JP2582618Y2 - Auto wiper device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic wiper device mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, and more particularly to a raindrop detecting means for detecting a raindrop and outputting a raindrop signal, and driving the wiper in response to the raindrop signal. The present invention relates to an automatic wiper device including a wiper control unit that generates a signal.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Some vehicles such as automobiles are equipped with an automatic wiper device. The automatic wiper device detects rainfall and automatically controls the operation of the wiper according to the rainfall state at that time. In order to detect the rainfall, the automatic wiper device is usually provided with raindrop detecting means for detecting raindrops attached to the window glass and outputting a raindrop signal corresponding to the amount of the raindrops. The raindrop signal is sent to the wiper control means, processed by the control means, and a wiper drive signal for driving the wiper motor is output when it is determined that wiping by the wiper blade is necessary.

Incidentally, a raindrop sensor for detecting raindrops attached to window glass is used as the raindrop detecting means. As such a raindrop sensor, a capacitance-type sensor that detects the attachment of raindrops as a change in capacitance, an optical-type sensor that detects a change in the amount of light, and the like are known. However, in the case of such a raindrop sensor,
It is necessary to convert the change in the electrical physical quantity detected by the raindrop sensor into an electrical signal that can be processed by the wiper control means. Therefore, in an automatic wiper device using such a raindrop sensor, a signal conversion circuit for converting a signal such as capacitance or light amount output from the raindrop sensor into a voltage or frequency raindrop signal is used. That is, the raindrop detecting means in the automatic wiper device is constituted by a raindrop sensor and a signal conversion circuit. The signal conversion circuit is arranged near the raindrop sensor, that is, near the window glass. On the other hand, the wiper control means is arranged in a vehicle room where temperature changes are small. As described above, in a normal automatic wiper device, the raindrop detection unit including the signal conversion circuit and the wiper control unit are configured separately. Then, the voltage of the vehicle power supply is applied to the signal conversion circuit and the wiper control means, respectively.

In such an automatic wiper device,
The raindrop signal output from the raindrop detection means is easily affected by a change in the voltage of the vehicle power supply. Then, when the engine starting device is operated, particularly when the vehicle is in a low-temperature environment, the voltage of the vehicle power supply decreases, so that a pulsation or the like easily occurs in the raindrop signal output from the raindrop detecting means. Therefore, the change in the raindrop signal at that time is determined to be due to raindrops, and the wiper control unit may output a wiper drive signal. If the raindrop signal is misjudged in such a manner, the wiper is driven even though the raindrop is not actually attached to the window glass, and wiping is performed. Therefore, for example, as shown in JP-A-1-289743,
It is considered that the wiper control unit does not output the wiper drive signal during the operation of the engine starting device.

[0005]

However, the power supply voltage becomes unstable not only when the engine starting device is operated. When the raindrop detecting means and the wiper control means are configured differently as described above, the rise of the power supply unit per unit time in the electric circuit of each means may be different. Therefore, for example, when turning on the vehicle power,
The raindrop signal sent from the signal conversion circuit of the raindrop detection means to the wiper control means becomes unstable, and there is a possibility that the wiper is erroneously determined to be a raindrop and is driven. Even after the operation of the engine starter, it takes some time until the power supply voltage is stabilized. Therefore, even if the wiper drive signal is not output during the operation of the engine starter, the wiper drive signal may be output immediately thereafter. May be driven. On the other hand, the engine starting device may be operated while the vehicle is running. In such a case, if the wiper is not driven during the operation, there is a problem that the view through the window glass is impaired.

The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide an automatic wiper device in which a wiper is less likely to malfunction and a view is ensured while the vehicle is running. That is.

[0007]

In order to achieve this object, according to the present invention, the raindrop signal output from the raindrop detection means is disabled when the vehicle is stopped and the power supply voltage is likely to be unstable. The processing for the wiper operation based on the raindrop signal at that time is not performed.
That is, Otowaipa apparatus according the present invention detects the operating state of the vehicle, the vehicle is in a stopped state, moreover, a large
When power is turned on to a load that consumes power,
And a signal for prohibiting the capture of the raindrop signal to the wiper control means when the signal is output from the voltage unstable time detecting means until the predetermined time has elapsed. And a prohibition means.

