JP2005225457A - Wiper controlling method and wiper controlling device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent abrupt change in wiping speed of a wiper arm, when a wiping mode is changed by operation of a wiper operating switch or by changes in the amount of rain detected by a raindrop sensor. <P>SOLUTION: The wiper controlling device gradually increases the rotation speed of a wiper motor from a LOW state to be a HIGH state when the wiping mode is changed from a low mode to a high mode due to operation of the wiper operating switch or changes in the amount of rain detected by the raindrop sensor, and gradually decreases the rotation speed of the wiper motor from the HIGH state to be the LOW state when the wiping mode is changed from the HIGH mode to the LOW mode (steps 100 to 112). Therefore, abrupt change of the wiping speed can be prevented, and an occupant can surely be prevented from feeling stress due to the abrupt change of the wiping speed in case of rain. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a wiper device that is provided in a vehicle and wipes raindrops and the like attached to a windshield glass, and more particularly, to a wiper control method and a wiper control device capable of switching a wiping speed.

  In a wiper device provided in a vehicle, a plurality of wiping speeds such as two stages are generally set. For example, a LOW mode for wiping at a constant low speed and a HIGH mode for wiping at a constant high speed are set. Some wiper devices have an intermittent mode in which the wiping operation is intermittently performed at a constant low speed.

  In such a wiper device, the wiper motor is provided with a LOW brush and a HIGH brush. When the LOW brush is supplied with power, the wiper motor is rotated at a constant low speed to perform wiping in the LOW mode. When the power is supplied to the wiper motor, the wiper motor is rotated at a constant high speed, and wiping in the HIGH mode is performed. Some wiper apparatuses are set to an EX-HIGH mode for performing wiping at a higher speed than in the HIGH mode.

  In any case, these wiper devices are driven and wiped at a constant speed in each wiping mode by selecting and switching the wiper operation switch to each wiping mode. Therefore, for example, when switching from the LOW mode to the HIGH mode and from the HIGH mode to the LOW mode, the change in the wiping speed changes rapidly to the constant speed set in each wiping mode, and it is for the occupant, especially the driver. Was annoying and uncomfortable, causing driving stress.

  On the other hand, a special operation mode such as an AUTO mode is set in the wiper device, and there is a device that detects the vehicle speed and changes the wiping speed according to the vehicle speed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  The wiper device of Patent Document 1 controls the rotational speed of the wiper motor by PWM control. By setting the AUTO mode, the wiping operation is intermittent until the vehicle speed reaches the first speed, and the rotational speed of the wiper motor. Is a constant low speed, but the intermittent pause time changes according to the vehicle speed.

  When the vehicle speed is between the first speed and the second speed, the wiping operation is changed from intermittent operation to continuous operation, and the rotation speed of the wiper motor is set to an intermediate speed between the low speed and the high speed. It changes sequentially. When the vehicle speed becomes equal to or higher than the second speed, the wiper motor is driven at a constant high speed, and the wiper is continuously wiped at a high speed.

  Thus, when the occupant selects a special operation mode such as the AUTO mode, the wiper wiping operation and the wiping speed are automatically changed according to the vehicle speed regardless of the occupant's intention, and the troublesomeness of the switch operation, etc. It has improved.

  However, in this wiper device, the wiping operation and wiping speed of the wiper are changed according to the vehicle speed, so that if the vehicle speed changes frequently, the wiping operation and the wiping speed also change greatly, which is annoying for the passenger. was there. In addition to the AUTO mode, for example, regardless of the vehicle speed, when the wiper switch is switched from the LOW mode to the HIGH mode and from the HIGH mode to the LOW mode at the driver's intention, or according to the output signal of the raindrop sensor, In the case of switching from HIGH mode to HIGH mode and from HIGH mode to LOW mode, the wiper motor is driven at a constant low speed or a constant high speed. Therefore, the change in wiping speed at the time of switching is the speed set for each wiping mode. Changes rapidly.

In particular, in the latter case, if the amount of raindrop detection increases or decreases frequently, a rapid change in the wiping speed may be repeated frequently. As described above, there is still a problem that it is uncomfortable and uncomfortable for the occupant and further increases driving stress due to poor visibility due to rain.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-99448

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described facts, and a wiper control method and a wiper control device that prevent a passenger from feeling uncomfortable when the wiping speed of the wiper is changed by changing the wiping mode. The purpose is to propose.

