section of different shapes.

The first longitudinal channel 210 is capable of transporting cleaning fluid towards the first nozzle element 111 described above, in particular in the downward wiping direction of the wiper blade 105.

The second longitudinal channel 220 is capable of transporting cleaning fluid towards the second nozzle element 112 described above, in particular in the upward wiping direction of the wiper blade 105.

Thus, in embodiments where the nozzle elements 111 and 112 are in the arm 103 or on the hood, the wiper blade does not comprise the first and second longitudinal channels 210 and 220.

The third longitudinal channel 230 is capable of delivering cleaning fluid towards the third nozzle element 113 described above when the movable part of the wiper system (i.e. the arm or wiper blade) is in a given angular sector defining a set of positions, as will be explained more clearly below. The third nozzle element 113 may be capable of spraying or sprinkling cleaning fluid along a main longitudinal direction, and thus mainly parallel to the plane Y-X (e.g. substantially along the axis Y). Alternatively, the third nozzle element 113 may also be sprayed obliquely to the inclination of the glass surface.

Thus, it is advantageous that the third channel 230 is in a central position with respect to the other two channels 210 and 220. In particular, when the wiper system 100 is installed in a vehicle, the third channel 230 may be farther from the glass surface along the axis Z than the other two channels 210 and 220.

As shown in fig. 2, the spray direction of the first nozzle element and the second nozzle element is preferably inclined with respect to the viewing zone to be wiped extending mainly in the plane X-Y to spray the glass surface before the wiper blade 105 wipes the glass surface.

Fig. 3 shows the wiper system 100 mounted on a windshield 310 of a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention.

As shown, the wiper system 100 may further include a motor 302 for driving the arm 105, a control unit 303, and an injection assembly 301 for injecting fluid into the delivery assembly.

The motor 302 is not limited and includes any reversible motor that allows the movable portion of the wiper system 100 to rotate in one direction and then in the other direction.

As will be more clearly understood upon reading the description of the following figures, the injection assembly 301 may include elements mounted to the arm 105 and/or to the vehicle hood.

The control unit 303 is not limited, and may be a dedicated control unit of the wiper system 100, or may be a central control unit (also referred to as ECU, which stands for "electronic control unit") or a "body controller" of the vehicle.

According to the invention, the ECU 303 is able to receive position data relating to the movable parts of the wiper system, in particular including the arm 103 and the wiper blade 105. Such position data is preferably received regularly at a frequency greater than about 10 Hertz (Hertz) when the wiper system 100 is activated.

The position data may be received from the motor 302 or alternatively may be received from a detection device 304 capable of detecting the position of the movable part of the wiper system. The detecting device 304 is not limited, and may be, for example, a camera.

The location data may include:

The angular position of the arm 103 and/or of the wiper blade 105 within a predetermined wiping angular range 311, which corresponds to the visible region of the windscreen; and/or

Rotational speed of the arm 103 and/or wiper blade 105.

The injection assembly 301 is capable of selectively injecting a cleaning fluid into the third longitudinal channel 230, i.e., it may or may not inject a cleaning fluid into the third longitudinal channel 230 based on a control signal. In the example of three longitudinal channels in the wiper blade, the injection assembly 301 is capable of selectively injecting a cleaning fluid into one or more of the longitudinal channels 210, 220, and 230. Embodiments of such an injection assembly 301 will be presented with reference to fig. 4 a-4 e. In particular, the injection assembly 301 is capable of injecting fluid into a single longitudinal channel or both longitudinal channels 210, 200, and 230 at a given moment (or within a time frame between successive position data receptions).

The choice of one or both longitudinal channels 210, 220 and 230 depends on the control signal transmitted by the control unit 303.

The control unit 303 determines such control signals based on position data received from the motor 302 or the detection means 304. In particular, the control unit 303 may determine whether the wiper blade 105 is brushing in an upward or downward direction based on the position data. Then, the control unit issues the following control signals to the injection unit 301:

Injecting cleaning fluid into the first longitudinal channel 210 when the wiper blade 105 is in a downward wiping direction;

Injecting cleaning fluid into the second longitudinal channel 220 when the wiper blade 105 is in a downward wiping direction.

