JP2015199420A - wiper control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wiper control device which can refresh a contact point of a relay without the necessity for an additional constitution, and can refresh the contact point of the relay without imparting incongruity to a user.SOLUTION: When a washer mode at which at least two times of sweep reciprocation are performed is executed by a wiper 70, a time at one time of the sweep reciprocation by the wiper 70 is measured (step 120). Then, a reverse position of the wiper 70 is detected from the time (step 150). After that, by operating a current block relay 55 at timing at which the wiper 70 is located at the reverse position during a sweep operation which is performed after the sweep operation which becomes an object of the detection of the reverse position, the contact point of the current block relay 55 is refreshed (step 170). By this constitution, the contact point can be refreshed at timing at which the wiper 70 is seen as if stopped without the necessity for an additional constitution.

Description

  The present invention relates to a wiper control device that drives and controls a wiper of a vehicle.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for performing contact refresh of a relay, an electrical refresh method is known in which a film grown on a contact is destroyed by operating a relay during voltage application to the relay to generate an arc. In this method, when the other terminal is separated from one terminal of the relay, an oxide film by arc discharge is formed on the surface of each terminal. For this reason, the conduction between the terminals is interrupted by the oxide film.

  Therefore, Patent Document 1 proposes a circuit device including a diode for performing contact refresh of a relay and a contact refresh energization circuit. In this circuit device, a current is passed from the contact refreshing energizing circuit to the relay through the diode in a state where the terminals of the relay are in contact with each other. As a result, most of the preliminary voltage is applied to the contact contact resistance of the relay, so that the insulating film on the contact surface that is closed breaks down. In this way, contact refresh of the relay is performed.

JP 2008-298524 A

  Here, since the relay is also incorporated in the wiper control device of the vehicle, the contact refresh is also required for this relay. However, since the wiper is operating while a current is flowing through the relay, the wiper stops when the relay is switched for contact refresh. For this reason, there is a problem that the user feels uncomfortable.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to perform contact refreshing with the relay contact closed, as in the prior art. However, there is a problem that a configuration of a diode for performing contact refresh and a contact refresh energization circuit is required.

  In view of the above, the present invention provides a wiper control device capable of performing relay contact refresh without requiring an additional configuration and further capable of performing relay contact refresh without causing the user to feel uncomfortable. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the motor (60) for driving the wiper (70) of the vehicle is electrically connected to the power supply source (10), and the power supply source (10). ) To control the current cutoff relay (55) that automatically cuts off the path connecting the power supply source (10) and the motor (60) when the current flowing from the motor (60) to the motor (60) is an overcurrent. The control device is characterized by the following points.

  First, when the prescribed mode for performing at least two reciprocating wiping operations is executed by the wiper (70), the detecting means (120) for detecting the reverse position of the wiper (70) in the one reciprocating wiping operation of the wiper (70). 150).

  Further, during the wiping operation performed after the wiping operation that is the target for detecting the reversal position, the current interrupting relay (55) is operated at the timing when the wiper (70) is positioned at the reversal position. A contact refresh means (170) for performing contact refresh of the relay (55) is provided.

  According to this, since the current interrupting relay (55) operates in a state where current flows from the power supply source (10) to the motor (60), the coating formed on the contact by generating arc discharge. Can be broken down. For this reason, the contact refresh of the current interrupting relay (55) can be performed without providing an additional configuration.

  Further, contact refresh of the current interrupting relay (55) is performed at the timing when the wiper (70) is positioned at the reversal position of the wiping operation, that is, at the timing when the wiper (70) appears to be stopped due to the reversing operation. Is called. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the user from feeling uncomfortable due to the movement of the wiper (70).

  As described above, the contact refresh of the current interrupting relay (55) can be performed without requiring an additional configuration and without causing the user to feel uncomfortable.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the bracket | parenthesis of each means described in this column and the claim shows the correspondence with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

It is the figure which showed the structure of the wiper control apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram of a window shield and a wiper. It is the flowchart which showed the control content at the time of a washer mode. 5 is a timing chart for explaining the operation of the wiper. In 2nd Embodiment, it is a figure for demonstrating angle (theta) of a wiper blade. In 3rd Embodiment, it is a figure for demonstrating the change of the torque of a wiper blade.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the same or equivalent parts are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The wiper control device according to the present embodiment is configured to drive and control a wiper provided in a vehicle.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the auto wiper system includes a battery 10, a wiper switch 20, a washer switch 30, a raindrop detection device 40, a wiper control device 50, and a wiper drive motor 60.

