JPH04365655A - Wiper control equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To intermittently control the jet of a cleaning liquid by matching to the wiping timing of a wiper blade without following a complicated operation. CONSTITUTION:A washer switch 15 is made conductive and a washer continuous operation is started and the drive of a washer motor 16 is stopped only for a second hour W2 from the point of time when a first hour W1 is elapsed since starting the wiping operation of a wiper blade. Thereby, the jet of a cleaning liquid is stopped in the status which the wiper blade stays near a turning position. Therefore, the stain can be removed efficiently by a little amount of cleaning liquid without following the complicated operation of the washer switch 15.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wiper control device suitably used in automobiles and the like, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a wiper control device having a so-called washer interlocking function that drives wiper blades in conjunction with the jetting of cleaning fluid. Regarding.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art The above-mentioned washer interlocking function is a function that occurs when a washer switch for driving a pump that discharges cleaning liquid is turned on when the wiper switch is cut off and the wiper blade is not performing a wiping operation. This function automatically starts the wiping operation of the wiper blade in conjunction with the conduction of the washer switch. Therefore, in very light rain where the wiper blade does not have to be continuously wiped,
This is a function that can be used extremely effectively.

[0003] When dirt such as mud and dust adheres to the windshield during extremely light rain as described above, the driver operates the washer switch and attempts to remove the dirt using the washer interlocking function. In typical prior art, the washer motor is driven continuously during the period when the washer switch is turned on.

0004

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, when cleaning liquid is frequently used due to environmental or weather conditions, it becomes necessary to frequently perform complicated replenishment operations.

[0005] For this reason, some drivers have attempted to remove dirt efficiently with a small amount of cleaning liquid by adjusting the operating timing of the washer switch. That is, the washer switch is turned on, and the wiper switch is adjusted to be turned off when the wiper blade is displaced and comes just in front of the area where the cleaning liquid is sprayed onto the windshield.

However, if the washer switch is operated for a short time, sufficient cleaning liquid will not be sprayed, and if the washer switch is operated too quickly, the sprayed cleaning liquid will flow down.
If it is too slow, there will be a problem that the cleaning liquid will be sprayed even after the wiper blade has finished wiping. Furthermore, such operations are extremely complicated.

An object of the present invention is to provide a wiper control device that can efficiently remove dirt using a small amount of cleaning liquid without complicated operations.

[0008]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention provides a wiper control device that drives a wiper blade to reciprocate over a surface to be wiped when a wiper switch is turned on. an injection means for
a detection means for detecting whether or not the wiper blade is in a wiping operation; and responsive to switching states of the wiper switch and washer switch and a detection result of the detection means, both the wiper switch and the washer switch are rendered conductive. When the wiper blade starts a wiping operation, the spraying means is driven to spray the cleaning liquid for a predetermined first time, and the spraying is stopped for a second time after the first time elapses. and a washer control means for restarting the injection after the wiper control device is provided.

Further, the wiper switch of the present invention conducts in conjunction with the washer switch when the washer switch is turned on, and the conduction state lasts for a third predetermined time after the washer switch is turned off. It is characterized by being retained only.

Furthermore, the washer control means of the present invention is characterized in that the washer control means continuously injects the cleaning liquid when the washer switch is turned on for a predetermined fourth time or more.

[0011] Furthermore, the washer control means of the present invention comprises:
The present invention is characterized in that when the washer switch is turned on for a predetermined fifth time or more, the wiping operation speed of the wiper blade is increased.

0012

According to the invention, the wiper control device is provided with washer control means. This wiper control device is
When the wiper switch is turned on, the wiper blade can be driven to reciprocate on the surface to be wiped, preferably by switching to intermittent drive, low-speed continuous drive, or high-speed continuous drive. The washer control means is loaded with the switching states of the washer switch and the wiper switch, and is input with the detection results of a detection means that is realized by a cam switch or the like and detects whether or not the wiper blade is in a wiping operation. be done.