[0008] With this configuration, when the vehicle is in a stopped state, power is supplied to a load that consumes a large amount of power.
When the vehicle power is turned on, when the engine starter is activated, or when the air conditioner is started, for example.
A signal is output from the voltage unstable timing detecting means until a predetermined time elapses from the point in time, and the capture of the raindrop signal output from the raindrop detecting means into the wiper control means is prohibited. Therefore, in such a case,
When the pressure is likely to be unstable, the signal processing in the wiper control means is stopped, and malfunction of the wiper due to an unstable raindrop signal is prevented. In addition, while the vehicle is running, the prohibition of capturing the raindrop signal is released, so that even when the engine starting device or the air conditioner is operated, the wiper is driven by the raindrop signal at that time, and the windshield is moved through the window glass. View is secured.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an automatic wiper device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram thereof, and FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram of a control system in the automatic wiper device. As shown in FIG. 1, a pair of wiper blades 3 and 3 are provided on the outer surface of a front windshield glass 2 of an automobile 1 to wipe the outer surface of the glass 2 in a fan shape by reciprocating swinging. Have been. The wiper blades 3 and 3 are driven by a wiper motor 5 provided in a wiper drive circuit 4 via a link mechanism (not shown). Wiper drive circuit 4
It is connected to the first terminal IG ₁ of the ignition switch 7 that opens and closes between the various electrical components mounted in-vehicle battery 6 as a power supply of the motor vehicle 1 to the motor vehicle 1. A first terminal IG ₁ is for supplying electric power to such an engine electrical equipment 8 of the car 1. The ignition switch 7, the first addition to the terminal IG _1, second terminal IG ₂ and the starter terminal ST and the like. Second
Terminal IG ₂ is to supply power to such air conditioning system 9 of vehicle 1, the starter terminal ST is to supply power to the starter motor 10 of the engine starting device. When the ignition switch 7 is turned on, first, the first terminal IG ₁
There is connected to the battery 6 and is then connected to the second terminal IG ₂ also battery 6. When the engine is started, the starter terminal ST and the first terminal IG ₁ are connected to the battery 6.
And the second terminal IG ₂ is disconnected from the battery 6. During normal running of the vehicle 1, the first and second terminals IG ₁ and IG ₂ are kept connected to the battery 6. Therefore, the battery voltage is applied to the wiper drive circuit 4 at the same time when the ignition switch 7 is turned on, and the battery voltage is maintained until the ignition switch 7 is turned off.

The wiper drive circuit 4 is provided with a relay 11. The relay coil 11a of the relay 11 is connected to the first terminal IG ₁ of the ignition switch 7 is connected to ground via a control unit 12 as the wiper control means for generating a wiper driving signal. Further, the wiper motor 5 of the wiper drive circuit 4 is connected to the first terminal IG ₁ of the ignition switch 7, adapted to be connected to either ground or the timing plate 13 via the relay switch 11b of the relay 11 ing. Its timing plate 13
Is rotated in conjunction with the wiper motor 5. Immediately after the rotation starts, the relay 11 is connected to the ground,
It is said that it shuts off when it rotates.
When the relay coil 11a is excited in this way, the wiper motor 5 is connected to the ground via the relay switch 11b, and power supply to the motor 5 is started. When the timing plate 13 rotates in conjunction with the wiper motor 5,
Even when the excitation of the relay coil 11a is stopped halfway, the power supply to the wiper motor 5 is continued through the timing plate 13 and the timing plate 1
The wiper motor 5 stops when the motor 3 rotates once. The wiper blades 3, 3 are configured to make one reciprocation by one rotation of the timing plate 13. The relay coil 11a is energized when a wiper drive signal is generated by the control unit 12, and is energized for a predetermined short time. Thus, when the relay coil 11a is excited, the timing plate 13 always makes one rotation,
The wiper blades 3, 3 perform one reciprocation, that is, one wiping operation. Therefore, the wiper blade 3,
3 is always stopped at a fixed position and held at that position. The stop position is a position along the lower edge of the window glass 2.

In the vicinity of the lower edge of the window glass 2, a raindrop sensor 14 for detecting attached raindrops is provided in a wiping area 3a of the wiper blade 3. Therefore, the installation part of the raindrop sensor 14 is wiped by the wiper blade 3 immediately before the wiper blade 3 stops. The raindrop sensor 14 is of a capacitance type composed of a transparent electrode as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 62-112958, and the transparent electrode is disposed between laminated glasses constituting the window glass 2. ing. In the case of such a raindrop sensor 14, when raindrops adhere to the outer surface of the window glass 2 where the raindrop sensor 14 is installed, the capacitance of the raindrop sensor 14 changes according to the amount of raindrops. The change in capacitance is detected. Such a change in capacitance is difficult to perform signal processing as it is. Therefore, it is necessary to convert the value detected by the raindrop sensor 14 into an electric signal that can be processed. Therefore, a signal conversion circuit 15 is provided in the vicinity of the raindrop sensor 14, that is, in the vicinity of the window glass 2, so that the detection value of the raindrop sensor 14 is converted into a voltage or frequency raindrop signal by the signal conversion circuit 15. Has become. Thus, the raindrop sensor 14 and the signal conversion circuit 15 constitute a raindrop detecting means 16 which detects raindrops adhering to the window glass 2 and outputs a raindrop signal corresponding to the amount of the raindrops. In this embodiment, the signal conversion circuit 15 is provided with the raindrop sensor 14.
Is converted into a voltage signal and output. In this case, the relationship between the amount of raindrops adhering to the window glass 2 and the raindrop signal output from the signal conversion circuit 15 decreases as the amount of raindrops increases, and increases as the amount of raindrops decreases. There is. That is, when the raindrop signal output from the raindrop detecting means 16 becomes small, it is determined that raindrops have adhered due to rainfall.