  The battery 10 is an in-vehicle battery, for example. The battery 10 supplies a predetermined power supply voltage to the wiper control device 50. The wiper switch 20 is a switch for operating the wiper. The wiper switch 20 is operated by the user. The wiper switch 20 outputs an operation signal indicating ON / OFF of the wiper or HI / LO to the wiper control device 50.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the wiper 70 is normally located at the lower inversion position of the vehicle window shield 80. The wiper 70 includes a wiper blade 71 that wipes the window shield 80, a wiper arm 72 that holds the wiper blade 71, and the like.

  The washer switch 30 in FIG. 1 is a switch for cleaning the window shield 80 by spraying washer liquid onto the window shield 80 of the vehicle and wiping it with the wiper 70. The washer switch 30 is operated by the user. The washer switch 30 outputs a washer signal indicating ON / OFF of the washer to the wiper control device 50.

  The raindrop detection device 40 is configured by packaging light emitting means, light receiving means, a control circuit, and the like so as to detect raindrops attached to the window shield 80. Specifically, the raindrop detection device 40 is configured to reflect the light emitted from the light emitting means with the window shield 80 and detect the reflected light with the light receiving means. According to this, since the light refraction characteristics in the window shield 80 change due to raindrops adhering to the window shield 80, the intensity of the light detected by the light receiving means changes. Therefore, the raindrop detection device 40 acquires the ratio of raindrops attached to the window shield 80 based on the light intensity, that is, the raindrop amount. Further, the raindrop detection device 40 outputs a raindrop amount signal indicating the raindrop amount to the wiper control device 50.

  The wiper control device 50 controls driving of the wiper 70. The wiper control device 50 is configured as an ECU (Electrical Control Unit), for example. Specifically, the wiper control device 50 includes a microcomputer 51 (hereinafter referred to as a microcomputer 51), a wiper motor control circuit 52, and a wiper motor drive unit 53. These operate by power supply from the battery 10.

  The microcomputer 51 has a function of driving the wiper 70 based on the operation signal input from the wiper switch 20, the washer signal input from the washer switch 30, and the raindrop amount signal input from the raindrop detection device 40. That is, the microcomputer 51 selects a driving mode in which the driving method of the wiper 70 is set in advance based on the operation signal, the washer signal, and the raindrop amount signal, and controls the wiper driving motor 60 based on the driving mode. A control signal is output to the wiper motor control circuit 52.

  The drive mode includes a low speed mode in which the wiper 70 is driven at a low speed based on the operation signal, and a high speed mode in which the wiper 70 is driven at a high speed based on the operation signal. Further, there are a washer mode in which the wiper 70 is driven a specified number of times based on the washer signal, and an automatic mode in which the wiper 70 is automatically driven based on the raindrop amount signal. The microcomputer 51 sets the wiping speed and wiping interval of the wiper 70 according to these modes.

  The wiper motor control circuit 52 is a driver circuit that switches the wiper driving relay 54 of the wiper motor driving unit 53 based on a control signal input from the microcomputer 51.

  The wiper motor drive unit 53 includes a wiper drive relay 54 and a current interruption relay 55. Each of the relays 54 and 55 is configured to switch a contact using a magnetic force generated in the coil by a current flowing in the coil.

  The wiper drive relay 54 changes the connection mode of the contacts in accordance with the control signal input from the wiper motor control circuit 52, so that the wiper drive motor 60 operates in the above-described modes so that the wiper drive motor 60 operates. It is a relay that changes.

  The current interruption relay 55 electrically connects the wiper driving motor 60 and the battery 10, and when the current flowing from the battery 10 to the wiper driving motor 60 is an overcurrent, the battery 10 and the wiper driving motor 60 It is a relay that automatically cuts off the path connecting the two. That is, the current interruption relay 55 is a so-called normally closed relay in which the contact is always closed.

