DE102011086408A1 - Method for actuating electric circuit in circuit of windscreen wiper drive of windscreen wiper system, involves parking wiper in predetermined parking position, and opening electric circuit after wiper is parked - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves forming an electric circuit (6) to guide a park signal (32) when a wiper (50) is driven by a windscreen wiper drive reaching a parking position. The wiper is parked in the predetermined parking position, and the electric circuit is opened after the wiper is parked. The parking of the wiper is initiated at start time. The opening of the circuit is carried out at predetermined delay time after the start time, where the delay time corresponds to maximum time duration to drive the wiper starting from start time in the parking position. An independent claim is also included for a circuit for a windscreen wiper drive of a vehicle.

Description

The invention relates to windscreen wiper drives, in particular measures for operating a windscreen wiper drive.

State of the art

There are wiper drives, for example, from the WO1998014347 known in which the desired function of the wiper can be adjusted via a steering column switch. Depending on the position of the steering column switch, a control unit controls a drive and supplies power to the wiper arms of the windscreen wiper drive.

In the de-energized state of the windshield wiper drive, the wiper should be parked outside the field of view of the driver.

It is an object of the invention to improve the control for parking the wiper.

Disclosure of the invention

The object is achieved by the method for driving a circuit in a circuit of a windshield wiper drive according to claim 1 and by the circuit and the windshield wiper system according to the independent claims.

Preferred developments of the invention are part of the subclaims.

According to a first aspect, a method for driving a circuit in a circuit of a windshield wiper drive, wherein the circuit is configured to perform a parking signal when a wiper driven by the wiper drive has reached a parking position, wherein the wiper is parked in a predetermined parking position and the Circuit is opened after the wiper is parked.

The invention is based on the idea that it would be possible to equip the wiper with a switch which closes a circuit as soon as the wiper has reached its parking position. About this so-called parking circuit then a parking signal would be generated, which is supplied to the control unit, so that it can separate the power supply to the windscreen wiper drive based on the existence of this parking signal.

The windscreen wiper drive can not be stopped immediately after reaching it, but only after a delay. The parking signal can start this delay time.

The invention is further based on the finding that the parking signal is obsolete after switching off the windscreen wiper drive and unnecessarily consumes electrical power. In order to reduce the unnecessary power consumption, the invention proposes to open the circuit of the parking signal, after it is ensured that the power supply of the windscreen wiper drive is disconnected.

The invention therefore provides a method for driving a circuit in a circuit of a windshield wiper drive, wherein the circuit is configured to run a parking signal when a wiper driven by the windscreen wiper drive has reached a parking position. The specified method includes parking the wiper in a predetermined parking position and opening the circuit after the wiper is parked.

By the specified method, a park signal is turned off after parking the wiper. To generate a parking signal recognizable by the controller, the current of the parking signal should be greater than e.g. Be 40mA. A correspondingly high electrical power consumption can be reduced by the invention.

In a development of the invention, the step of parking the wiper is initiated at a starting time and the step of opening the circuit is executed a predetermined delay time after the starting time. In this way, the time of opening the circuit can be derived from the user request that initiates the parking of the windshield wiper drive when the user turns off the windshield wiper drive via the steering column switch, for example.

In an additional development of the invention, the delay time corresponds to a maximum time duration required by the wiper from the start time to drive into the parking position. For example, the maximum amount of time may be the duration of a wiping period that the wiper blade needs from the starting position to return to the starting position. This maximum period of time can particularly preferably be extended by the delay time mentioned at the beginning, which is still applied to the windscreen wiper drive after the wiper blade has reached the parking position.

In a particular embodiment, the specified method includes closing the circuit after opening the circuit. By closing the circuit can be checked, for example, after a certain period of time, whether the wiper is still in its parking position when the steering column switch indicates no wiping operation.

In a preferred development, the steps of opening the circuit and closing the circuit are repeated periodically. In this way, the parking position of the wiper can be verified at regular intervals. Also in this case, the invention retains its power consumption reducing effect, since in the periods between the opening of the circuit and the re-closing of the circuit for position verification no electrical power is consumed.

