JP2018103672A - Wiper device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a wiper device that injects washer fluid corresponding to removal of accumulated snow on the wind shield glass.SOLUTION: A microcomputer 58 determines that wiping operation by wiper blades 28, 30 is obstructed by accumulated snow when a rotation angle of an output shaft 32 of a wiper motor 18 detected by a rotation angle sensor 54 does not change, and controls for injecting washer fluid from an injection nozzle 74A at opening and an injection nozzle 74B at closing.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a wiper device.

  If there is snow on the windshield glass, try to remove the snow by operating the wiper device. However, if the snow is conspicuous and so-called snow accumulation occurs on the windshield glass, it may not be possible to remove snow by wiping with the wiper blade. . In such a case, the wiper motor is likely to be in an overcurrent state. When the wiper motor becomes overcurrent due to the wiping operation being hindered by the snow accumulation, the wiper device performs a snow accumulation reversal control for reversing the wiper blade on the spot to prevent damage to the wiper motor and the circuit of the wiper motor.

  However, if the snow puddle cannot be removed even after repeated reversal of the snow puddle, the wiper motor and the wiper motor circuit may be damaged by overheating due to overcurrent, so the rotation of the wiper motor is forcibly stopped by overheat protection control. . As a result, there is a problem that the wiper device cannot perform the wiping operation until the overheat state of the wiper motor and the circuit is eliminated.

  In some cases, it is effective to spray the washer liquid to remove the snow pool. Patent Document 1 discloses a wiper washer control device capable of changing the setting of the interlocking operation between the wiper mechanism and the washer mechanism.

JP 2004-155318 A

  However, the wiper washer control device described in Patent Document 1 can be set to prohibit the interlocking operation between the wiper mechanism and the washer mechanism in an extremely cold region where the temperature of the window glass may be lower than the freezing temperature of the washer liquid. However, there is a problem that the spraying of the washer liquid suitable for removing the snow pool is not taken into consideration.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a wiper device that injects a washer liquid corresponding to the elimination of a snow pool on a windshield glass.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the wiper device according to claim 1 includes a wiper motor that operates a wiper arm so that a wiper blade wipes the windshield glass, and a washer that operates a washer that injects cleaning liquid onto the windshield glass. A motor and a control unit that controls to operate the washer motor when it is determined that the wiper blade wiping operation is hindered by a snow accumulation based on the wiper blade wiping operation state.

  According to this wiper device, when the wiper blade wiping operation is obstructed by the snow pool, the washer liquid is ejected, so that the washer liquid can be ejected corresponding to the removal of the snow pool on the windshield glass. .

  A wiper device according to a second aspect is the wiper device according to the first aspect, wherein the control unit activates the washer motor and determines the wiper motor when the wiping operation is determined to be inhibited by a snow accumulation. Control to stop the rotation.

  According to this wiper device, it is possible to prevent the wiper motor from being overloaded by injecting the washer liquid corresponding to the removal of the snow accumulation on the windshield glass and stopping the rotation of the wiper motor.

  The wiper device according to claim 3 is the wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit activates the washer motor and the wiper blade when the control unit determines that the wiping operation is inhibited by a snow accumulation. The wiper motor is controlled so as to eliminate the snow accumulation.

  According to this wiper apparatus, it is possible to eject the washer liquid corresponding to the removal of the snow pool on the windshield glass and to eliminate the snow pool by using the wiping operation by the wiper blade.

  The wiper device according to claim 4 is the wiper device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the rotation angle of the output shaft of the wiper motor does not change during the rotation control of the wiper motor. In this case, it is determined that the wiping operation is hindered by the snow accumulation.

  According to this wiper device, it is possible to determine whether or not the wiping operation is hindered by the snow accumulation based on the rotation angle of the output shaft of the wiper motor.

  The wiper device according to claim 5 is the wiper device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit is configured such that a current of a coil of the wiper motor is equal to or greater than an upper limit current value during rotation control of the wiper motor. Or when it is below a lower limit electric current value, it determines with the said wiping operation having been inhibited by the snow puddle.