  The wiper drive relay 54 and the current cutoff relay 55 are connected to the battery 10 and the wiper so that current flows from the battery 10 to the ground via the current cutoff relay 55, the wiper drive relay 54, and the wiper drive motor 60. It is provided in the path between the drive motor 60.

  The wiper drive motor 60 drives the wiper 70 of the vehicle by rotating at a rotational speed according to the energization path of the wiper drive relay 54. The wiper drive motor 60 includes a motor unit, a speed reduction unit, an automatic stop mechanism (contact / cam plate), and the like. The wiper drive motor 60 generates a rotational motion by the power supply voltage supplied from the battery 10. The generated rotational motion is converted into a reciprocating swing motion of the wiper. The above is the overall configuration of the auto wiper system according to the present embodiment.

  Next, the contact refresh function performed by the wiper control device 50 for the current interruption relay 55 will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the contact refresh of the current interruption relay 55 is performed in the washer mode in which the washer switch 30 is operated by the user.

  Here, in this embodiment, in the washer mode, it is set so that three reciprocating wiping operations are performed. That is, the specified number of wiping operations of the wiper 70 in the washer mode is three. The flowchart shown in FIG. 3 is executed by the microcomputer 51, and starts when a washer signal indicating that the washer is ON is input.

  First, when the washer mode is selected by the user, in step 100, the washer liquid is ejected. This is performed by driving a washer motor (not shown) by the microcomputer 51.

  Subsequently, in step 110, the wiper 70 is wiped once, that is, the wiper 70 is reciprocated once. Then, the number of wiping operations of the wiper 70 is counted.

  In step 120, the wiping time required for the one-way wiping operation of the wiper 70 executed in step 110 is measured.

  Thereafter, in step 130, it is determined whether a condition for canceling the washer mode is satisfied. If it is determined in this step that the washer mode has been canceled, the washer mode is terminated. That is, when it is determined that the washer mode has been released, the contact refresh of the current interruption relay 55 is prohibited.

  In step 140, it is determined whether or not the wiper 70 has completed the (predetermined number of times−1) wiping operations. In the present embodiment, since the specified number of times is 3, it is determined in this step whether or not the two wiping operations of the wiper 70 have been completed.

  If it is determined that the two wiping operations of the wiper 70 are not completed, the process returns to step 110, and the wiping operation of the wiper 70 is performed again. On the other hand, if it is determined that the two wiping operations have been completed, the process proceeds to step 150. Step 150 and the subsequent steps are the final wiping operation performed after the wiping operation of the wiper 70 that is the target for detecting the reverse position of the wiper 70.

  In step 150, the contact refresh timing is calculated. That is, the reverse position of the wiper 70 in the one-way wiping operation of the wiper 70 is detected. As described above, since the wiping time is measured twice in the present embodiment, the time from the start of wiping of the wiper 70 to the inversion position of the wiping is acquired based on the wiping time. As the time until the wiping reversal position, either one of the two measurement times may be adopted, or an average value of the two measurement times may be acquired. Thereby, the inversion position of the wiper is detected as time.

  Subsequently, in step 160, the wiper 70 is wiped until the contact refresh timing. In step 170, contact refresh is performed at the contact refresh timing. That is, when the wiper 70 is positioned at the reverse position of the last wiping operation, the current interrupting relay 55 is operated by the microcomputer 51, whereby the contact refreshing of the current interrupting relay 55 is performed.

  Thereafter, in step 180, the wiper 70 is wiped until one wiping is completed. Thus, the washer mode of the wiper 70 ends.

  The operation of the wiper 70 when the washer mode is executed as described above will be described. First, when the washer mode is started, washer liquid is sprayed onto the window shield 80.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 4, at time T10, the wiper 70 starts to move from the lower inversion position toward the upper inversion position. At time T11, the wiper 70 reaches the upper reverse position and reverses, and returns to the lower reverse position at time T12. In this way, the first wiping operation of the wiper 70 is performed.

  Similarly, at time T13, the wiper 70 starts to move from the lower inversion position toward the upper inversion position. At time T14, the wiper 70 reaches the upper inversion position and reverses, and returns to the lower inversion position at time T15. In this way, the second wiping operation of the wiper 70 is performed.