  In the low speed wiping mode in which the wiper arm is wiped at a low speed, the wiper control method of the present invention that achieves the above object is a high speed wiping operation in which the wiper motor is rotated at a constant low speed and the wiper arm is wiped at a high speed The mode is a wiper control method in which the wiper motor is driven to rotate at a constant high speed, and when the wiping mode is changed, the rotation speed of the wiper motor is set to a constant rotation based on the wiping mode before the change. The wiping speed of the wiper arm is controlled by controlling the driving means so as to gradually increase or decrease gradually toward a certain rotational speed based on the wiping mode changed from the speed.

  According to this invention, when the low-speed wiping mode or the high-speed wiping mode is selected as the wiping mode, the wiper motor is rotationally driven so as to have a constant rotational speed according to the selected wiping mode.

  Further, when the wiping mode is changed, the wiper motor is driven so that the rotational speed of the changed wiping mode is obtained. At this time, the rotation speed of the wiper motor is controlled so that the rotation speed of the wiper motor gradually increases or decreases gradually from the rotation speed before the change (current time) toward the rotation speed of the changed wiping mode.

  Thereby, for example, even if the wiping mode is switched from the low speed wiping mode to the high speed wiping mode, or the high speed wiping mode is switched to the low speed wiping mode, the wiping speed of the wiper arm can be prevented from changing suddenly, It is possible to reliably prevent the occupant who operates the vehicle during rainy weather from feeling uncomfortable or stressed due to a sudden change in the wiping speed.

  In the low speed wiping mode in which the wiper arm is wiped at a low speed, the wiper control device to which the present invention is applied is a high speed wiping mode in which the wiper motor is rotationally driven at a constant low speed and the wiper arm is wiped at a high speed. Then, in the wiper control device in which the wiper motor is rotationally driven at a constant high speed, a selection means that allows the low-speed wiping mode or the high-speed wiping mode to be selected as a wiping mode, and each wiping selected by the selection means A driving means for rotationally driving the wiper motor at a constant rotational speed of the mode, and the rotational speed of the wiper motor driven by the driving means when the wiping mode is changed by the selection means, the wiping mode before the change Constant rotation speed based on wiping mode changed from constant rotation speed based on Drive control means for controlling said drive means so as to gradually increase or gradually decrease towards, characterized in that it comprises a.

  According to this invention, when the low-speed wiping mode or the high-speed wiping mode is selected by the selection means, the wiper motor is rotationally driven at a constant rotational speed according to the selected wiping mode, and thereby the wiper arm performs a wiping operation.

  Further, when the selection of the wiping mode is changed by the selection means, the rotation speed of the wiper motor is changed so as to be a constant rotation speed according to the changed wiping mode. At this time, the drive control means changes the rotational speed of the wiper motor so as to gradually increase or gradually decrease from the rotational speed before the change (current time) toward the changed rotational speed.

  Thereby, when the wiping mode is changed, the wiping speed of the wiper arm that crosses the occupant's field of view does not change abruptly, so that the occupant does not feel discomfort or stress.

  In the invention according to claim 3, the selection means includes a wiper operation switch that can be selectively operated in the low-speed wiping mode or the high-speed wiping mode, and selects the wiping mode based on an operation result of the wiper operation switch. It is characterized by.

  The invention according to claim 4 is characterized in that the selection means includes a detection means for detecting rainfall, and selects the wiping mode based on a detection result of the detection means.

  According to this invention, the selection means may change the wiping mode based on the operation of the wiper operation switch, and the wiping is performed based on the detection result of the detection means for detecting the traveling environment such as the raindrop sensor. It may be a thing.

  In such a wiper control device of the present invention, it is preferable that the driving unit performs pulse driving of the wiper motor by PWM control of the driving control unit and rotates the wiper motor at a rotation speed corresponding to a pulse width. .

  By driving the wiper motor by PWM control, the rotational speed of the wiper motor can be controlled with high accuracy. Further, when the rotational speed of the wiper motor is gradually increased or decreased, it is sufficient if the pulse width of the pulse for driving the wiper motor is gradually increased or decreased. It is possible to easily variably adjust by adjusting the above.