  According to this wiper device, it is possible to determine whether or not the wiping operation is hindered by the snow accumulation based on the current value of the coil of the wiper motor.

  The wiper device according to claim 6 is the wiper device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the nozzle of the washer that injects the cleaning liquid is oscillated by rotation of the output shaft of the wiper motor. A wiper arm connected to the wiper arm for wiping operation is provided on a side facing the upper reversing position and a side facing the lower reversing position of the wiper arm, respectively, and the control unit performs the wiping operation on the upper reversing position. When it is obstructed in the vicinity of the position, the cleaning liquid is ejected from a nozzle provided on the side facing the upper inversion position, and when the wiping operation is obstructed in the vicinity of the lower inversion position, the lower inversion position Control is performed so that the cleaning liquid is ejected from a nozzle provided on the side opposite to the nozzle.

  According to this wiper device, when the wiping operation is inhibited near the upper inversion position, the cleaning liquid is ejected from the nozzle provided on the side facing the upper inversion position, and the wiping operation is inhibited near the lower inversion position. In such a case, the washing liquid can be ejected from the nozzle provided on the side facing the lower reversal position, so that the washer liquid can be ejected corresponding to the removal of the snow pool on the windshield glass.

It is the schematic which shows the structure of the wiper apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a circuit diagram showing typically the circuit of the wiper device concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is sectional drawing which shows an example of the washer pump which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 7 is a time chart showing an example of the wiper operation state, the wiper motor output shaft angle, and the washer pump operation state when a snow pool occurs on the upper reversal position side and the wiping operation is obstructed by the snow pool during the open operation. . 7 is a time chart showing an example of the wiper operation state, the wiper motor output shaft angle, and the washer pump operation state when a snow puddle is generated on the lower reverse position side and the wiping operation is obstructed by the snow puddle during the closing operation. . 7 is a time chart showing an example of the wiper operation state, the wiper motor output shaft angle, and the washer pump operation state when a snow pool occurs on the upper reversal position side and the wiping operation is obstructed by the snow pool during the open operation. . 7 is a time chart showing an example of the wiper operation state, the wiper motor output shaft angle, and the washer pump operation state when a snow puddle is generated on the lower reverse position side and the wiping operation is obstructed by the snow puddle during the closing operation. . It is the flowchart which showed an example of the wiper operation condition monitoring process of the wiper apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a wiper device 10 according to the present embodiment. The wiper device 10 is for wiping the windshield glass 12 provided in a vehicle such as a passenger car, for example, and includes a pair of wipers 14 and 16, a wiper motor 18, a link mechanism 20, and a control circuit 22 It has.

  The wipers 14 and 16 include wiper arms 24 and 26 and wiper blades 28 and 30, respectively. The base end portions of the wiper arms 24 and 26 are respectively fixed to pivot shafts 42 and 44 described later, and the wiper blades 28 and 30 are respectively fixed to the distal end portions of the wiper arms 24 and 26.

  In the wipers 14 and 16, the wiper blades 28 and 30 reciprocate on the windshield glass 12 as the wiper arms 24 and 26 operate, and the wiper blades 28 and 30 wipe the windshield glass 12.

  The wiper motor 18 has an output shaft 32 that can rotate forward and reverse via a speed reduction mechanism 52 mainly composed of a worm gear. The link mechanism 20 includes a crank arm 34, a first link rod 36, and a pair of pivots. Lever 38, 40, a pair of pivot shafts 42, 44, and a second link rod 46 are provided.

  One end side of the crank arm 34 is fixed to the output shaft 32, and the other end side of the crank arm 34 is operably connected to one end side of the first link rod 36. The other end side of the first link rod 36 is operatively connected to a position near the end different from the end having the pivot shaft 42 of the pivot lever 38, and the end of the pivot lever 38 having the pivot shaft 42 is connected to the end of the first link rod 36. Both ends of the second link rod 46 are operably connected to different ends and the end of the pivot lever 40 corresponding to the end of the pivot lever 38.

  The pivot shafts 42 and 44 are operatively supported by a pivot holder (not shown) provided on the vehicle body, and ends of the pivot levers 38 and 40 having the pivot shafts 42 and 44 are interposed via the pivot shafts 42 and 44. The wiper arms 24 and 26 are fixed.