According to another aspect of the invention, a windshield wiper drive circuit of a vehicle includes a circuit for generating a parking signal when a wiper controlled by the windshield wiper drive has reached a parking position and a switch for interrupting the circuit when the wiper has reached its parking position.

In a further development of the invention, the specified circuit comprises an input means for instructing the windscreen wiper drive to move the wiper into the parking position and a control element interrupting the circuit with the switch based on the instruction. The indicating means may be, for example, the above-mentioned steering column switch.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, the specified circuit comprises a delay element for delaying the interruption of the circuit based on the instruction.

In a preferred embodiment, the control member is integrated into the controller, so that the invention can be implemented by pure programming measures and requires no design effort to their realization.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a windshield wiper system for a vehicle includes a wiper, a wiper drive for moving the wiper, and a specified circuit for generating a parking signal when the wiper moved by the windshield wiper drive has reached a parking position.

The circuit and / or the windscreen wiper system can be extended by features that realize the steps of the specified method according to the dependent claims mutatis mutandis.

Brief description of the drawings

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

1 a circuit of a windshield wiper drive according to a first embodiment;

2 a circuit of a windshield wiper drive according to a second embodiment;

3 a possible time course of the parking signal; and

4 another possible time course of the parking signal.

Description of embodiments

It is referring to 1 taken a circuit 2 a windscreen wiper drive according to a first embodiment of the invention.

The circuit 2 includes a controller 4 , a parking circuit 6 and a motor circuit 8th ,

The control unit 4 receives via an input input 10 Control commands from a steering column switch 12 , The control commands depend on a position of the steering column switch 12 which can be set by a user. A first position 14 of the steering column switch 12 For example, may correspond to a control command to turn off the windscreen wiper drive. A second position 16 of the steering column switch 12 For example, may correspond to a control command to operate the windscreen wiper drive in interval operation. A third position 18 of the steering column switch 12 For example, it may correspond to a control command to operate the windshield wiper drive at low speed. And a fourth position 20 of the steering column switch 12 may for example correspond to a control command to operate the windscreen wiper drive at high speed.

About a positive pole 22 and a negative pole 24 gives the control unit 4 electrical energy to the motor circuit 8th from.

The power supply of the control unit 4 takes place from an electrical energy source 26 via a supply input 28 ,

Via a sensor input 30 can the controller 4 a parking signal to be described later 31 to capture.

The motor circuit 8th includes a motor 34 in a housing 36 is included. In the present embodiment are the control unit 4 and parts of the parking circuit 6 outside the case 36 shown. However, these parts can also be found in the housing 36 be included.

The motor 34 is designed in the present embodiment as a DC motor. His field-giving inputs 38 . 40 are over a throttle 42 for filtering push-pull interference according to the positive pole 22 and the negative pole 24 connected. Furthermore, the connection lines between the field-giving inputs 38 . 40 and the plus or minus pole 22 . 24 for filtering common mode noise across a capacitance 44 with the housing 36 connected. About a mass output 46 can the engine 34 also with the housing 36 be connected, in turn, with earth 48 can be connected.

One with the engine 34 connected wiper 50 who in 1 is indicated only schematically, can via an electrical switching contact 52 in the park circuit 6 the parking circuit 6 close when the wiper 50 standing in his parking position. The park circuit 6 also includes a resistor 54 , which is parallel between the supply input 28 and the sensor input 30 is interconnected. Is the wiper 50 in its parking position and thus closes over the switching contact 52 the parking circuit 6 , flows over the resistor 54 an electric current, which is the parking signal 32 represents. Captures the controller 4 the electric current and thus the parking signal 32 interrupts it in a manner not shown, the electrical power supply to the engine 34 over the plus and / or the minus pole 38 . 40 ,

In the present embodiment is in the parking circuit 6 also through the steering column switch 12 controlled switch 56 interconnected, which can also interrupt the park circuit. In the present embodiment, the switch closes 56 the parking circuit 6 in the second to fourth position 16 to 20 of the steering column switch 12 and opens the parking circuit 6 in the first position 14 of the steering column switch 12 , So the wiper 50 through the switch 56 can not stand in undefined positions, can be a delay element 58 be arranged that the switch 56 delayed until the wiper 50 has reached his parking position.