  In the present invention, the wiper motor includes two brushes, a positive electrode brush and a negative electrode brush, and power is supplied between the positive electrode brush and the negative electrode brush according to the pulse width. It is preferable that the rotation drive is performed at a constant rotation speed and the rotation drive is performed at the rotation speed that is gradually increased or gradually decreased. As a result, a low-speed brush (LOW brush) and a high-speed brush ( It is not necessary to provide each of the HIGH brushes, and the wiper motor is reduced in cost and size.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a wiper control device 10 applied to the present embodiment.

  The wiper control device 10 includes a wiper motor 12. In the wiper motor 12, the motor shaft 12A is connected to the link lever 12C via the gear unit 12B, and the link lever 12C is rotated by the rotation of the motor shaft 12A. The link lever 12C is connected to a wiper arm 30A of the wiper 30 via a link mechanism 12D, and rotation of the motor shaft 12A of the wiper motor 12 (hereinafter referred to as rotation of the wiper motor 12) is performed by the link mechanism 12D. It is converted into 30A reciprocating motion. Further, the wiper arm 30A is provided with a wiper blade 30B, and the wiper blade 30B, which is integral with the wiper arm 30A, reciprocates while slidingly contacting the windshield glass.

  At this time, the wiper arm 30A changes the wiping angle according to the rotation of the wiper motor 12, and performs the wiping operation of raindrops by the wiper blade 30B. That is, the wiper control device 10 converts the rotational movement of the wiper motor 12 into the reciprocating movement of the wiper arm 30A, and performs the wiping operation by the wiper blade 30B at the wiping speed corresponding to the rotational speed of the wiper motor 12. Such a wiper device can be applied with a conventionally known general configuration, and detailed description thereof is omitted in this embodiment.

  The wiper motor 12 provided in the wiper control device 10 includes, for example, a positive electrode brush and a negative electrode brush, and is driven to rotate according to electric power supplied between the positive electrode brush and the negative electrode brush. Accordingly, the wiper motor 12 is smaller and less expensive than a conventional wiper motor provided with a low speed brush, a high speed brush, and a common brush.

  The wiper control device 10 is provided with a controller 14 having a microcomputer (not shown). The controller 14 includes a drive control unit 16, and drive power is supplied from the drive control unit 16 to the wiper motor 12.

  In the wiper control device 10, the drive control unit 16 controls on / off of the wiper motor 12 and rotation speed.

  The wiper motor 12 is provided with a rotation output means 18 using, for example, a rotary encoder. The rotation output means 18 rotates integrally with the motor shaft 12A of the wiper motor 12, and outputs a pulse corresponding to the rotation angle of the motor shaft 12A to the controller 14.

  The controller 14 is provided with a rotational position detector 20 and a rotational speed detector 22. The rotational position detector 20 detects the rotational position of the wiper motor 12 by counting the pulses input from the rotational output means 18. The controller 14 determines the rotational position such as whether or not the wiper arm 30A is located at the original position (preset stop position) from the detection result of the rotational position detector 20, and performs the wiping operation by the wiper blade 30B. When stopping, the wiper arm 30A stops at the original position detected by the rotational position detector 20.

  Moreover, the rotational speed detection part 22 detects the rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 from the count value per unit time of the pulse counted by the rotational position detection part 20, for example. The rotation speed detector 22 may read the pulse output from the rotation output means 18 and detect the rotation speed of the wiper motor 12 from the pulse width or pulse interval. That is, the pulse output from the rotation output means 18 has a pulse width and a pulse interval corresponding to the rotation speed of the motor shaft 12A. From this, a pulse width (pulse on time) or a pulse interval (pulse off time) is obtained. ) To detect the rotational speed of the wiper motor 12.

  The wiper arm 30 </ b> A performs a wiping operation at a wiping speed corresponding to the rotational speed of the wiper motor 12, and the controller 14 controls the wiping speed by controlling the rotational speed of the wiper motor 12. .

  On the other hand, the controller 14 is provided with a target speed setting unit 24. The target speed setting unit 24 sets a target value (target rotational speed) of the rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 that determines the wiping speed of the wiper arm 30A.

  In the controller 14, the rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 detected by the rotational speed detection unit 22 and the target rotational speed set by the target speed setting unit 24 are input to the drive control unit 16.