  In the wiper device 10, when the output shaft 32 rotates forward and backward at a rotation angle θ 1 within a predetermined range, the rotational force of the output shaft 32 is transmitted to the wiper arms 24 and 26 via the link mechanism 20. The wiper blades 28 and 30 reciprocate between the lower reversing position P2 and the upper reversing position P1 on the windshield glass 12 in accordance with the reciprocating operation 26. Although the value of θ1 can take various values depending on the configuration of the link mechanism of the wiper device, etc., in this embodiment, it is set to 140 ° as an example.

  In the wiper device 10 according to the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, when the wiper blades 28 and 30 are positioned at the storage position P3, the crank arm 34 and the first link rod 36 are linear. It is configured to be made.

  The storage position P3 is provided below the lower inversion position P2. The wiper blades 28 and 30 are moved to the retracted position P3 by rotating the output shaft 32 by θ2 from the state where the wiper blades 28 and 30 are in the lower inversion position P2. The value of θ2 can take various values depending on the configuration of the link mechanism of the wiper device, etc., but in this embodiment, it is 10 ° as an example.

  When θ2 is “0”, the lower inversion position P2 coincides with the storage position P3, and the wiper blades 28 and 30 are stopped and stored at the lower inversion position P2.

  A control circuit 22 for controlling the rotation of the wiper motor 18 is connected to the wiper motor 18. The control circuit 22 according to the present embodiment generates, for example, a rotation angle sensor 54 that detects the rotation speed and rotation angle of the output shaft 32 of the wiper motor 18 and a current for operating the wiper motor 18 by pulse width modulation (PWM). The drive circuit 56 is supplied to the wiper motor 18.

  Since the wiper motor 18 according to the present embodiment has the speed reduction mechanism 52 as described above, the rotation speed and rotation angle of the output shaft 32 are not the same as the rotation speed and rotation angle of the wiper motor main body. However, in the present embodiment, since the wiper motor main body and the speed reduction mechanism 52 are inseparably configured, hereinafter, the rotation speed and rotation angle of the output shaft 32 are regarded as the rotation speed and rotation angle of the wiper motor 18. .

  The rotation angle sensor 54 is provided in the speed reduction mechanism 52 of the wiper motor 18 and detects a magnetic field (magnetic force) of an excitation coil or a magnet that rotates in conjunction with the output shaft 32 by converting it into a current.

  The control circuit 22 can calculate the position of the wiper blade on the windshield glass 12 from the rotation angle of the output shaft 32 detected by the rotation angle sensor 54 so that the rotation speed of the output shaft 32 changes according to the position. A microcomputer 58 that controls the drive circuit 56 is included. The control circuit 22 is provided with a memory 60 that is a storage device that stores data and programs used to control the drive circuit 56. The memory 60 stores data and a program for calculating the rotation speed of the output shaft 32 in accordance with the position of the wiper blades 28 and 30 on the windshield glass 12. The microcomputer 58 is connected to a vehicle ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 90 that supervises control of the engine of the vehicle.

  The vehicle ECU 90 is connected to a wiper switch 50, a washer switch 62, an intermittent volume 92, and a rain sensor 94 that detects water droplets on the surface of the windshield glass 12.

  The wiper switch 50 is a switch that turns on or off the power supplied from the vehicle battery to the wiper motor 18. The wiper switch 50 includes a low-speed operation mode selection position for operating the wiper blades 28 and 30 at a low speed, a high-speed operation mode selection position for operation at a high speed, an intermittent operation mode selection position for intermittent operation at a constant period, and a rain sensor 94 It is possible to switch to an AUTO (auto) operation mode selection position and a storage (stop) mode selection position that are activated when raindrops are detected. Further, a signal corresponding to the selected position of each mode is output to the microcomputer 58 via the vehicle ECU 90.

  When a signal output from the wiper switch 50 according to the selected position of each mode is input to the microcomputer 58 via the vehicle ECU 90, the microcomputer 58 controls the memory 60 to control corresponding to the output signal from the wiper switch 50. This is done using stored data and programs.