It will open 2 Reference is made, showing a circuit of a windshield wiper drive according to a second embodiment.

As in 2 can see the switch 56 and the delay element 58 also within the control unit 4 be implemented. This not only has the advantage that no additional hardware components are necessary, the power supply of the control unit 4 from the electrical energy source 26 is also preserved.

It will open 3 Reference is made to the possible timing of the parking signal 32 shows. The parking signal 32 is in 3 over time 60 applied.

How out 3 can be seen, the parking signal 32 during a period of operation 62 Impulse 64 on, implying that the wiper 50 regularly goes through the parking position. After at a shutdown time 66 the steering column switch 12 in the first position 14 was transferred, the electrical power supply of the engine remains 34 over the plus or minus pole 22 . 24 still for a first delay time 68 active. After expiration of the first delay time 68 is the wiper 50 from the time 70 in his parking position and the parking signal 32 is for a second delay time 72 still active. After that, it becomes a shutdown time 74 through the switch 56 off.

It will open 4 Reference is made, the another possible timing of the parking signal 32 shows.

As in 4 shown, the parking signal 32 for example, by the controller 4 after the switch-off time 74 be turned on again at regular intervals to the location of the wiper 50 to check. This can be done, for example, by a clocking of the parking signal 32 happen.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 1998014347 [0002]

Claims (10)

Method for driving a circuit ( 6 ) in a circuit ( 2 ) of a windscreen wiper drive, wherein the circuit ( 6 ), a parking signal ( 32 ) when a windscreen wiper driven wiper ( 50 ) has reached a parking position, wherein the wiper ( 50 ) is parked in a predetermined parking position and the circuit ( 6 ) is opened after the wiper ( 50 ) is parked. Method according to claim 1, wherein the step of parking the wiper ( 50 ) at a start time ( 66 ) and the step of opening the circuit ( 6 ) a predetermined delay time ( 68 ) after the start time ( 66 ) is performed. Method according to claim 2, wherein the delay time ( 68 ) corresponds to a maximum period of time that the wiper ( 50 ) from the start time ( 66 ) needed to drive into the park position. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the circuit ( 6 ) after opening the circuit ( 6 ) is closed. Method according to claim 4, wherein the opening of the circuit ( 6 ) and the closing of the circuit ( 6 ) are repeated periodically. Circuit ( 2 ) for a windshield wiper drive of a vehicle comprising a circuit ( 6 ) for generating a parking signal ( 32 ) when a wiper controlled by the windscreen wiper drive ( 50 ) has reached a parking position and a switch ( 56 ) for interrupting the circuit ( 6 ), when the wiper ( 50 ) has reached its parking position. Circuit ( 2 ) according to claim 6 comprising an input means ( 12 ) for instructing the windscreen wiper drive, the wiper ( 50 ) to drive into the parking position and a control member ( 4 . 12 . 58 ) for interrupting the circuit ( 6 ) with the switch ( 56 ) based on the instruction. Circuit ( 2 ) according to claim 7 comprising a delay element ( 58 ) for delaying the interruption of the circuit ( 6 ) based on the instruction. Circuit ( 2 ) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the control member ( 4 . 12 . 58 ) in a wiper with electrical power supplying control ( 4 ) is integrated. Windscreen wiper system for a vehicle comprising a wiper ( 50 ), a windscreen wiper drive for moving the wiper ( 50 ) and a circuit ( 2 ) according to one of claims 6 to 9 for generating a parking signal ( 32 ) when the wiper ( 50 ) has reached a parking position.

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