The washer control means responds to the detection result of the detection means when both the wiper switch and the washer switch are conductive, and the washer control means responds to the detection result of the detection means for a first predetermined period of time from the time when the wiper blade starts the wiping operation. The cleaning liquid is sprayed by driving a spraying means such as a pump that sprays the cleaning liquid onto the surface to be wiped. The first time is selected to be, for example, about 0.4 seconds, which is shorter than 0.5 seconds, which is the time required for the wiper blade to reach the turning position after starting the wiping operation.

Note that since the operating speed of the wiper motor varies depending on the voltage, the voltage may be read into a microcomputer using, for example, an A/D converter to determine the time until the wiper blade reaches the turning position.

[0015] After the first time has elapsed, the washer control means suspends the injection of the cleaning liquid for a predetermined second time. The second time is selected to be, for example, about 0.2 seconds, which is the time required for the wiper blade to return to the position at the time when the spraying of the cleaning liquid was stopped. After the second time has elapsed, the injection of the cleaning liquid is restarted again.

[0016] Therefore, when the wiper blade is in the vicinity of the folded back position, the injection of the cleaning liquid is stopped, thereby making it possible to efficiently remove dirt with a small amount of cleaning liquid. Further, in order to use the cleaning liquid efficiently, there is no need to operate a complicated washer switch.

Preferably, the wiper switch is turned on in conjunction with the washer switch, and the conduction state is maintained for a third predetermined time after the washer switch is turned off, for example, when the wiper blade performs a wiping operation two or three times. It is desirable to hold it for as long as possible.

[0018] The washer control means also controls the operation switch to perform a predetermined fourth and fifth time period, for example, 10
When the electrical current is maintained for more than a second, it is preferable to continuously drive the spraying means to continuously spray the cleaning liquid and to drive the wiper blade, for example, in a high-speed continuous operation state. As a result, even if the vehicle is heavily soiled with mud thrown up by a preceding vehicle, the dirt can be quickly removed.

[0019]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a wiper control device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. This wiper control device 1 is used for vehicle use, and by turning on an auto wiper switch 2, a control circuit 3 controls driving of a wiper motor 5, which is a driving means, in response to an output from a raindrop sensor 4. This is a so-called automatic wiper control device that performs a wiping operation by reciprocating a wiper blade on the windshield.

The raindrop sensor 4 includes, for example, a pair of light receiving and emitting elements, and is an optical sensor that detects the amount of rainfall based on a change in the level of light received when the raindrops pass through an optical path formed by the light receiving and emitting elements. It is a type raindrop sensor. The output of this raindrop sensor 4 is input to the control circuit 3, and after being shaped into a rectangular wave pulse by the waveform shaping circuit 11,
The signal is input to a processing circuit 12 implemented by a microcomputer or the like. Further, the output of the auto wiper switch 2 is input to the processing circuit 12 after noise components such as so-called chattering are removed by a waveform shaping circuit 13 .

Each circuit in the control circuit 3 including the processing circuit 12 is connected to a constant voltage circuit 29 from the power supply line L2.
Electric power is supplied from the battery 23 via. When power is being supplied from the constant voltage circuit 29 and the auto wiper switch 2 is turned on, the processing circuit 12 integrates the output of the raindrop sensor 4, and when the integrated value exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The wiper motor 5 is driven at this point.

When driving the wiper motor 5 at a low speed, the processing circuit 12 outputs a drive signal from the output terminal P2 to the line L3. This drive signal is applied to the base of the transistor Tr2 via a resistor R3 and a bias resistor R4. The emitter of the transistor Tr2 is grounded, and the collector is connected to the power supply line L2 via a relay coil 27 of a relay 26.