  The washer switch 62 is a switch that turns on or off the power supplied from the vehicle battery to the washer motor 64 and the wiper motor 18. The washer switch 62 is provided integrally with an operating means such as a lever provided with the above-described wiper switch 50, for example, and the wiper motor 18 and the washer motor are operated while an operation such as pulling the lever etc. to the hand is continued. 64 is activated.

  The washer pump 66 is driven by the rotation of the washer motor 64, and the washer pump 66 pressure-feeds the washer liquid in the washer liquid tank 68 to the open-time injection hose 72A or the close-time injection hose 72B. The open-time injection hose 72A is connected to an open-time injection nozzle 74A provided near the tips of the wiper arms 24 and 26, respectively. The closing injection hose 72B is connected to a closing injection nozzle 74B provided in the vicinity of the tip of the wiper arms 24 and 26, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the injecting nozzle 74A is in the direction in which the wiper blades 28, 30 operate when the wiper blades 28, 30 perform an open operation in which the wiper blades 28, 30 wipe from the lower reverse position P2 to the upper reverse position P1, that is, It is provided toward the upper inversion position P1. In the present embodiment, in the case of the open operation, the washer liquid is jetted from the open jet nozzle 74A in the open jet direction 76A.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the closing injection nozzle 74 </ b> B is a direction in which the wiper blades 28, 30 operate in the closing operation in which the wiper blades 28, 30 wipe from the upper reverse position P <b> 1 to the lower reverse position P <b> 2. That is, it is provided toward the lower inversion position P2. In the present embodiment, in the case of the closing operation, the washer liquid is injected from the closing injection nozzle 74B in the closing injection direction 76B.

  The washer motor 64 reverses the rotation direction between the opening operation and the closing operation, and the washer so as to inject the washer liquid from the opening injection nozzle 74A in the opening operation and from the closing injection nozzle 74B in the closing operation. The pump 66 is driven.

  The intermittent volume 92 is a switch for changing the cycle in which the wiper blades 28 and 30 operate intermittently when the wiper switch 50 is in the intermittent operation mode selection position.

  The rain sensor 94 includes, for example, an LED that is an infrared light emitting element, a photodiode that is a light receiving element, a lens that forms an optical path of infrared light, and a control circuit. The infrared rays radiated from the LED are totally reflected by the windshield glass 12. However, if water droplets are present on the surface of the windshield glass 12, some of the infrared rays pass through the waterdrops and are emitted to the outside. The amount of reflection decreases. As a result, the amount of light entering the photodiode that is the light receiving element is reduced. Based on such a decrease in the amount of light, water droplets on the surface of the windshield glass 12 are detected.

  FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram schematically showing a circuit of the wiper device 10 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the wiper device 10 includes a wiper drive circuit 88 that drives the wiper motor 18 to reciprocate the wiper arms 24 and 26 that are connected to the output shaft 32 via a link mechanism, and a washer motor 64. A pump drive circuit 57 to be driven, a wiper drive circuit 88, a drive circuit 56 to drive the pump drive circuit 57, and a control circuit 22 to control the drive circuit 56 are included. The control circuit 22 of the wiper apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment includes the microcomputer 58 shown in FIG. 2, and the drive circuit 56 includes a pre-driver 98, a relay drive circuit 78, and an FET drive circuit 80. Yes. A wiper switch 50, a washer switch 62, a rain sensor 94, and an intermittent volume 92 are connected to the microcomputer 58 via a vehicle ECU 90 (not shown).

  The wiper drive circuit 88 includes four FETs 82A to 82D. The FET 82A has a drain connected to the power supply (+ B), a gate connected to the pre-driver 98, and a source connected to one end of the wiper motor 18. The FET 82B has a drain connected to the power supply (+ B), a gate connected to the pre-driver 98, and a source connected to the other end of the wiper motor 18. The FET 82C has a drain connected to one end of the wiper motor 18, a gate connected to the pre-driver 98, and a source grounded. The FET 82D has a drain connected to the other end of the wiper motor 18, a gate connected to the pre-driver 98, and a source grounded.