The signal from the raindrop sensor 14 is converted into a voltage-changed raindrop signal in this manner, and then sent to the control unit 12 described above. An automatic wiper switch 17 is connected to the control unit 12, and the control unit 12 operates only when the switch 17 is switched to an automatic contact. When the switch 17 is connected to the other contact, the wiper device is operated by the driver operating another wiper switch. The control unit 12 includes a raindrop detecting unit 16.
The wiper drive signal is generated when the difference between the value of the raindrop signal sent from the controller and the reference value is exceeded and the difference exceeds a predetermined value. When the control unit 12 generates the wiper drive signal, the relay coil 11a of the relay 11 is excited as described above, so that the power supply to the wiper motor 5 is started, and the wiping operation by the wiper blades 3, 3 is performed. This control unit 12 is installed in the vehicle interior. The power supply circuit of the control unit 12 is connected to the first terminal IG ₁ of the ignition switch 7. The power supply voltage of the signal conversion circuit 15 also are supplied from the first terminal IG ₁ of the ignition switch 7.

The input line 18 for taking the raindrop signal output from the signal conversion circuit 15 of the raindrop detection means 16 into the control unit 12 is provided with a signal takeoff inhibiting means 19 for inhibiting the capture of the signal. The prohibiting means 19 receives a signal from the voltage unstable timing detecting means 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the signal take-in inhibiting means 19 is constituted by an AND circuit 21 to which the raindrop signal sent from the raindrop detecting means 16 is input as one input. The signal from the voltage instability detecting means 20 is inverted by the inverter 22 and then input to the other input of the AND circuit 21. Therefore, when no signal is output from the voltage unstable timing detecting means 20, the raindrop signal from the raindrop detecting means 16 is sent to the control unit 12 as it is. On the other hand, when a signal is output from the voltage instability timing detection means 20, the raindrop signal is blocked by the AND circuit 21 of the signal capture prohibition means 19. That is, the raindrop signal is
The taking into the control unit 12 is prohibited by a signal from the voltage instability timing detecting means 20.

The voltage unstable timing detecting means 20 includes a first time measuring means 23 and a second time measuring means 24. The first timing means 23 is connected to the first terminal IG of the ignition switch 7.
_The signal is reset by the rise of the voltage at 1, and a signal is continuously output for a first predetermined time, for example, 1 second from that time. On the other hand, the second timing means 24 includes:
The output signal of the engine starting device operating state detecting means 25 is input. The detection means 25 detects a voltage change at the second terminal IG ₂ of the ignition switch 7, rise and fall signals of the voltage is input to the second clock means 24. The second timer 24 continuously outputs a signal until the second predetermined time elapses from the time when the voltage falls. Its second predetermined time, the second voltage terminal IG ₂ are time has become a ground level plus subsequent delay time, for example, 0.5 seconds. However, if the time exceeds, for example, 30 seconds, the second timing means 2
The output of the signal from 4 is stopped. The voltage unstable timing detecting means 20 further includes a vehicle stop state detecting means 26. The detecting means 26 outputs a high level signal when it is determined that the vehicle 1 is substantially stopped, for example, by taking in a vehicle speed signal, and outputs a low level signal when it is determined that the vehicle 1 is running. It outputs a level signal. The output signal of the vehicle stop state detecting means 26 is input to the AND circuit 27 together with the output signal of the second time measuring means 24. The output signal of the AND circuit 27 is supplied to the first timekeeping means 2.
3 together with the output signal of the OR circuit 28, and the output signal of the OR circuit 28
Is sent to the signal take-in inhibiting means 19 as an output signal. Thus, when the vehicle 1 is stopped and a signal is output from one of the first and second time-measuring means 23, 24, that is, immediately after the power is turned on or when the engine starting device is operated, the power supply voltage is reduced. A signal is output from the voltage instability timing detecting means 20 when it is determined that it is likely to be unstable.