On the other hand, the relay switch 2 of the relay 26
8 is provided with two individual contacts 28a and 28b, one individual contact 28b is connected to the power supply line L2, and the other individual contact 28a is connected to the common contact 30c of the cam switch 30 via the line L4. There is. Further, the common contact 24c of the relay switch 24 of the relay 21 is connected to the common contact 28c of the relay switch 28, and one individual contact 24a of the relay switch 24 is connected to the low-speed power input terminal 5a of the wiper motor 5. .

The processing circuit 12 also outputs drive signals from output terminals P1 and P2 to lines L1 and L3 when driving the wiper motor 5 continuously at high speed. The drive signal on line L1 is input to the base of transistor Tr1 via resistors R1 and R2, and the drive signal on line L3 is input to the base of transistor Tr2 via resistors R3 and R4.

The emitter of the transistor Tr1 is grounded, and the collector is connected to the relay coil 22 of the relay 21.
It is connected to the power supply line L2 via. The other individual contact 24b of the relay switch 24 of the relay 21 is
It is connected to the high-speed power input terminal 5b of the wiper motor 5.

A cam switch 30, which is a detection means, is provided in connection with the wiper motor 5. When the wiper blade is in the initial position, the cam switch 30 is electrically connected to the individual contact 30a. 5
is activated and the wiper blade starts a wiping operation, and when it leaves the initial position, it conducts to the individual contact 30b, and when the wiper blade finishes the wiping operation and returns to the initial position again, it connects to the individual contact 30a. Conduct.

The individual contact 30a is grounded together with the ground terminal 5c of the wiper motor 5, and the individual contact 30b is
It is connected to the power supply line L2. Also common contact 3
0c is connected to the individual contact 28a of the relay switch 28 via line L4, and this common contact 3
The potential of 0c is detected by the processing circuit 12 via the signal processing circuit 31 from the line L5. Processing circuit 12
determines whether the wiper blade is in the wiping operation based on the detected potential of the common contact 30c.

Therefore, when driving the wiper motor 5 at low speed, the processing circuit 12 outputs a drive signal from the output terminal P2 to the line L3. As a result, the transistor Tr2 becomes conductive, the relay coil 27 is excited, and the contacts 28b and 28c of the relay switch 28 are brought into conduction. Therefore, the battery 23 via the power line L2
Electric power is supplied from these contacts 28b and 28c to the low-speed power input terminal 5a of the wiper motor 5 via the contacts 24c and 24a of the relay switch 24.

In this way, the wiper motor 5 is activated and the cam switch 30 is switched from the individual contact 30a to the individual contact 30b, and then when the wiper blade returns to its initial position, the cam switch 30 is switched from the individual contact 30b to the individual contact 30a again. , the processing circuit 12 stops outputting the drive signal. As a result, a brake current flows to the low-speed power input terminal 5a of the wiper motor 5 via the contacts 30a and 30c, the contacts 28a and 28c of the relay switch 28, and the contacts 24c and 24a of the relay switch 24, and the wiper motor 5 is stopped. do.

Further, when driving the wiper motor 5 at high speed, the processing circuit 12 outputs a driving signal from the output terminals P1 and P2, and thereby the transistors Tr1 and Tr2
conducts, relay coils 22 and 27 are both excited, relay switch 24 conducts to individual contact 24b, and relay switch 28 conducts to individual contact 28b. Thereby, electric power from the battery 23 is supplied to the high-speed power input terminal 5b of the wiper motor 5 via the relay switches 28 and 24.

The processing circuit 12 detects whether the wiper blade has returned to the initial position from the output voltage level of the cam switch 30, and until the wiper blade returns to the initial position, the output terminals P1, P2 Continue to derive the drive signal. In this way, the wiper motor 5 can be driven at low speed and high speed.

Further, a washer switch 15 is provided near the auto wiper switch 2 at the driver's seat, and the switching state of this washer switch 15 is read into the processing circuit 12 via the waveform shaping circuit 17. . When the washer switch 15 is turned on, the processing circuit 12 controls the washer motor 1 as described later.
6, thereby driving a pump (not shown) serving as a spraying means, and spraying the cleaning liquid onto the windshield.