  The pre-driver 98 controls driving of the wiper motor 18 by switching control signals supplied to the gates of the FETs 82A to 82D. That is, when the predriver 98 rotates the output shaft 32 of the wiper motor 18 in a predetermined direction, the pre-driver 98 turns on the set of the FET 82A and FET 82D, and rotates the output shaft 32 of the wiper motor 18 in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction. The pair of FET 82B and FET 82C is turned on. Further, the pre-driver 98 performs PWM for changing the ratio (duty ratio) of the time during which the set of the FETs 82 to be turned on is turned on in a predetermined control cycle in accordance with the target rotational speed of the output shaft 32 of the wiper motor 18. . By the above control, the rotation direction and the rotation speed of the output shaft 32 of the wiper motor 18 are controlled.

  The pump drive circuit 57 includes a relay unit 84 incorporating two relays RLY1 and RLY2, and two FETs 86A and 86B. The relay coils of the relays RLY1 and RLY2 of the relay unit 84 are connected to the relay drive circuit 78, respectively. The relay drive circuit 78 switches the relays RLY1 and RLY2 on and off (excitation / excitation stop of the relay coil). The relays RLY1 and RLY2 maintain the state where the common terminal 84C is connected to the first terminal 84A (the state shown in FIG. 2: the off state) while the relay coil is not excited, and the relay coil is excited. And the common terminal 84C is switched to a state of connecting to the second terminal 84B. The common terminal 84C of the relay RLY1 is connected to one end of the washer motor 64, and the common terminal 84C of the relay RLY2 is connected to the other end of the washer motor 64. The first terminals 84A of the relays RLY1 and RLY2 are connected to the drain of the FET 86B, and the second terminals 84B of the relays RLY1 and RLY2 are connected to the power supply (+ B).

  The gate of the FET 86B is connected to the FET drive circuit 80, and the source is grounded. The FET drive circuit 80 controls the duty ratio of the on time of the FET 86B and the on time of the FET 86B (the ratio of the time during which the FET 86B is on in a predetermined control period). An FET 86A is provided between the drain of the FET 86B and the power supply (+ B). The FET 86A is provided for the purpose of using a parasitic diode for absorbing a surge without switching on and off because no control signal is input to the gate.

  The relay drive circuit 78 and the FET drive circuit 80 control the drive of the washer motor 64 by switching on and off the two relays RLY1, RLY2 and the FET 86B. That is, when the output shaft of the washer motor 64 is rotated in a predetermined direction, the relay drive circuit 78 turns on the relay RLY1 (relay RLY2 is off), and the FET drive circuit 80 turns on the FET 86B with a predetermined duty ratio. When the washer motor 64 is rotated in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction, the relay drive circuit 78 turns on the relay RLY2 (relay RLY1 is off), and the FET drive circuit 80 turns on the FET 86B with a predetermined duty ratio. With the above control, the rotation direction and rotation speed of the output shaft of the washer motor 64 are controlled. The circuit of the wiper device 10 according to the present embodiment is provided with a current sensor (not shown) that detects a current (motor current) flowing through the coil of the wiper motor 18.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of the washer pump 66 according to the present embodiment. The washer pump 66 according to the present embodiment is a kind of turbo pump provided with a turbine 66 </ b> A driven by a washer motor 64. The turbine 66A is driven in an arrow OPEN direction for an open operation and in an arrow CLOSE direction for a close operation.

  By driving the turbine 66A, the washer liquid in the washer liquid tank 68 is sucked into the pump housing 66B from the suction port 66C. When the turbine 66A is driven in the direction of the arrow OPEN, the washer fluid in the pump housing 66B is discharged from the opening discharge port 66D to the discharge port 66E at the time of closing when the turbine 66A is driven in the arrow CLOSE direction. Discharged. The open discharge port 66D is connected to the open injection nozzle 74A via the open injection hose 72A, and the close discharge port 66E is connected to the close injection nozzle 74B via the close injection hose 72B. ing. Accordingly, the washer liquid is injected from the open-time injection nozzle 74A when the turbine 66A is driven in the direction of the arrow OPEN, and from the close-time injection nozzle 74B when the turbine 66A is driven in the direction of the arrow CLOSE.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the washer pump 66 according to the present embodiment has a valve 66F made of an elastic body such as rubber or synthetic resin. The valve 66F bends with the pressure of the washer liquid pumped by the turbine 66A, and closes the washer liquid inlet 66G when opened or the washer liquid inlet 66H when closed.