Thus, preferably, at a given moment, the cleaning fluid is never injected into both the first longitudinal channel 210 and the second longitudinal channel 220.

As the change in direction of the wiper approaches, at which time the absolute value of the velocity of the wiper blade 105 becomes lower and then zero, the injection of cleaning fluid into the first and second longitudinal channels 210, 220 may be suspended.

According to the invention, the control unit 330 is configured to: when the arm 103 and/or wiper blade 105 is located in an angular sector 312 strictly comprised within the angular range 311 described above, the injection of cleaning fluid into the third longitudinal channel 230 through the injection assembly 301 is controlled. The angular sector may in particular be less than 30 °, for example less than 20 °.

The angular sector 312 is defined such that the wiper system sprays cleaning fluid via the third nozzle element 113 towards the optical surface 321 of the sensor 320 of the vehicle, which is located outside the visible area of the windshield. There is no limitation on the sensor 320 in question, which may be, for example, a lidar, nor is there a limitation on the location of the sensor 320. As an example, in fig. 3, a lidar type sensor is shown in a centered position above the windshield 310 of the vehicle.

Thus, the angular sector 312 makes it possible to define a set of positions in which the third nozzle element 113 faces a portion of, or is approaching, the optical surface 321 of the sensor 320.

The angular sector 312 may advantageously depend on:

the geometry of the wiper system, in particular of the arms 103 and the wiper blades 105;

The geometry of the optical surface 321;

a corresponding positioning between the wiper system 100 and the optical surface 321;

the portion of the optical surface 321 to be cleaned. Specifically, the angular sector 312 may be defined to spray cleaning fluid onto only a portion (e.g., a central portion) of the optical surface 321; and/or

The wiping speed of the wiper system 100. Thus, the control signal may trigger the injection of the product before the third nozzle element 113 faces the optical surface 321.

The control unit 303 may control the injection assembly 301 to inject the cleaning fluid into the third longitudinal channel if:

When the arm and/or wiper blade 105 is in the angular sector 312, in the upward wiping direction;

When the arm and/or wiper blade 105 is in the angular sector 312 in the downward wiping direction; and/or

When the arm and/or wiper blade 105 is in the angular sector 312, whatever the wiping direction is.

This makes it possible to allow the optical surface of the sensor located in the vicinity of the glass surface on which the wiper system is mounted to be cleaned without having to add a cleaning device dedicated to the sensor, while optimizing the consumption of the cleaning fluid.

As shown in fig. 3, the wiper system includes a single arm/wiper blade assembly. However, the wiper system may comprise two such components, one on the driver's side and the other on the passenger's side. Both components may be controlled by the control unit 303 in the manner described above. Alternatively, only one of these components includes the nozzle element 113 and the longitudinal channel 230. The only one component may be, for example, the rider-side arm/blade component or alternatively the rider-side arm/blade component.

The embodiments described below differ in terms of the cleaning fluid injection assembly 301. Again, these embodiments are described in the context of a dual nozzle tip wiper 103 having three longitudinal channels. However, it should be appreciated that the injection assembly 301 is more generally capable of selectively injecting a cleaning fluid into the longitudinal channel 230 so that the sensor may be cleaned, i.e., fluid may be injected into the longitudinal channel 230 or not. In a complementary manner, the injection assembly 301 may also be capable of selectively controlling injection of cleaning fluid into one or more other longitudinal channels of the wiper blade 105, either in a fixed nozzle element on the vehicle hood or in a nozzle element of the arm 103, in the context of a single or dual nozzle wiper blade.

Fig. 4a presents a first fluid injection assembly 301 of a wiper system according to a first embodiment of the invention.

In a first embodiment, the injection assembly 301 comprises:

a first pump 401.1 and a first injection channel 402.1, which are capable of injecting a cleaning fluid from a cleaning fluid reservoir into the first longitudinal channel 210;

a second pump 401.2 and a second injection channel 402.2, which are capable of injecting cleaning fluid from a cleaning fluid reservoir into the second longitudinal channel 220;

A third pump 401.3 and a third injection channel 402.3, which are capable of injecting cleaning fluid from a cleaning fluid reservoir into the third longitudinal channel 230.