Next, the operation of the thus configured automatic wiper device will be described. When driving car 1,
First, the ignition switch 7 is turned on. Thereby, the first terminal I of the ignition switch 7 is
G ₁ and the second terminal IG ₂ are connected to the battery 6. Therefore, a voltage is applied from the battery 6 to the control unit 12 of the automatic wiper device and to the signal conversion circuit 15 of the raindrop detection means 16, and these are put into operation. However, the voltage of the power supply section of the signal conversion circuit 15 is not immediately stabilized. Therefore, the raindrop signal output from the raindrop detecting means 16 at that time may appear smaller than it actually is. In this automatic wiper device, such a raindrop signal output when the power is turned on is invalidated. That is, when the ignition switch 7 is turned on, the first voltage terminal IG ₁ rises as shown in Figure 3 (A). Then, the first clocking means 23 is reset by the rise of the voltage, and the first clocking means 23 is reset from that time until the first predetermined time of one second elapses.
Outputs a signal. As a result, a high-level signal is output from the OR circuit 28 of the voltage instability timing detection means 20, and the signal is inverted by the inverter 22 and input to the AND circuit 21 of the signal capture inhibition means 19. Accordingly, the capture of the raindrop signal output from the raindrop detecting means 16 into the control unit 12 is prohibited.
When a first predetermined time elapses after turning on the power supply voltage, the first
The output of the signal from the timer 23 is stopped. And
At this time, the AND circuit 27 of the voltage unstable timing detecting means 20
, The output signal of the OR circuit 28 becomes low level, and the inhibition of the raindrop signal by the AND circuit 21 of the signal acquisition inhibiting means 19 is released.

When the engine is started, the first terminal IG ₁ of the ignition switch 7 and the starter terminal ST
Is connected to the battery 6, and the starter motor 10 connected to the starter terminal ST is driven. In this case, the second terminal IG ₂ of the ignition switch 7 is disconnected from the battery 6. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3B, the first terminal IG is turned on by turning on the power supply voltage.
A second voltage terminal IG ₂ which has risen along with the _first voltage is a ground level. Then, after the start of the engine, the starter terminal ST is by the second terminal IG ₂ with to being disconnected from the battery 6 is connected to the battery 6, the voltage of the terminal IG ₂ rises again. The change in the voltage is detected by the engine starting device operating state detecting means 25 of the voltage unstable timing detecting means 20, and the second timing means 24 is operated by a signal from the detecting means 25. Second time counting means 24, from the fall time of the second voltage at terminal IG ₂ of the ignition switch 7 to the second predetermined time elapses, i.e., after the voltage thereof rises again, 0.5 seconds delay time The signal is output until elapses. At the time of starting the engine, the vehicle 1 is in a stopped state. Therefore, a high-level signal as shown in FIG. 3C is output from the vehicle stop state detecting means 26. As a result, AND circuit 2
7 are both at a high level, and the AND circuit 27 outputs a signal. Then, when the signal is input to the OR circuit 28, a high-level signal is output from the OR circuit 28. Thus, also at this time, the control unit 1 of the raindrop signal from the raindrop detection means 16
2 is prohibited. For the fall time of the voltage at the second terminal IG ₂ of the ignition switch 7 until the second predetermined time elapses, the reduction and subsequent rise in battery voltage due to the driving of the starter motor 10, a raindrop This is a time when the voltage at the power supply unit of the signal conversion circuit 15 of the detection means 16 tends to be unstable. When the second predetermined time elapses after the start of the operation of the engine starting device, the output signal from the second timer 24 stops. Therefore, the output signal of the AND circuit 27 becomes low level, and the signal output from the OR circuit 28 is stopped.
A high-level signal is input to the AND circuit 21 of the signal capture inhibiting means 19. As a result, the raindrop signal from the raindrop detecting means 16 is taken into the control unit 12.