  For example, when the turbine 66A is driven in the direction of the arrow OPEN, the pressure on the washer liquid inlet 66G side at the time of opening increases, so that the valve 66F bends and closes the washer liquid inlet 66H at the time of closing. Further, when the turbine 66A is driven in the direction of the arrow CLOSE, the valve 66F is bent due to an increase in pressure on the closing washer liquid inlet 66H side, and the open washer liquid inlet 66G is closed. As a result, the washer liquid is selectively injected from the open-time injection nozzle 74A or the close-time injection nozzle 74B by rotating the turbine 66A in the forward or reverse direction.

  FIG. 4 shows the operation state of the wipers 14 and 16, the output shaft angle of the wiper motor 18, and the operation of the washer pump 66 when a snow accumulation occurs on the upper reversal position P 1 side and the wiping operation is obstructed by the snow accumulation during the opening operation. It is the time chart which showed an example of the state.

  In FIG. 4, the wiper device 10 that has repeatedly performed the opening operation and the closing operation is blocked by the snow accumulation at time t <b> 1. The wiper device 10 operates the washer pump 66 at times t1 to t2, t3 to t4, and t5 to t6 to inject the washer liquid from the in-open injection nozzle 74A in the injection direction 102B shown in the upper right of FIG. Then, the wiper motor 18 is energized and the wiper blades 28 and 30 are wiped in the wiping direction 102A when viewed from the vehicle interior to eliminate the snow accumulation.

  In the present embodiment, as an example, when the motor current of the wiper motor 18 is greater than or equal to the upper limit value or less than the lower limit value, and the rotation angle of the output shaft 32 detected by the rotation angle sensor 54 is energizing the wiper motor 18. However, if it does not change, if it corresponds to any of the above, it is determined that the wiping operation is hindered by the snow pool, and the washer liquid is ejected.

  The spray of the washer liquid is stopped when the wiping operation is not hindered by the snow pool. In the present embodiment, as an example, when the motor current of the wiper motor 18 is greater than the lower limit value and less than the upper limit value, and the rotation angle of the output shaft 32 detected by the rotation angle sensor 54 changes according to the energization of the wiper motor 18. If this is the case, the spraying of the washer liquid is stopped assuming that the effect of the snow pool has been eliminated.

  FIG. 5 shows the operation state of the wipers 14 and 16, the output shaft angle of the wiper motor 18, and the operation of the washer pump 66 when a snow accumulation occurs on the lower inversion position P 2 side and the wiping operation is obstructed by the snow accumulation during the closing operation. It is the time chart which showed an example of the state.

  In FIG. 5, the wiper device 10 that has repeatedly performed the opening operation and the closing operation is blocked by the snow accumulation at time t <b> 7. The wiper device 10 operates the washer pump 66 at times t7 to t8, t9 to t10, and t11 to t12 to inject the washer liquid from the closing-time injection nozzle 74B in the injection direction 104B shown in the upper right of FIG. Then, the wiper motor 18 is energized, and the wiper blades 28 and 30 are wiped in the wiping direction 104A when viewed from the vehicle interior to eliminate the snow accumulation. As in the case of FIG. 4, the washer fluid injection is stopped when the wiping operation is not hindered by the snow pool.

  FIG. 6 shows the operation state of the wipers 14 and 16, the output shaft angle of the wiper motor 18, and the operation of the washer pump 66 when a snow accumulation occurs on the upper reversal position P 1 side and the wiping operation is obstructed by the snow accumulation during the opening operation. It is the time chart which showed an example of the state.

  FIG. 6 is the same as the case of FIG. 4 described above in that the wiper device 10 that has repeatedly performed the opening operation and the closing operation is blocked by the snow accumulation, and the wiper device 10 is the The washer pump 66 is operated at t14, t15 to t16, and t17 to t18, and the washer liquid is ejected from the injecting nozzle 74A in the ejection direction 106B shown in the upper right of FIG.

