JP2934262B2 - Wiper control device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Overview A continuous mode in which the wiper blade is continuously driven and an intermittent mode in which the wiper blade is driven intermittently are manually selected, and the speed of the driving unit is set to be low so that the selected operation mode is set. In a wiper control device for selectively supplying power to at least two types of power input terminals, one for power and the other for high speed, to drive a wiper blade in a reciprocating manner, a second control means is provided between the first control means and the drive means.
Intervening control means. When the first control means is selected to be in the intermittent mode, the second control means inputs a low-speed power supply of the drive means so as to be in an operation state corresponding to a rainfall state detected based on the output of the raindrop detection means. Supply power to the terminals. In this way, by adding the second control means to the first control means, a so-called automatic wiper function can be added.

Further, the second control means drives the driving means at a predetermined intermittent time when an abnormality occurs in the raindrop detecting means, and secures an intermittent operation when the abnormality of the raindrop detecting means occurs.

The present invention relates to a so-called automatic wiper control device that controls a wiper operation in response to a rainfall condition, and more particularly, to a wiper control device having no automatic wiper function.
The present invention relates to a configuration for adding an automatic wiper function.

2. Description of the Related Art In an existing wiper control device not provided with an automatic wiper function, in order to reduce the size of the device, a wiper switch for selecting an operation mode of the wiper and a control circuit for performing a wiper operation in accordance with the setting state of the switch. Are arranged on one printed circuit board, and are integrally formed. In order to newly add an automatic wiper function to the wiper control device, it is necessary to detect that the wiper switch is set to the intermittent mode, and to determine the intermittent period corresponding to the rainfall state detected based on the output of the raindrop sensor. Is calculated, and a new control circuit for controlling the wiper operation needs to be added.

However, as described above, the existing control circuit and the wiper switch are integrated, and it is difficult to externally detect the setting state of the wiper switch.
For this reason, in a typical prior art, when adding a configuration for an automatic wiper operation, a dedicated switch for the automatic wiper operation is separately added.

According to the above-described conventional technology, in order to perform the automatic wiper operation, the existing wiper switch (manual operation) is set to the intermittent mode, and the dedicated switch of the newly added automatic wiper is operated. There is a need to.
In addition, because the two switches are in different locations,
In operation, the operator is likely to be confused, and the operability is poor.

Also, in order to add a dedicated switch for the auto wiper, it is necessary to remodel the vicinity of the extension and the installation work is troublesome.In addition, the shape of the dedicated switch for the added auto wiper and the shape of the existing wiper switch are not balanced and the appearance is beautiful. Problems such as damage occur.

An object of the present invention is to increase the number of dedicated switches without adding
An object of the present invention is to provide a wiper control device to which an automatic wiper function can be added.

Means for Solving the Problems The present invention provides a driving unit for reciprocatingly driving the wiper blade, a continuous mode for continuously reciprocatingly driving the wiper blade, an intermittent mode for driving the wiper blade intermittently,
A first control unit for supplying electric power so that the wiper blade is driven in a mode selected by a wiper switch for manually selecting a stop mode in which the wiper blade is stopped at a rest position. A wiper control device, comprising: a raindrop detecting unit configured to detect a rainfall amount; a wiper control unit attached between the first control unit and the driving unit;
A detecting means for detecting an operation mode of the first control means; and a detecting means, wherein when the stop mode is selected based on a detection result of the detecting means, the wiper blade is stopped at the rest position, When the mode is selected, power is supplied to the driving unit so as to continuously drive the wiper blade, and when the intermittent mode is selected, the wiper blade enters a rainfall state based on the output of the raindrop detecting unit. A second control unit that supplies electric power to the driving unit so as to be in a corresponding operation state, wherein the second control unit detects an abnormality of the raindrop detection unit, and an abnormality is detected by the abnormality detection unit. And an abnormal-time control means for supplying power to the driving means so as to drive the wiper blade in the intermittent mode when the power is detected. A.