There is no limitation on the type of pumps 401.1 to 401.3. These pumps may be selectively activated/deactivated by control signals from the control unit 303 in order to perform the control functions described with reference to fig. 3.

Thus, it should be appreciated that the control unit 303 may via control signals:

-when in the downward scraping direction, the first pump 401.1 is activated;

-activating the second pump 401.2 when in the upward wiping direction;

the third pump 401.3 is activated when in the angular sector 312, in an upward direction and/or in a downward direction.

The injection channels 402.1 to 402.3 are preferably connected to the arm 103 or integrated under the protection of the arm 103 so as not to interfere with the wiping by the movable part of the wiper system 100. The same applies to the injection channels presented in the embodiments of the following figures. The longitudinal channels 210, 220, and 230 may be coupled with the injection channels 402.1 through 402.3 within the attachment device 104.

Fig. 4b presents a second fluid injection assembly 301 of a wiper system according to a second embodiment of the invention.

In a second embodiment, the injection assembly 301 includes:

A first pump 411.1 associated with the first injection channel 412.1 and the second injection channel 412.2, capable of injecting cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid reservoir into the first longitudinal channel 210 or into the second longitudinal channel 220. To this end, the first pump 411.1 may be a bi-directional pump capable of injecting a cleaning fluid into the first injection channel 412.1 or into the second injection channel 412.2 according to the rotational direction of the motor of the first pump 411.1;

a second pump 411.2 and a third injection channel 412.3, which are capable of injecting cleaning fluid from a cleaning fluid reservoir into the third longitudinal channel 230.

These pumps may be controlled by the control unit 303 in the manner described with reference to fig. 3.

Thus, it should be appreciated that the control unit 303 may via control signals:

Activating the motor of the first pump 411.1 in a first rotational direction when the wiper system is wiping in a downward direction;

activating the motor of the first pump 411.1 in a second rotational direction when the wiper system is wiping in an upward direction;

The second pump 411.2 is activated when the wiper system 100 is in the angular sector 312, in an upward direction and/or in a downward direction.

This makes it possible to reduce the number of pumps in the wiper system, thereby reducing the volume and reducing the cost. Furthermore, the first bi-directional pump 412.1 is advantageously shared between the first 210 and second 220 longitudinal channels, between which simultaneous injection is not required.

Fig. 4c presents a third fluid injection assembly 301 of a wiper system according to a third embodiment of the invention.

In a third embodiment, the injection assembly 301 comprises:

first pump 421.1, first fill passage 422.1 connecting first pump 421.1 to differential pressure valve 423, differential pressure valve 423 being connected to first longitudinal passage 210 via first distribution passage 424.1 and to second longitudinal passage 220 via second distribution passage 424.2. The differential pressure valve 423 (also referred to as a "Y valve") is capable of directing fluid from the first injection channel 422.1 toward the first distribution channel 424.1 or toward the second distribution channel 424.2 depending on the pressure of the fluid in the first injection channel 422.1. The first pump 421.1 can vary the injection pressure of the cleaning fluid to select one injection channel or the other of the injection channels 422.1 and 422.2. This first pump is called a dual pressure pump;

A second pump 411.2 and a second injection channel 422.2, which are capable of injecting cleaning fluid from a cleaning fluid reservoir into the third longitudinal channel 230.

Pumps 421.1 and 421.2 may be controlled by control unit 303 in the manner described with reference to fig. 3.

Thus, it should be appreciated that the control unit 303 may via control signals:

activating the motor of the first pump 421.1 to inject cleaning fluid into the first injection channel 422.1 at a first pressure level when the wiper system is brushing in a downward direction;

Activating the motor of the first pump 421.1 to inject cleaning fluid into the first injection channel 422.1 at a second pressure level when the wiper system is brushing in an upward direction;

the second pump 421.2 is activated when the wiper system 100 is in the angular sector 312, in an upward direction and/or in a downward direction.