  However, in the case shown in FIG. 6, in order to prevent damage to the wiper motor 18 and the drive circuit 56, the wiper motor when the wiping operation is obstructed by a snow accumulation during the wiping operation in the wiping direction 106A when viewed from the passenger compartment. 18 is stopped, and a snowdrift is eliminated by spraying the washer liquid. As in the case of FIG. 4, the washer fluid injection is stopped when the wiping operation is not hindered by the snow pool.

  FIG. 7 shows the operation state of the wipers 14 and 16, the output shaft angle of the wiper motor 18, and the operation of the washer pump 66 when a snow accumulation occurs on the lower inversion position P 2 side and the wiping operation is obstructed by the snow accumulation during the closing operation. It is the time chart which showed an example of the state.

  FIG. 7 is the same as the case of FIG. 5A described above in that the wiper device 10 that has repeatedly performed the open operation and the close operation is blocked by the snow accumulation. At times t19 to t20, t21 to t22, and t23 to t24, the washer pump 66 is operated to inject washer liquid from the closing-time injection nozzle 74B in the injection direction 108B shown in the upper right of FIG.

  However, in the case shown in FIG. 7, in order to prevent damage to the wiper motor 18 and the drive circuit 56, the wiper motor when the wiping operation is obstructed by a snow accumulation during the wiping operation in the wiping direction 108A when viewed from the vehicle interior. 18 is stopped, and a snowdrift is eliminated by spraying the washer liquid. As in the case of FIG. 4, the washer fluid injection is stopped when the wiping operation is not hindered by the snow pool.

  Times t1 to t2, t3 to t4, t5 to t6, t7 to t8, t9 to t10, t11 to t12, t13 to t14, t15 to t16, t17 to t18, t19 to t20, t21 to t22, t23 to t24 Each of the washer liquid injection times is a predetermined time effective in eliminating the snow pool. The specific time is determined through a test using an actual machine.

  FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing an example of the wiper operation status monitoring process of the wiper apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. The processing in FIG. 8 is started when a wiper operation request or a washer operation request is input to the control circuit 22 based on the operation of the wiper switch 50 or the washer switch 62.

  In step 802, information necessary for determining the snow accumulation state such as the motor current value of the wiper motor 18 and the rotation angle of the output shaft 32 detected by the rotation angle sensor 54 is acquired.

  In step 802, it is determined whether or not there is a washer operation request due to the operation of the washer switch 62. If the determination is affirmative, the washer is operated in step 804 and the process returns.

  If the determination in step 802 is negative, it is determined in step 806 whether or not a snow pool has occurred and there is a request for continuous operation of the wipers 14 and 16. As described above, the presence / absence of snow accumulation is determined from the motor current value of the wiper motor 18, and the presence / absence of a request for continuous operation of the wipers 14, 16 is determined positively when the wiper switch 50 is in the on state.

  If the determination in step 806 is negative, the process returns without operating the washer. If the determination in step 806 is affirmative, it is determined in step 808 whether the motor current of the wiper motor 18 is equal to or greater than a threshold value. If the determination in step 808 is affirmative, the rotation of the wiper motor 18 is stopped in step 810, the washer is operated, and the process is returned. If a negative determination is made in step 808, the washer is operated while operating the wiper motor 18 in step 812, and the process is returned.

  As described above, according to the wiper device 10 according to the present embodiment, when the wiping operation is hindered by the snow pool, the washer liquid is ejected corresponding to the removal of the snow pool on the windshield glass. The snow pool can be melted and eliminated. When removing the snow pool, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the wiper motor 18 may be operated and the washer fluid may be ejected while removing the snow pool by the wiper blades 28 and 30, or FIGS. As shown, in order to suppress the load on the wiper motor 18, the wiper motor 18 may not be operated, and the snow pool may be eliminated by jetting the washer liquid.