  Therefore, the time from time T10 to time T12 and the time from time T13 to time T15 correspond to the wiping time, and these wiping times are measured. Based on these wiping times, the time until the wiper 70 reaches the upper inversion position from the lower inversion position is obtained by calculation. That is, the time from time T10 to time T11 and the time from time T13 to time T14 are acquired.

  Subsequently, the third wipe from the time T16, that is, the last wiper 70 wiping operation is performed. In this case as well, the wiper 70 starts to move from the lower inversion position toward the upper inversion position at time T16, and the wiper 70 reaches the upper inversion position at time T17.

  In addition, the time acquired by the first and second wiper 70 wiping operations, that is, the time until the wiper wiping inversion position is counted from time T16. Then, at the time T17 when the wiper 70 reaches the upper reversal position and the movement of the wiper 70 seems to stop, the time counting ends, and at the time T17, the contact breaking of the current interrupting relay 55 is performed. As a result, the power supply from the battery 10 is temporarily interrupted in the wiper driving motor 60, and thus the operation of the wiper 70 is temporarily stopped.

  Thereafter, the wiper 70 moves from the upper inversion position toward the lower inversion position, and returns to the lower inversion position at time T18. In this way, the contact point refresh of the washer mode and the current interruption relay 55 is completed.

  As described above, the present embodiment is characterized by measuring the wiping time of the wiper 70 and acquiring the contact refresh timing. Since the contact refresh is performed in a state where a current flows from the battery 10 to the wiper drive motor 60, arc discharge is generated at the contact of the current interrupting relay 55, and the coating formed on the contact can be dielectrically broken down. . Therefore, the contact refresh of the current interrupting relay 55 can be performed without requiring an additional configuration.

  Further, since the contact refresh of the current interruption relay 55 is performed at the timing when the wiper 70 is reversed, the wiper blade 71 of the wiper 70 does not stop when moving. Therefore, the contact refresh of the current interruption relay 55 can be performed without giving a sense of incongruity to the user.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the contact refresh is performed when the user determines that the washer operation is possible by visual observation. For this reason, the selection of the washer operation by the user is often performed when it appears that the wiper 70 is not operating abnormally. The abnormal operation of the wiper 70 is an operation in which the wiper 70 is fixed during wiping due to snow, for example, and is when a current close to 50 A flows through the current interruption relay 55. Therefore, if the contact refresh is executed in the washer mode, the contact refresh at the time of abnormality can be avoided by the user's eyes. That is, it is possible to prevent contact refresh in a situation where an overcurrent may flow through the current interrupting relay 55. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the contact sticking due to the film formed by arc discharge at the time of contact refresh.

  As for the correspondence between the description of the present embodiment and the description of the claims, the washer mode corresponds to the “specified mode” of the claims, and the battery 10 is the “power supply source” of the claims. The wiper drive motor 60 corresponds to the “motor” in the claims. Steps 120 and 150 correspond to “detecting means” in the claims, and step 170 corresponds to “contact refresh means” in the claims. Further, step 130 corresponds to “determination means” in the claims.

(Second Embodiment)
In the present embodiment, parts different from the first embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, in the control of the washer mode, the reverse position of the wiper 70 in the one-way wiping operation of the wiper 70 is detected based on the angle of the wiper 70.

  For this reason, the microcomputer 51 inputs an angle signal including information on the wiping angle of the wiper blade 71 from an absolute angle sensor (not shown). The absolute angle sensor is attached to the wiper drive motor 60, and is used for the control of narrowing the wiping range of the wiper 70 in a strong wind.

  Therefore, in step 120 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, the wiping angle of the wiper 70 based on the wiping start angle of the wiper 70 is detected in the one-way wiping operation of the wiper 70.

  In step 150 in FIG. 3, an angle from the start of wiping of the wiper 70 to the reversal position of the wiping is acquired based on the wiping angle detected in step 120. Specifically, the angle of the wiper blade 71 when the wiper 70 is located at the lower reversal position is defined as the wiping start angle, and the angle of the wiper blade 71 when the wiper 70 is located at the upper reversal position is defined as the wiping reversal angle. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the angle θ from the wiping start angle of the wiper blade 71 to the wiping reversal angle is acquired.