Thus, the number of pumps is reduced compared to the first embodiment and the number of injection channels is reduced compared to the second embodiment, thereby reducing the volume associated with the injection assembly 301.

Fig. 4d presents a fourth fluid injection assembly 301 of a wiper system according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

In a fourth embodiment, the injection assembly 301 includes:

A single pump 431 connected by a single channel 432 to a solenoid valve 436 which can be controlled to connect the single channel 432 to the first injection channel 435.1 or to the second injection channel 435.2 or to both injection channels 435.1 and 435.2. Both the pump 431 and the solenoid valve 436 are controlled by the control unit 303. Thus, the solenoid valve 436 acts as a switch between the two injection channels 435.1 and 435.2 and the single channel 432 and can be controlled by a control signal;

A differential pressure valve 433 connected to the first longitudinal channel 210 via a first distribution channel 434.1 and to the second longitudinal channel 220 via a second distribution channel 434.2. The Y-valve 433 is capable of directing fluid from the first injection channel 435.1 toward the first distribution channel 434.1 or toward the second distribution channel 434.2 depending on the pressure of the fluid in the first injection channel 435.1. Thus, the pump 431 is able to vary the injection pressure of the cleaning fluid so that one or the other of the injection channels 422.1 and 422.2 is selected when the solenoid valve 436 selects at least the first injection channel 435.1.

The pump 431 and the solenoid valve 436 may be controlled by the control unit 303 in the manner described with reference to fig. 3.

Thus, it should be appreciated that the control unit 303 may via control signals:

when the wiper system is wiping in a downward direction, activating the motor of the pump 431 to inject cleaning fluid at a first pressure level and controlling the solenoid valve to select at least a first injection channel 435.1;

Activating the motor of the pump 431 to inject cleaning fluid at a second pressure level and controlling the solenoid valve to select at least a first injection channel 435.1 when the wiper system is wiping in an upward direction;

when the wiper system 100 is in the angular sector 312, in the upward direction and/or in the downward direction, the motor of the pump 431 is activated and the solenoid valve 436 is controlled to select at least the second injection channel 435.2.

Therefore, the number of pumps is reduced as compared with the first embodiment, and a single dual pressure pump is provided. The number of injection channels is also two as in the third embodiment. However, it is also necessary to provide an additional solenoid valve as compared with the previous embodiments.

Fig. 4e presents a fifth fluid injection assembly 301 of a wiper system according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

In a fifth embodiment, the injection assembly 301 includes:

A single pump 441 of the double pressure, bi-directional type, connected to the differential pressure valve 443 by a first injection channel 442.1 and to the third longitudinal channel 230 by a second injection channel 442.2. The pump 441 is bi-directional in that it is capable of selectively injecting fluid into either the first injection channel 442.1 or the second injection channel 442.2 depending on the direction of rotation of the motor of the pump. Furthermore, the pump is capable of injecting the cleaning fluid at least two different pressure levels;

A differential pressure valve 443 connected to the first longitudinal channel 210 via a first distribution channel 444.1 and to the second longitudinal channel 220 via a second distribution channel 444.2. The Y-valve 443 can direct fluid from the first injection channel 442.1 toward the first distribution channel 444.1 or toward the second distribution channel 444.2 depending on the pressure of the fluid in the first injection channel 442.1. Thus, the pump 441 is capable of varying the injection pressure of the cleaning fluid so that one or the other of the dispensing channels 444.1 and 444.2 is selected when the pump 441 is rotated in the direction associated with injection into the first injection channel 442.1.

Pumps 441.1 and 441.2 can be controlled by control unit 303 in the manner described with reference to fig. 3.

Thus, it should be appreciated that the control unit 303 may via control signals:

when the wiper system is brushing in a downward direction, activating the motor of the pump 441 in a first direction to inject cleaning fluid at a first pressure level;

when the wiper system is brushing in an upward direction, activating the motor of the pump 441 in a first direction to inject cleaning fluid at a second pressure level;

when the wiper system 100 is in the angular sector 312, in the upward direction and/or in the downward direction, the motor of the pump 441 is activated in the second direction to select the second injection channel 435.2.