  The drive control unit 16 rotationally drives the wiper motor 12 by PWM control. At this time, in the drive control unit 16, the rotation speed of the wiper motor 12 is converted into the target rotation speed based on the rotation speed of the wiper motor 12 input from the rotation speed detection unit 22 and the target rotation speed input from the target speed setting unit 24. Thus, the duty ratio of the pulse for driving the wiper motor 12 is set, and feedback control is performed so that the wiper motor 12 is driven with the drive pulse of the set duty ratio.

  That is, when the rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 is lower than the target rotational speed, the duty ratio (on duty) is corrected so that the ON time (pulse width) of the drive pulse of the wiper motor 12 is lengthened, and the rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 is the target rotational speed. When the speed is higher than the speed, the duty ratio is corrected so that the ON time (pulse width) of the drive pulse is shortened.

  On the other hand, the vehicle is provided with a wiper operation switch 26 on, for example, a steering column. The wiper control device 10 is supplied with power for operation from a battery provided in the vehicle when the wiper operation switch 26 is turned on while the ignition switch is turned on.

  In the wiper control device 10, for example, a low speed wiping mode (LOW mode) in which the wiper motor 12 is continuously rotated at a constant low speed to perform a wiping operation, and an intermittent operation in which a low speed intermittent wiping operation is performed at predetermined intervals. A wiping mode (INT mode) and a high-speed wiping mode (HIGH mode) in which the wiping operation is performed by continuously rotating the wiper motor 12 at a constant high speed higher than that in the LOW mode are set. One of the wiping modes is selected when the wiper 30 is turned on.

  The wiper operation switch 26 is connected to a target speed setting unit 24 of the controller 14, and a target rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 corresponding to the wiping mode is set in advance in the target speed setting unit 24. In the unit 24, when the wiping mode is selected by the wiper operation switch 26, the target rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 is set based on the selected wiping mode.

  Thereby, in the wiper control device 10, the wiper motor 12 is driven at the number of rotations corresponding to the wiping mode, and the wiper arm 30A performs the wiping operation at the wiping speed corresponding to the wiping mode.

  In the INT mode, the pause time during intermittent operation may be set in advance in a plurality of stages and may be selected by the wiper operation switch 26 including the pause time. (INT volume) may be provided, and the pause time may be set by this INT volume.

  In the following description, the target rotation speed of the wiper motor 12 and the wiping speed of the wiper arm 30A are LOW and HIGH in the LOW mode and HIGH mode, respectively.

  On the other hand, in addition to the INT mode, the LOW mode, and the HIGH mode, the wiper operation switch 26 is set with a wiper (wiping operation) on / off and a wiping speed (LOW and HIGH) in response to detection of raindrops (rainfall). AUTO mode is provided.

  The controller 14 is connected to a raindrop sensor 28 provided as detection means for detecting raindrops (rainfall) in the AUTO mode.

  When the AUTO mode is set by operating the wiper operation switch 26, the target speed setting unit 24 sets the ON / OFF of the wiper 30 and the wiping speed (target rotational speed of the wiper motor 12) from the rain detected by the raindrop sensor 28. Like to do.

  By the way, in the wiper control device 10, when the wiping mode is changed by the operation of the wiper operation switch 26 or during operation in the AUTO mode, the wiping speed of the wiper arm 30A is changed by changing the rain amount detected by the raindrop sensor 28. change. At this time, the target speed setting unit 24 sets the target rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 based on the changed wiping mode, and rotates the rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 so as to gradually approach the changed target rotational speed. The speed is gradually increased or decreased.

  That is, when the wiping mode is changed based on the operation of the wiper operation switch 26 or the detection result of the raindrop sensor 28, the target speed setting unit 24 sets the target rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 according to the changed wiping mode. The drive control unit 16 performs control so as to drive the wiper motor 12 at the target rotational speed.

  At this time, the target speed setting unit 24 gradually increases or decreases the target rotational speed output to the drive control unit 16 toward the target rotational speed based on the changed wiping mode. I have to.

  The target speed setting unit 24 stores, for example, a rotation speed change amount (correction amount) when changing the target rotation speed, and the previous target rotation speed by the change width at a predetermined time interval. By correcting, the rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 is gradually increased or decreased toward the target rotational speed to be changed.