Similarly to the wiper motor 5, the washer motor 16 also has resistors R5, R6 and a transistor Tr.
3 and a relay 41 are provided. When driving the washer motor 16, the processing circuit 12 outputs the output terminal P.
A high-level drive signal is output from transistor Tr3, and this drive signal is applied to the base of transistor Tr3 via resistors R5 and R6. As a result, the transistor Tr3 becomes conductive, the relay coil 42 of the relay 41 is excited, and the relay switch 43 becomes conductive. As a result, the power line L
2 is applied to the washer motor 16 via the relay switch 43, and the cleaning liquid is injected.

Further, a counter 32 is built in the processing circuit 12, and this counter 32 is connected to the cam switch 30.
When the wiper blade starts wiping operation from the output voltage level of , it is reset to 0 and starts counting operation. The processing circuit 12 drives and controls the washer motor 16 in response to the count value CT of the counter 32 while the washer switch 15 is turned on, as will be described later.

The processing circuit 12 drives the wiper motor 5 when the washer switch 15 is turned on, and continues to drive the wiper motor 5 for a predetermined third time W3 even after the washer switch 15 is turned off. The time W3 is selected to be a time long enough for the wiper blade to perform the wiping operation twice, for example. In this way, a so-called washer-linked operation is performed.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart for explaining one embodiment of the washer-linked operation of the wiper control device 1 configured as described above. When the washer switch 15 is turned on at time t1 as shown in FIG. 2(1), the washer motor 16 is turned on as shown in FIG. 2(2).
is started. Further, at time t2, which is a time W6 after time t1, the wiper motor 5 is activated as shown in FIG. 2(3). The time W6 is a delay time provided to determine whether the washer-linked operation is being performed and to start the wiping operation after the cleaning liquid is injected to prevent dry wiping.

When the wiper motor 5 is started in this way,
At time t3 after time W7 has elapsed, the switching state of the cam switch 30 provided on the output shaft of the wiper motor 5 is changed as shown in FIG. 2(4). At this time, the counter 32 starts counting as shown in FIG. 2(5).

In response to the count value CT of the counter 32, at time t4 when a predetermined first time W1, for example 0.4 seconds has elapsed from time t2, the washer motor 16 is activated as shown in FIG. 2(2). The drive of the washer motor 16 is stopped, and then the drive of the washer motor 16 is restarted at a time t5 when the predetermined second time W2, for example, 0.2 seconds has elapsed from the time t4. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2(6), the injection of the cleaning liquid is stopped near time t6 when the wiper blade reaches the return position.

When the wiper blade returns to the initial position as shown in FIG. 2(6), the switching state of the cam switch 30 changes as shown in FIG. 2(4) at time t7, and then the washer switch 15 is further conductive, the above-mentioned times t2 to t7
The operation shown in is repeated, and the washer motor 16
When the wiper blade is near the folded position, it is at rest, and when it is in the remaining position, it is driven.

When the washer switch 15 is cut off at time t11 as shown in FIG. 2(1), the state shown in FIG.
As shown in 2), the washer motor 16 is stopped. However, as shown in FIG. 2(3), the wiper motor 5 is driven from time t11 until time t12, which is the time W3 elapsed, and as a result, as shown in FIG. 2(6), the wiper blade is Perform a wiping motion twice. In this way, the cleaning liquid sprayed onto the windshield is reliably wiped away.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of FIG. 2. In step n1, the counter 32
Initialization processing such as resetting the count value CT is performed, and in step n2 it is determined whether or not the washer-linked operation is being performed. When the washer-linked operation is not performed, the process moves to the auto wiper operation in step n3, and if the auto wiper switch 2 is conductive, the auto wiper operation that drives the wiper motor 5 is performed when the integrated value of the detection output of the raindrop sensor 4 exceeds a threshold value. , the process returns to step n1, and when the auto wiper switch 2 is cut off, the process directly returns to step n1.