Thus, the fifth embodiment makes it possible to limit the number of elements of the injection assembly 301 as much as possible while allowing selective injection into the longitudinal channels 210, 220 and 230. Thus, the volume associated with the injection assembly is reduced.

More generally than the described embodiment (all referring to the background of a dual-head wiper blade having three longitudinal channels), in a given angular sector, the control unit 303 is able to selectively control the injection of cleaning fluid into the third longitudinal channel 230 via at least one pump of the injection assembly 301.

Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating steps implemented by the control unit 303 of the wiper system 100 according to the method for controlling cleaning fluid injection of the present invention.

In step 500, the control unit 303 receives position data relating to the arm 103 or the wiper blade 105 in real time. There is no limitation on the frequency of receiving the position data in real time. Such frequencies are preferably greater than 10Hz, or even 100Hz.

In step 501, the control unit 303 generates a control signal based on the received position data to selectively control the injection of cleaning fluid into the longitudinal channel 230. The control signal is generated in the manner described above, depending on the position of the arm 103 or the wiper 105 relative to a given angular sector.

In a complementary manner, in the context of a dual-head wiper blade, the control unit 303 generates control signals from the received position data to selectively control the injection of cleaning fluid into the first longitudinal channel 210, into the second longitudinal channel 220 and/or into the third longitudinal channel 230. The control signal is generated in the manner described above, depending on the wiping direction of the wiper blade 105 and on the position of the arm 103 or the wiper blade 105 relative to a given angular sector.

In step 502, the control unit 303 transmits a control signal to the injection assembly 301.

Depending on the embodiment, the injection assembly 301 may differ, and thus, the control signal may consist of:

-a pump enable/disable signal;

-when the pump is double pressure, the injection pressure level of the pump;

-when the pump is bi-directional, the direction of rotation of the pump motor;

-when the injection assembly comprises a solenoid valve, a solenoid valve control signal.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described and many modifications may be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (12)

1. A wiper system (100) for a motor vehicle, the wiper system comprising:

-an arm (103);

-a motor (302) capable of rotating the arm;

-a wiper blade (105) configured to brush a visible area of a windscreen of the motor vehicle, the wiper blade being drivable by the arm, and comprising at least one longitudinal channel (230) and at least one nozzle element (113) in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinal channel and configured to spray a cleaning fluid towards at least one sensor (320) arranged outside the visible area, the nozzle element being arranged in a longitudinal end region (120) of the wiper blade;

-an injection assembly (301) capable of injecting a cleaning fluid into the longitudinal channel, the injection assembly comprising at least one pump;

a control unit (303) capable of controlling the injection assembly in real time based on position data relating to the arm or the wiper blade,

Wherein when the control unit determines that the arm or the wiper blade is in a given angular sector (312) that is smaller than the angular wiping range (311) of the wiper system, the control unit is able to control the injection of cleaning fluid into the longitudinal channel by the cleaning fluid injection assembly.

2. The wiper system according to claim 1, wherein the given angular sector (312) is determined according to: -the geometry of the wiper system (100); -the geometry of the optical surface (321) of the sensor (320); and the relative positions of the wiper system and the sensor when the wiper system is mounted on a motor vehicle comprising the sensor, such that the nozzle element sprays cleaning fluid towards the optical surface of the sensor when the arm or the wiper blade is positioned in the angular sector.

3. The wiper system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the position data relating to the arm (103) or the wiper blade (105) is from the motor (302) or from a detection device (304).

4. A wiper system according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the wiper blade comprises at least one further longitudinal channel (220; 230) and at least one further nozzle element (111; 112) in fluid communication with the further longitudinal channel and configured to spray cleaning fluid from the further longitudinal channel onto the viewable area in a direction inclined relative to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade;

Wherein the injection assembly (301) is capable of selectively injecting the cleaning fluid into the longitudinal channel and/or into the other longitudinal channels.