Also, in the present invention, the first control means includes an impedance circuit whose impedance changes according to a selected mode, and the second control means derives a test pulse to the impedance circuit, and a voltage of the test pulse by the impedance circuit. The operation mode of the first control means is detected by detecting a change.

According to the present invention, the first control means continuously drives the wiper blade reciprocally when the continuous mode is selected, and drives the wiper blade intermittently when the intermittent mode is selected. Power is selectively supplied to at least two types of power input terminals of the driving means, for low speed and for high speed.

The second control means according to the present invention is interposed between the first control means and the drive means, and the second control means uses the power to be supplied to the low-speed power supply input terminal of the drive means. Be energized.

On the other hand, a cam switch is provided in association with the driving means, and the switching state of the cam switch changes depending on whether or not the wiper blade is at a predetermined rest position, and the first control means operates in the stop mode during driving of the wiper blade. Is selected, the power is continuously supplied to the driving means until the wiper blade returns to the rest position.

The first control means is provided with an impedance circuit whose impedance changes in accordance with the continuous mode and the intermittent mode, and the second control means derives a test pulse to the first control means. Accordingly, the second control means determines the switching state of the first control means based on the level change of the test pulse due to the impedance in the first control means which changes in response to the selection of the operation mode,
In other words, it is detected which mode the wiper switch has been selected and operated.

As a result of the detection, when the first control means is selected to be the intermittent mode, the second control means is driven so as to be in an operation state corresponding to the rainfall state detected based on the output of the raindrop detection means. Supplying power to the power input terminal of the means. In this manner, the switching state of the wiper switch, that is, the mode in which the wiper switch is selected and operated, is detected without newly adding a dedicated switch for the automatic wiper to the existing wiper switch,
An automatic wiper operation can be realized.

Further, the second control means drives the driving means at a predetermined intermittent time when an abnormality occurs in the raindrop detecting means, and secures an intermittent operation when the abnormality of the raindrop detecting means occurs.

Embodiment FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. When the control device 3 as the second control means is interposed between the existing switch circuit 1 as the first control means and the wiper motor 2, the wiper switch 11 is set to the INT mode as the intermittent mode. The wiper blade is intermittently driven at a wiping interval corresponding to a rainfall state detected by the raindrop sensor 4, and an automatic wiper operation is realized.

Therefore, in the existing wiper control device, in the wiper motor 2, the terminal + 1d connected to the low-speed power input terminal P1 of the motor 21 is connected to the terminal + 1a of the switch circuit 1, and connected to the high-speed power input terminal P2. The connected terminal + 2d is connected to the terminal + 2a of the switch circuit 1, and the terminal + Sd connected to the common contact S2a of the cam switch 22 is connected to the terminal + Sa of the switch circuit 1.

The switch circuit 1 includes a wiper switch 11 and a circuit connected to the wiper switch 11 on a single printed circuit board. The potentials of the terminals + Sa, + 2a and + 1a correspond to the setting mode of the wiper switch 11. Changes. Power from the battery 6 is supplied to the terminal + Ba via the ignition key switch 5, and the terminal Ga is grounded.

The wiper switch 11 can be set to four operation modes: OFF, INT, LO, and HI. When the mode is set to the OFF mode, which is the stop mode, the wiper operation is stopped. When the INT mode, which is the intermittent mode, is set, the wiper blade is driven at a wiping interval corresponding to the rainfall state. When the continuous mode is set to the LO mode and the HI mode, the wiper blade is driven continuously, and is driven at a low speed in the LO mode and at a high speed in the HI mode.

In FIG. 1, the wiper switch 11 indicates the connection state of the contacts in each of the operation modes.
In the OFF mode, the contacts +1 and + S conduct and the contact INT1 and the contact B1 conduct. In the INT mode, the contacts +1 and + S conduct and the contacts INT1 and INT2 conduct.
In the LO mode, the contacts + B and +1 conduct, and in the HI mode, the contacts + B and +2 conduct.