When it is determined in the step n2 that the washer is interlocked, that is, at the timing t2, the process moves to step n4, and the washer motor 16
is driven, and the wiper motor 5 is further driven in step n5. In step n6, it is determined from the count value CT of the counter 32 whether the time W1 has elapsed since the wiper motor 5 was started, and if not, the process returns to step n4 and the washer motor 16 and wiper motor 5 continue operating. If the washer motor 16 is driven, that is, at the timing t4, the process moves to step n7, and the drive of the washer motor 16 is stopped. In step n8, it is determined based on the count value CT of the counter 32 whether or not the rest time of the washer motor 16 has reached the time W2. If not, the process returns to step n7; At timing t5, the process moves to step n9.

In step n9, the washer motor 16 is restarted, and in step n10, the cam switch 30 is
It is determined whether the wiper blade has returned to the initial position from the switching state of , and if not, the process returns to step n9, and if so, that is, the time t
At timing 7, the process moves to step n11. step n
At step 11, it is determined whether or not the washer interlock has been released. If not, the process returns to step n4, and if so, that is, at the timing t11, the process moves to step n12.

In step n12, the washer motor 16
After that, in step n13, the wiper motor 5 is continuously driven for the time W3 during which the wiper blade can perform the wiping operation two times, and then the process returns to step n1.

As described above, the wiper control device 1 according to the present invention
Since the washer motor 16 stops driving when the wiper blade is near the return position when the washer is interlocked, cleaning can be performed efficiently with a small amount of cleaning liquid without the driver having to perform complicated switch operations. . This makes it possible to reduce the burden of maintenance such as replenishment of cleaning fluid.

FIG. 4 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is similar to the previously described embodiment, and each of FIGS. 4(1) to 4(6) The waveforms correspond to the waveforms shown in FIGS. 2(1) to 2(6), respectively. What should be noted in this embodiment is that, as shown in FIG. 4(1), at the time t1, the washer switch 15
If the washer is still in the interlocking state at time t10 when a predetermined fourth time W4 has elapsed since the washer motor 16 was turned on, the washer motor 16
is driven continuously. The time W4 is selected to be, for example, the time required for the wiper blade to complete two wiping operations. Therefore, at time t10, the wiper blade returns to the initial position as shown in FIG. 4(6), and the cam switch 30 returns to the initial position as shown in FIG. 4(4).
switching state is changing.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, which is similar to the operation shown in FIG. 3, and corresponding parts are given the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, if the washer interlocking mode has not been released in step n11, the process moves to step n21, where it is determined whether the time W4 has elapsed, that is, whether the wiper blade has performed the wiping operation twice. If not, the process returns to step n4, and if so, the process moves to step n22.

In step n22, the washer motor 16
is maintained as being driven, and the wiper motor 5 is continuously driven in step n23. Further step n24
Then, it is determined whether the switching state of the cam switch 30 has changed and the wiper blade has returned to its initial position. If not, the process returns to step n22, and if so, the process moves to step n25. step n25
Then, it is determined whether or not the washer interlocking operation is being continued. If so, the process returns to step n22, and if not, the process moves to step n12, where the washer motor 16 is stopped. In this way, the time W
When the washer interlocking operation is continued for four or more times, by continuously driving the washer motor 16, even severe dirt can be dealt with.

FIG. 6 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of still another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is similar to the previously described embodiment, and FIGS. 6(1) to 6(6) are Figures 4 (1) to 4 (6) and Figures 2 (1) to 2, respectively.
(6) is supported. What should be noted in this embodiment is that, as shown in FIG. 6(1), when the washer interlocking operation is performed for a predetermined fifth time W5 or more after the washer switch 15 is turned on at the time t1, ,
At time t15 when the time W5 has elapsed, FIG. 6 (3
), the wiper motor 5 is continuously driven at high speed. The time W5 is selected, for example, as the time when the wiper blade finishes its fourth wiping operation.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, and parts corresponding to those in FIGS. 3 and 5 described above are given the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, when the washer interlocking operation is continued in step n25, the process moves to step n31, where it is determined whether the time W5 has elapsed, that is, whether the wiper blade has completed the wiping operation four times. If not, the process returns to step n22, and if so, the process moves to step n32.