5. The wiper system as set forth in claim 4 wherein said at least one other longitudinal channel comprises at least a first longitudinal channel (210) and a second longitudinal channel (220), and wherein said longitudinal channels are a third longitudinal channel (230),

Wherein the at least one other nozzle element comprises at least a first nozzle element (111) in fluid communication with the second longitudinal channel and configured to spray cleaning fluid in a first direction inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade and at least a second nozzle element (112) in fluid communication with the third longitudinal channel and configured to spray cleaning fluid in a second direction inclined with respect to the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade, and wherein the nozzle element is a third nozzle element;

Wherein the injection element (301) is capable of selectively injecting the cleaning fluid into the first, second and/or third longitudinal channels.

6. The wiper system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said injection assembly (301) includes a first pump (401.1) connected to said first longitudinal channel (210) by a first injection channel (402.1), a second pump (401.2) connected to said second longitudinal channel (220) by a second injection channel (402.2), and a third pump (401.3) connected to said third longitudinal channel (230) by a third injection channel (402.3), said control unit (303) being capable of selectively enabling said first, second, and third pumps.

7. The wiper system according to claim 5 wherein said injection assembly comprises a first dual pressure pump (421.1;

431;441 And a differential pressure valve (423; 433, respectively; 443 Which is capable of pumping the first injection channel (422.1; 435.1;442.1 A pressure differential valve connecting the first injection channel to the first longitudinal channel (210) or the second longitudinal channel (220) depending on whether the fluid is injected into the first injection channel at the first level or the second pressure level;

wherein the control unit (303) is capable of controlling the pressure level of the dual pressure pump.

8. The wiper system according to claim 7, further comprising a second pump (421.2) capable of injecting a cleaning fluid into a second injection channel (422.2) connected to the third longitudinal channel (230), wherein the control unit (303) is capable of controlling the activation of the second pump.

9. The wiper system according to claim 7, wherein the first pump is a dual pressure, bi-directional pump (441) capable of selectively injecting a cleaning fluid into the first injection channel (442.1) or into a second injection channel (442.2) connected to the third longitudinal channel (230) depending on the direction of rotation of the pump motor of the first pump;

Wherein the control unit (303) is capable of controlling the rotational direction of the pump motor of the first pump.

10. The wiper system according to claim 7, wherein the first pump (431) is connected via a single channel (432) to a solenoid valve (436) capable of delivering the cleaning fluid injected by the first pump into the single channel towards the first injection channel (435.1) or towards a second injection channel (435.2) connected to the third longitudinal channel (230) according to a control signal received from the control unit (303).

11. The wiper system according to claim 5, wherein the injection system (301) comprises a first bi-directional pump (411.1) connected to the first longitudinal channel (210) by a first injection channel (412.1) and to the second longitudinal channel (220) by a second injection channel (412.2), the first pump being able to inject a cleaning fluid into the first injection channel or into the second injection channel depending on the direction of rotation of the pump motor of the first pump;

Wherein the injection assembly further comprises a second pump (411.2) connected to the third longitudinal channel (230) by a third injection channel (412.3), the control unit (303) being able to control the activation of the second pump.

12. A method for controlling injection of a cleaning fluid into a wiper system (100) for a motor vehicle, the wiper system comprising: an arm (103); -a motor (302) capable of rotating the arm; and a wiper blade (105) configured to brush a visible region of a windshield of the motor vehicle, the wiper blade being drivable by the arm, and comprising a longitudinal channel (230) and at least one nozzle element (113) in fluid communication with the at least one longitudinal channel and configured to spray a cleaning fluid towards at least one sensor (320) arranged outside the visible region, the nozzle element being arranged in a longitudinal end region (120) of the wiper blade;

The method comprises the following steps, implemented by a control unit (303):

-receiving (500) in real time position data relating to the arm or the wiper blade;

-generating (501) a control signal based on the position data to control in real time the injection of cleaning fluid into the longitudinal channel;

-transmitting (502) the control signal to an injection component of the wiper system;

Wherein the control signal generated controls injection by the cleaning fluid injection assembly at least into the longitudinal channel when the control unit determines that the arm or the wiper blade is in a given angular sector (312), the angular sector being smaller than an angular wiping range (311) of the wiper system.