As described above, in this automatic wiper device, the second predetermined time is elapsed from the time when the power supply voltage is turned on until the first predetermined time elapses, and from the time when the operation of the engine starting device is started while the vehicle 1 is stopped. Until the time elapses, that is, when the vehicle 1 is in a stopped state and the voltage in the power supply unit of the control unit 12 or the signal conversion circuit 15 is likely to be unstable, the capture of the raindrop signal into the control unit 12 is not performed. It is forbidden. Therefore, the raindrop signal output from the raindrop detecting means 16 at that time is ignored, and malfunction of the wiper due to erroneous detection of the raindrop signal is prevented. Then, after the first predetermined time or the second predetermined time has elapsed, it is determined that the power supply voltage is also sufficiently stabilized, and the raindrop signal output from the raindrop detecting means 16 is taken into the control unit 12. At this time, if the automatic wiper switch 17 of the control unit 12 is switched to the automatic side, the control unit 12 compares the input raindrop signal with the reference value, and detects that a predetermined amount or more of raindrops When it is determined that it is attached to
Generate a wiper drive signal. Therefore, the relay coil 11a of the relay 11 is excited, and the driving of the wiper motor 5 is started as described above. The wiper motor 5 is
The rotation of the timing plate 13 by one rotation causes the wiper blades 3, 3 to perform one wiping operation.

When the vehicle 1 enters the running state, the output signal from the vehicle stop state detecting means 26 goes low. Therefore, no signal is output from the AND circuit 27 even if a signal is output from the second timing unit 24 at that time. That is, during running of the vehicle 1, or the engine starting device is operated, or the second voltage terminal IG ₂ of the ignition switch 7 for some reason is lowered, the signal is output from the engine starting device operating state detecting means 25 The voltage unstable timing detecting means 20
Are kept low. As a result, the raindrop signal output from the raindrop detecting means 16 is taken into the control unit 12 as it is, and the wiper is controlled according to the raindrop signal. In this way, the wiper is maintained in an operable state while the automobile 1 is running, and the windshield 2 is operated.
The view through is prevented from being impaired. In such a case, an error may occur in the raindrop signal due to a decrease in battery voltage due to the driving of the starter motor 10 and the wiper may malfunction.
There is no hindrance to running. Also, adding a new control unit to the control unit 12, when the second voltage terminal IG ₂ of the ignition switch 7 is lowered during running of the vehicle 1, if so as to continue its previous control state,
Such a malfunction of the wiper can be reduced. When the capture of the raindrop signal is prohibited for a long time, it is considered that the failure is caused by the engine starting device operating state detecting means 25 and the like. Therefore, the second timing means 24 outputs the signal when 30 seconds have elapsed from the start of the signal output. To stop. As a result, the raindrop signal from the raindrop detecting means 16 is taken into the control unit 12, and the wiper is controlled. Thus, the vehicle 1 is prevented from running with the wiper inoperable.

[0019] In the above embodiments, an example has been described to inhibit the raindrops signal acquisition at the start of the-on and engine of the vehicle power source, a load that consumes large power
In addition, the air conditioner 9 and headlights
You. When power is applied to such a load,
Pressure is likely to be unstable. Therefore, in such a case
Also, unless traveling of automobile 1, predetermined from that point
It is desirable that the capture of the raindrop signal is prohibited until the time elapses . Further, the operating state of the engine starting device, for example be detected by a voltage change at the second terminal IG ₂ of the ignition switch 7
Although described , this can be detected by a change in the voltage of the starter terminal ST.

[0020]

As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, when the power supply voltage is likely to be unstable ,
That is, from the point when power is turned on to a load that consumes large power,
Until the predetermined time elapses, the capture of the raindrop signal is prohibited and the processing for the wiper operation is not performed, so that the erroneous operation of the wiper due to the erroneous detection of the raindrop can be prevented. . Since the prohibition of capturing the raindrop signal is released while the vehicle is running, the wiper is maintained in an operable state. Therefore, the field of view during traveling of the vehicle can be secured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an automatic wiper device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block circuit diagram showing a control system in the automatic wiper device.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the operation of each part of the automatic wiper device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 automobile (vehicle) 2 window glass 3 wiper blade 4 wiper drive circuit 5 wiper motor 6 battery (vehicle power supply) 7 ignition switch 10 starter motor (engine starter) 12 control unit (wiper control means) 14 raindrop sensor 15 signal conversion circuit 16 Raindrop detecting means 18 Input line 19 Signal take-in inhibiting means 20 Voltage unstable timing detecting means

Claims (1)

(57) [Scope of request for utility model registration] 1. An automatic wiper device comprising: a raindrop detecting unit that detects a raindrop and outputs a raindrop signal; and a wiper control unit that receives the raindrop signal and generates a wiper driving signal that causes a wiper blade to perform a wiping operation. Detecting the driving state of the vehicle, when the vehicle is in a stopped state, and when power is applied to a load that consumes a large amount of power,
Until a predetermined time elapses from that time, a voltage unstable time detecting means for outputting a signal, and when the signal is output from the voltage unstable time detecting means, taking in of the raindrop signal into the wiper control means An automatic wiper device comprising: a signal capturing prohibiting unit that prohibits the following.