  Thereafter, in step 170, contact refresh of the current interrupting relay 55 is performed at the timing when the wiper blade 71 reaches the wiping reversal angle. As described above, the reverse position of the wiper 70 can be detected by detecting the angle of the wiper blade 71.

(Third embodiment)
In the present embodiment, parts different from the first and second embodiments will be described. In the present embodiment, in the control of the washer, the reverse position of the wiper 70 in the one-way wiping operation of the wiper 70 is detected based on the torque applied to the wiper blade 71.

  For this reason, the microcomputer 51 inputs a torque signal including information on torque applied to the wiper blade 71 from a torque sensor (not shown). The torque sensor is attached to the wiper drive motor 60 and is used to detect a snow pool accumulated on the window shield 80.

  Therefore, in step 120 of FIG. 3, the torque applied to the wiper blade 71 in the one-way wiping operation of the wiper 70 is detected.

  In step 150 of FIG. 3, a position where the torque applied to the wiper blade 71 disappears is detected as the reverse position of the wiper 70 based on the torque detected in step 120. That is, as shown in FIG. 6, the timing when the torque becomes 0 is the timing when the wiper 70 is positioned at the reverse position.

  Thereafter, in step 170, contact refresh of the current interruption relay 55 is performed at a timing when the torque of the wiper blade 71 becomes zero. As described above, the reverse position of the wiper 70 can be detected by detecting the torque of the wiper blade 71.

(Other embodiments)
The configuration of the wiper control device 50 shown in each of the above embodiments is an example, and is not limited to the configuration shown above, and other configurations that can realize the present invention can be used. For example, the power supply source of the wiper control device 50 is not limited to the battery 10 and may be supplied with power from another power supply source such as an alternator. The same applies to the wiper drive motor 60.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, as shown in step 130 of FIG. 3, the contact refreshing of the current interrupting relay 55 is prohibited when the washer mode is canceled. good.

  Further, the contact refresh is not limited to the washer mode. That is, the contact refreshing may be performed when the specified mode in which the wiper 70 performs at least two reciprocating wiping operations is performed.

10 Battery (Power supply source)
51 Microcomputer 55 Current interrupt relay 60 Wiper drive motor (motor)
70 wipers

Claims (5)

When the motor (60) for driving the wiper (70) of the vehicle is electrically connected to the power supply source (10), and the current flowing from the power supply source (10) to the motor (60) is an overcurrent A wiper control device that controls a current interrupting relay (55) that automatically interrupts a path connecting the power supply source (10) and the motor (60).
Detection means (120) for detecting a reversal position of the wiper (70) in a single reciprocating wiping operation of the wiper (70) when a prescribed mode in which the wiper (70) performs at least two reciprocating wiping operations is executed. 150)
During the wiping operation performed after the wiping operation that is the object of detection of the reverse position, the current interrupting relay (55) is operated at the timing when the wiper (70) is positioned at the reverse position. Contact refresh means (170) for performing contact refresh of the interrupting relay (55);
A wiper control device comprising:   The detecting means (120, 150) measures a wiping time required for one-way wiping operation of the wiper (70) when the specified mode is executed, and based on the wiping time, the wiper (70) 2. The wiper control device according to claim 1, wherein the reversal position of the wiper is detected by acquiring a time from the start of wiping to the reversal position of the wiping.   The detection means (120, 150) is configured such that when the specified mode is executed, the wiper (70) has a wiping start angle of the wiper (70) in one reciprocating wiping operation of the wiper (70). The wiper control device according to claim 1, wherein a reversal position of the wiper is detected by acquiring a wiping reversal angle of a reversal position. The wiper (70) includes a wiper blade (71) for wiping the window shield (80) of the vehicle.
The detection means (120, 150) determines a position at which the torque applied to the wiper blade (71) is eliminated during one reciprocating wiping operation of the wiper (70) when the specified mode is executed. The wiper control device according to claim 1, wherein the wiper control device is detected as an inversion position.   After the reverse position of the wiper (70) is detected, it is determined whether or not the specified mode has been released. If it is determined that the specified mode has been released, the contact refresh means (170) performs the contact refresh. The wiper control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising determination means (130) for prohibiting the operation.

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