When the wiper switch 11 is set to the OFF mode, the terminal + 1b-terminal + 1a-contact + 1-contact + S-contact S1a-contact S1c-terminal + Sa-terminal + Sb-resistance R2 to the constant voltage circuit 30 in the control device 3 -Through the resistor R1-terminal + Bb,
Voltage on battery 6 via ignition key switch 5
IG is applied. In this state, the control circuit 31 for performing the automatic wiper control operation by the current limitation of the resistors R1 and R2.
Is not supplied, and the control circuit 31 is in a quiescent state.

In the OFF mode, one terminal of the capacitor C1 is connected via resistors R1 and R2, and the other terminal is connected in parallel to the resistors R1a and R1b for setting the intermittent time and the resistors R1a and R1b, Since the voltage IG is substantially applied via the resistor R1e having a resistance smaller than the combined resistance of the resistors R1a and R1b, the capacitor C1 is discharged.

Therefore, when the wiper switch 11 is in the intermittent mode IN
When set to the T mode, the capacitor C1a is charged via the contact INT1, the contact INT2, the diode D1, and the resistor R1c.When the capacitor C1a is fully charged and the voltage between the terminals becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the transistor Tr1 is turned on. Conduct.

As a result, the relay coil L1 is excited, the relay switch S1 is switched, and the constant voltage circuit 30 is supplied to the constant voltage circuit 30 via the terminal + Ba-contact S1b-contact S1a-contact + S-contact + 1-terminal + 1a-terminal + 1b. The voltage IG is supplied. The control circuit 31
When the power is energized in this manner, the switching state of the wiper switch 11, that is, the operation mode in which the wiper switch 11 is selected and operated is detected as described later. Based on the output from the raindrop sensor 4 via the shaping circuit 34, an automatic wiper control operation corresponding to the amount of rainfall is controlled.

Note that the resistor R1e is connected in parallel to the resistors R1b and R1a in the OFF mode as described above, and reduces the time constant for charging the capacitor C1. Therefore, weipasu switch
As in the case where the setting mode of (11) is switched to INT-OFF-INT, even if the capacitor C1 is once discharged, it can be charged quickly, and thereby the control circuit 31 can be quickly started. it can.

Output of the control circuit 31 in the control device 3, diodes D3a and D4
Via a, they are led out to the relay coils L3 and L4, respectively.
That is, during low-speed wiper driving, the relay coil L3 is excited and the relay coil L4 is demagnetized. By this,
Power from the battery 6 is supplied to the low-speed power input terminal P1 of the motor 21 via the terminal + Bb-contact S3b-contact S3a-contact S4a-contact S4c-terminal + 1c-terminal + 1d. When the high-speed wiper is driven, both the relay coils L3 and L4 are excited, and power is supplied to the high-speed power input terminal P2 of the motor 21. Further, at the time of intermittent operation, both relay coils L3 and L4 are demagnetized.

When Wipass Switch 11 is set to LO mode,
The voltage IG is supplied to the constant voltage circuit 30 by a terminal + Ba−contact + B−
It is supplied via the contact + 1-terminal + 1a-terminal + 1b. As a result, the control circuit 31 is energized and detects the switching state of the wiper switch 11, that is, the operation mode in which the wiper switch 11 is selected and operated, as described later. , Motor 21
The relay coil L3 is maintained in an excited state so that the relay coil L3 is continuously driven at a low speed.

When the wiper switch 11 is set to the HI mode, no power is supplied to the constant voltage circuit 30, and the control circuit 31 enters a rest state. However, terminal + Ba-contact + B-contact + 2-
Power is supplied to the relay coils L3 and L4 via terminals + 2a-terminal + 2b-diodes D3b and D4b to be excited, and power from the battery 6 is supplied to the terminals + Bb-contact S3b-contact S3a-contact S4a-contact S4b. -Terminal + 2c-Motor via terminal + 2d
It is supplied to 21 high-speed power input terminals P2.