  When the motor current is less than a predetermined threshold value, the wiper motor 18 is operated and the washer fluid is ejected while removing the snow accumulation by the wiper blades 28 and 30, and when the motor current is higher than the predetermined threshold value, the wiper motor 18 is operated. Without removing the snow pool by spraying the washer liquid, it is possible to eliminate the snow pool while suppressing the wiper motor 18 and the circuit related to the wiper motor 18 from being overloaded.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Wiper apparatus, 12 ... Windshield glass, 14, 16 ... Wiper, 18 ... Wiper motor, 20 ... Link mechanism, 22 ... Control circuit, 24, 26 ... Wiper arm, 28, 30 ... Wiper blade, 32 ... Output shaft, 34 ... Crank arm, 36 ... Link rod, 38, 40 ... Pivot lever, 42, 44 ... Pivot shaft, 46 ... Link rod, 50 ... Wiper switch, 52 ... Reduction mechanism, 54 ... Rotation angle sensor, 56 ... Drive circuit, 57 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS ... Pump drive circuit, 58 ... Microcomputer, 60 ... Memory, 62 ... Washer switch, 64 ... Washer motor, 66 ... Washer pump, 66A ... Turbine, 66B ... Pump housing, 66C ... Suction port, 66D ... Opening discharge port, 66E ... Discharge port when closed, 66F ... Valve, 66G ... Wash when open Liquid inlet, 66H ... Washer liquid inlet when closed, 68 ... Washer liquid tank, 72A ... Hose for injection when opened, 72B ... Hose for injection when closed, 74A ... Nozzle for injection when opened, 74B ... Nozzle for injection when closed, 76A ... Open injection direction, 76B ... Closed injection direction, 78 ... Relay drive circuit, 80 ... FET drive circuit, 84 ... Relay unit, 84A ... First terminal, 84B ... Second terminal, 84C ... Common terminal, 88 ... Wiper Drive circuit, 90 ... vehicle ECU, 92 ... intermittent volume, 94 ... rain sensor, 98 ... pre-driver, 102A, 104A, 106A, 108A ... wiping direction, 102B, 104B, 106B, 108B ... injection direction, RLY1, RLY2 ... relay , Θ1 ... rotation angle, P1 ... upper inversion position, P2 ... lower inversion position, P3 ... storage position, t1, 2, t3, t4, t5, t6, t7, t8, t9, t10, t11, t12, t13, t14, t15, t16, t17, t18, t19, t20, t21, t22, t23, t24 ... time

Claims (6)

A wiper motor that operates the wiper arm so that the wiper blade wipes the windshield glass; and
A washer motor for operating a washer for injecting a cleaning liquid onto the windshield glass;
A control unit that performs control to operate the washer motor when it is determined that the wiper blade wiping operation is hindered by a snow pool based on the wiper blade wiping operation state;
Including wiper device.   2. The wiper device according to claim 1, wherein, when it is determined that the wiping operation is inhibited by a snow accumulation, the control unit controls the operation of the washer motor and the rotation of the wiper motor.   2. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein when the wiping operation is determined to be hindered by a snow pool, the control unit performs control to operate the washer motor and to operate the wiper motor so as to eliminate the snow pool by the wiper blade. The wiper device described.   4. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit determines that the wiping operation is inhibited by a snow pool when a rotation angle of the output shaft of the wiper motor does not change during rotation control of the wiper motor. 5. Wiper device.   4. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the controller determines that the wiping operation is hindered by snow accumulation when the current of the coil of the wiper motor is equal to or higher than an upper limit current value or lower than a lower limit current value during rotation control of the wiper motor. The wiper device according to claim 1.   The nozzle of the washer that injects the cleaning liquid is reversely rotated with the side facing the upper reversal position of the tip of the wiper arm that is swung by the rotation of the output shaft of the wiper motor to wipe the wiper blade connected to the tip. When the wiping operation is inhibited in the vicinity of the upper reversal position, the control unit ejects the cleaning liquid from the nozzle provided on the side facing the upper reversal position. When the wiping operation is hindered in the vicinity of the lower inversion position, control is performed to eject the cleaning liquid from a nozzle provided on the side facing the lower inversion position. The wiper device according to 1.