  As a result, when the target rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 is increased (when the target rotational speed is increased), the pulse width (on duty) of the drive pulse of the wiper motor 12 is gradually increased according to the correction amount, and the rotation of the wiper motor 12 is performed. Control is made so that the target rotational speed based on the changed wiping mode is reached, and when the rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 reaches the target rotational speed based on the changed wiping mode, this rotational speed is maintained. Is done.

  Here, the change of the wiping speed in the wiper control device 10 applied to the present embodiment, that is, the changing process of the rotational speed (target rotational speed) of the wiper motor 12 will be described.

  When the wiper control device 10 is turned on by the wiper operation switch 26, the wiper motor 12 is driven. At this time, the wiper control device 10 determines the target rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 based on the wiping mode set by the wiper operation switch 26 or the rain detected by the raindrop sensor 28 when the wiping mode is set to the AUTO mode. The wiper motor 12 is pulse-driven by setting and performing PWM control so that the rotation speed of the wiper motor 12 becomes the set target rotation speed.

  At this time, the wiper control device 10 detects the rotation speed of the wiper motor 12 based on the pulse output from the rotation output means 18, and performs feedback control so that the detected rotation speed becomes the target rotation speed.

  Thereby, the wiper 30 performs the wiping operation | movement by the wiper blade 30B with the wiper arm 30A at the wiping speed according to the wiping mode.

  On the other hand, the wiper control device 10 changes the wiping mode when the wiper operation switch 26 is operated to change the wiping mode or when the rain amount detected by the raindrop sensor 28 changes when the AUTO mode is set. When this occurs, the target rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 is changed so that the wiping speed according to the changed wiping mode is obtained.

  FIG. 2 shows an example of a process for changing the target rotational speed of the wiper motor 12. When the wiper operation switch 26 is operated and the wiping operation by the wiper 30 is set, the controller 14 starts executing the control routine of FIG. 2. During the wiping operation by the wiper 30, this control routine is performed at predetermined time intervals. Execute.

  In the following description, when the target rotational speed is changed from the target rotational speed Ra (rpm) to the target rotational speed Rb (rpm), the target rotational speed at which the wiper motor 12 is actually driven is set as the target rotational speed R. explain. That is, the drive control part 16 demonstrates as what drives the wiper motor 12 so that it may become the target rotational speed R. FIG.

Further, the amount of change in the target rotational speed R when the target rotational speed R is changed from the target rotational speed Ra to the target rotational speed Rb is defined as a correction amount Δr, and in the following, it changes from the target rotational speed Ra toward the target rotational speed Rb. It is assumed that the target rotational speed R at the time of increasing or decreasing is increased or decreased step by step as R _(n) (n = 0, 1, 2,...). That is, the target rotational speed newly corrected with respect to the previous target rotational speed R _(n) with R ₍₀₎ = Ra is described as R _{(n + 1)} . At this time, in FIG. 2, the explanation of n step-up is omitted.

  In this flowchart, in the first step 100, the operation state of the wiper operation switch 26 is read, and in step 102, the rainfall detected by the raindrop sensor 28 or the like is read.

  That is, in steps 100 and 102, a condition for setting the target rotational speed R is read. Note that step 102 may be executed only when the AUTO mode is selected by the wiper operation switch 26.

  Thereafter, in step 104, it is determined whether or not the target rotational speed R needs to be changed.

  In this step 104, for example, when the wiper operation switch 26 is operated to change from the LOW mode to the HIGH mode or from the HIGH mode to the LOW mode, when the wiping mode other than the AUTO mode is changed to the AUTO mode, the AUTO mode is set. When the raindrop amount detected by the raindrop sensor 28 changes in a state where is selected, it is determined that the target rotational speed R of the wiper motor 12 has changed.

  If the target rotational speed R is set to be changed from the target rotational speed Ra to the target rotational speed Rb in accordance with the change of the wiping mode, an affirmative determination is made in step 104 and the process proceeds to step 106. .

  In this step 106, the target rotational speed R is corrected by the correction amount Δr so that the target rotational speed R changes from the target rotational speed Ra to the target rotational speed Rb. In step 108, it is confirmed whether or not the corrected target rotational speed R has reached the target rotational speed Rb.