In step n32, the washer motor 16 is continuously driven as in step n22, and in step n33, the wiper motor 5 is continuously driven at high speed. In step n34, it is determined whether the wiper blade has returned to the initial position based on the switching state of the cam switch 30. If not, the process returns to step n32, and if so, the process moves to step n35. In step n35, it is determined whether or not the washer interlocking operation is continued, and if so, step n35 is determined.
If not, the process moves to step n12 and the washer motor 16 is stopped.

By continuously driving the wiper motor 5 at high speed after the time W5 has elapsed, severe dirt can be dealt with more effectively.

Note that in the above embodiment, the wiper control device 1
is a so-called automatic wiper control device using a raindrop sensor 4, but as another embodiment of the present invention, it is configured to switch to intermittent operation, low-speed continuous operation, high-speed continuous operation, etc. by switching the wiper switch. Good too. Further, when the washer switch 15 is turned on while the auto wiper switch 2 is turned on and the wiper motor 5 is already being driven, the washer motor 1
6 may be driven continuously, or may be driven corresponding to the wiping position of the wiper blade as described above. Furthermore, the washer motor 16 may be stopped when the wiper blade returns to near the initial position.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention, a wiper control device for driving and controlling a wiper blade is provided with a washer control means, and when both a wiper switch and a washer switch are conductive, the washer control means controls the wiper blade. Since the jetting of the cleaning liquid is stopped for a second period of time after the first period of time has elapsed after the wiper blade starts its wiping operation, the first period of time is longer than the period of time until the wiper blade reaches the return position. By selecting a slightly short time and selecting the second time to be the time required for the wiper blade to return to the position reached at the time when the first time elapsed, when the wiper blade is near the turning position, , the injection of the cleaning liquid is stopped.

[0055] Therefore, stains can be efficiently removed using a small amount of cleaning liquid. In addition, in order to control the suspension of the spraying of the cleaning liquid as described above, the operator only needs to hold the washer switch in a conductive state. injection can be performed.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a wiper control device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a timing chart for explaining a washer-linked operation according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a timing chart for explaining a washer-linked operation according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a timing chart for explaining a washer-linked operation according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Wiper control device 2 Auto wiper switch 3 Control circuit 4 Raindrop sensor 5 Wiper motor 12 Processing circuit 15 Washer switch 16 Washer motor 30 Cam switch 32 Counter

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A wiper control device that drives a wiper blade to reciprocate on a surface to be wiped when a wiper switch is turned on, comprising: a washer switch; a jetting means for spraying a cleaning liquid onto the surface to be wiped; and a wiper blade. a detection means for detecting whether or not the wiper switch is in a wiping operation, and responsive to the switching state of the wiper switch and the washer switch and the detection result of the detection means, when both the wiper switch and the washer switch are conductive, After causing the wiper blade to start the wiping operation, the spraying means is driven to spray the cleaning liquid for a predetermined first time, and after the spraying is stopped for a second time after the first time elapses, A wiper control device comprising: washer control means for restarting the injection. 2. When the washer switch is turned on, the wiper switch is turned on in conjunction with the washer switch, and the conduction state is maintained for a predetermined third time after the washer switch is turned off. The wiper control device according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. The washer control means continuously injects the cleaning liquid when the washer switch is turned on for a predetermined fourth time period or more. wiper control device. 4. The wiper control device according to claim 1, wherein the washer control means increases the wiping operation speed of the wiper blade when the washer switch is turned on for a predetermined fifth time or more.