That is, when the target rotational speed Rb is higher than the target rotational speed Ra (the target rotational speed is changed from LOW to HIGH ₎ , a correction amount Δr is added to the target rotational speed R _(n) in step 106 to obtain a new target rotational speed. R _{(n + 1)} is set (R _{(n + 1)} = R _(n) + Δr). In step 108, whether or not the set target rotational speed R _{(n + 1)} exceeds the target rotational speed Rb ( R _{(n + 1)} ≧ Rb) is confirmed.

When the target rotational speed Rb is lower than the target rotational speed Ra (the target rotational speed is changed from HIGH to LOW), a new target rotational speed is obtained by subtracting the correction amount Δr from the target rotational speed R _(n) in Step 106. R _{(n + 1)} is set (R _{(n + 1)} = R _(n) -Δr), and in step 108, whether or not the set target rotational speed R _{(n + 1)} is lower than the target rotational speed Rb. (R _{(n + 1)} ≦ Rb) is confirmed.

Here, when the corrected target rotational speed R _{(n + 1)} does not reach the target rotational speed Rb, a negative determination is made in step 108 and the routine proceeds to step 110, where the corrected target rotational speed R _{(n + 1) is} corrected. Is output to the drive control unit 16 as the target rotational speed R, and the wiper motor 12 is driven to reach the target rotational speed R (R _{(n + 1)} ). That is, the rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 is changed by the correction amount Δr from the previous rotational speed.

  Thereafter, the process returns to step 106, and the target rotational speed R is corrected again. As a result, the rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 is gradually increased or gradually decreased toward the target rotational speed Rb.

  In this way, when the target rotational speed R is gradually increased or decreased to reach the target rotational speed Rb, an affirmative determination is made at step 108 and the routine proceeds to step 112. In step 112, the target rotational speed Rb is set to the target rotational speed R, and the set target rotational speed R (target rotational speed Rb) is output to the drive control unit 16.

  Thereby, the target rotational speed Ra is changed to the target rotational speed Rb while the rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 is gradually increased or decreased.

  By changing the rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 in this way, as shown in FIG. 3, for example, when the wiper operation switch 26 is operated and the wiping mode is changed from the LOW mode to the HIGH mode, or in the AUTO mode. When the amount of raindrops detected by the raindrop sensor 26 is increased, when the wiping mode is changed from the LOW mode to the HIGH mode (change A in FIG. 3), the wiping speed of the wiper arm 30A gradually increases from LOW to HIGH. That is, the wiping speed of the wiper arm 30A gradually increases from the change point A and becomes HIGH.

  Further, when the wiper operation switch 26 is operated to change from the HIGH mode to the LOW mode, or because the amount of raindrops detected by the raindrop sensor 26 in the AUTO mode has decreased, the wiping mode has been changed from the HIGH mode to the LOW mode. Sometimes (change B in FIG. 3), the wiping speed of the wiper arm 30A gradually decreases from HIGH to LOW. That is, the wiping speed of the wiper arm 30A gradually decreases from the change point B and becomes LOW.

  By changing the wiping speed of the wiper arm 30A when the wiping mode is changed in this way, for example, when the amount of raindrops changes, even if the wiping mode by the wiper 30 is changed at an unexpected timing by the occupant, The wiping speed of the wiper arm 30A does not change abruptly.

  Further, for example, since the amount of raindrop detected by the raindrop sensor 28 has increased or decreased, the target rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 is set to LOW-HIGH-LOW (the wiper mode of the wiper 30 is LOW mode-HIGH mode-LOW mode- Even if it changes to ()), the rapid change of the wiping speed of the wiper arm 30A does not occur frequently.

  As a result, even if the wiping mode of the wiper 30 is changed unexpectedly or at an unexpected timing of the occupant, the wiping speed of the wiper arm 30A across the occupant's field of view does not change abruptly. There is no sense of discomfort, discomfort, stress, or the like caused by a rapid change in the wiping speed.

  The correction amount Δr for gradually increasing or decreasing the rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 may be any value as long as the inclination (degree of change) when changing the rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 is set to a desired inclination. .

  2 and 3, as an example, the wiping mode is set to two stages of LOW mode and HIGH mode, and the target rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 and the wiping speed of the wiper arm 30A are set to two stages of LOW and HIGH. However, as the wiping mode, an intermediate mode (MID) is set between the LOW mode and the HIGH mode, or the EX-HIGH mode is set to be the wiping speed of the wiper arm 30A (the target rotational speed of the wiper motor 12) higher than the HIGH mode. For example, the wiping mode may be two or more stages such as three stages and four stages.

  Further, when the occupant changes the wiping speed by his / her own intention, such as when the wiping mode is changed between the LOW mode and the HIGH mode by the wiper operation switch 26, the target rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 is instantaneous. When the wiping mode is changed regardless of the occupant's intention, such as the detection result of the raindrop sensor 28, the rotational speed (target rotational speed) of the wiper motor 12 may be gradually increased or decreased. .

  In the present embodiment, the target rotational speed R of the wiper motor 12 is gradually increased or decreased by using the correction amount Δr. However, the rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 is controlled by the drive control unit 16 by PI control or PID control. When controlling to achieve the speed R, the rotational speed of the wiper motor 12 may be gradually changed by the PI control or PID control so as to achieve the target rotational speed according to the changed wiping mode.

  At this time, it becomes possible by appropriately setting the transfer function, proportional gain, integral gain or differential gain when performing PI control or PID control.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 3, in the present embodiment, the target rotational speed is linearly changed. However, the change of the target rotational speed may be an arbitrary curve.

It is a schematic block diagram of the wiper control apparatus applied to this Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the change process of the target rotational speed of a wiper motor. It is a timing chart which shows an example of the change of the target rotational speed of the wiper motor according to the change of the wiping mode, and the change of the wiping mode.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Wiper control apparatus, 12 ... Wiper motor, 14 ... Controller, 16 ... Drive control part (drive means, drive control means), 18 ... Rotation detection means, 22 ... Rotation speed detection part, 24 ... Target speed setting part (selection means) , Drive control means), 26 ... wiper operation switch (selection means), 28 ... raindrop sensor (selection means, detection means), 30 ... wiper, 30A ... wiper arm.

Claims (6)

In the low-speed wiping mode in which the wiper arm is wiped at a low speed, the wiper motor is driven to rotate at a constant low speed. In the high-speed wiping mode in which the wiper arm is wiped at a high speed, the wiper motor is driven to rotate at a constant high speed. A wiper control method,
When the wiping mode is changed, the rotational speed of the wiper motor is gradually increased or decreased from the constant rotational speed based on the wiping mode before the change toward the constant rotational speed based on the changed wiping mode. A wiper control method for controlling a wiper speed of the wiper arm by controlling a driving means. In the low-speed wiping mode in which the wiper arm is wiped at a low speed, the wiper motor is rotated at a constant low speed. In the high-speed wiping mode in which the wiper arm is wiped at a high speed, the wiper motor is rotated at a constant high speed. In the wiper control device,
A selection means that allows the low-speed wiping mode or the high-speed wiping mode to be selected as the wiping mode;
Drive means for rotationally driving the wiper motor at a constant rotational speed of each wiping mode selected by the selection means;
When the wiping mode is changed by the selection means, the rotation speed of the wiper motor driven by the driving means is constant rotation based on the wiping mode changed from the constant rotation speed based on the wiping mode before the change. Drive control means for controlling the drive means to gradually increase or decrease toward speed;
A wiper control device comprising:   The selection means includes a wiper operation switch that can be selected and operated in the low-speed wiping mode or the high-speed wiping mode, and selects the wiping mode based on an operation result of the wiper operation switch. The wiper control device described.   The wiper control device according to claim 2, wherein the selection unit includes a detection unit that detects a rainfall, and selects the wiping mode based on a detection result of the detection unit.   5. The drive unit according to claim 2, wherein the drive unit performs pulse driving of the wiper motor by PWM control of the drive control unit, and rotates the wiper motor at a rotation speed corresponding to a pulse width. The wiper control device according to item 1.   The wiper motor includes two brushes, a positive electrode brush and a negative electrode brush, and rotates at a constant rotation speed in each wiping mode by supplying power between the positive electrode brush and the negative electrode brush according to the pulse width. 6. The wiper control device according to claim 5, wherein the wiper control device is driven and rotated at the rotational speed that gradually increases or decreases gradually.

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