The wiper motor 2 includes a motor 21 and a cam switch 22 integrally formed, and the cam 23 of the cam switch 22 rotates in accordance with the wiping position of the wiper blade. When the wiper blade is at the rest position and the motor 21 is stopped, the common contact S2a of the cam switch 22 is electrically connected to the individual contact S2c,
Therefore, the terminal + Sc of the control device 3 is the terminal + Sd-contact S2
Via the a-contact S2c, it is connected to the terminal Gd connected to the ground terminal PG of the motor 21, and is set to the ground potential. When the cam switch 22 rotates, for example, by 30 degrees or more, the common contact S2a conducts to the individual contact S2b, so that the voltage IG of the battery 6 supplied to the terminal + Bd is derived from the terminal + Sd.

In the INT mode and the LO mode, the potential of the terminal + Sc of the control device 3 is read from the contacts S5a and S5b of the relay switch S5 to the control circuit 31 via the processing circuit 32, and the control circuit 31 During the wiping operation of the blade, the relay coil L3 is continuously excited to return the wiper blade to the rest position.

Further, when the wiper switch 11 is switched to the OFF mode while the wiper blade is away from the rest position, the power supply to the control circuit 31 is cut off in the INT mode and the LO mode, and thus the power supply to the control circuit 31 is performed via the diode D3a. The supply of the exciting current to the relay coil L3 is stopped, and in the HI mode, the supply of the exciting current to the relay coils L3 and L4 is stopped via the diodes D3b and D4b, whereby the common contact S3a of the relay switch S3 is turned off. Is connected to the individual contact S3c, and the common contact S4a of the relay switch S4 is the individual contact S4c.
Until the wiper blade returns to the rest position regardless of the OFF mode.
The power supply to the low-speed power supply input terminal P1 is continued.

On the other hand, the raindrop sensor 4 is constituted by using, for example, a pair of light receiving and emitting elements, and the raindrop passes through an optical path formed between the light receiving and emitting elements, so that a detection output corresponding to a rainfall state is obtained. The detection output is input to the control circuit 31 via the waveform shaping circuit 34 as a signal signal.

Further, the raindrop sensor 4 is provided with a circuit for holding the light receiving level of the light receiving element at a constant value in a state where no raindrop is detected, that is, an offset circuit. This circuit increases the amount of light emitted from the light-emitting element and performs the offset operation when the detection output from the light-receiving element is reduced due to contamination of the lens interposed in the optical path or the like.

However, when the light path is completely interrupted by mud or dust, the light path cannot be absorbed by the above-described offset operation, and therefore, the raindrop sensor 4 outputs a fail-safe signal indicating that an abnormality has occurred. Is derived. This fail-safe signal is input to the control circuit 31 via the processing circuit 37, and is also provided to the drive circuit 38, and the abnormality detecting means for detecting the abnormality of the raindrop detecting means operates.

When the raindrop sensor 4 has such an abnormality while the wiper switch 11 is set to the INT mode, the drive circuit 38 excites the relay coil L5, whereby the common contact S5a of the relay switch S5 becomes an individual contact. Conduction to S5c. Therefore, the potential of the common contact S2a of the cam switch 22 is the following: terminal + Sd-terminal + Sc -contact S5a -contact S5c -terminal + Sb
The signal is input to the switch circuit 1 via the negative terminal + Sa. Further, at this time, the control circuit 31 excites / demagnetizes the relay coil L3 via the diode D3a for a predetermined intermittent time, and thus can ensure the intermittent operation. That is, the abnormal time control means operates.

As described above, the wiper switch 11 is in the LO mode and the IN mode.
When the mode is set to the T mode, the control circuit 31 is energized via the constant voltage circuit 30, so that the control circuit 31
Detects the switching state of the wiper switch 11 as follows, performs an automatic wiper control operation in the INT mode, and continuously drives the motor 21 at a low speed in the LO mode.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram for explaining a connection state in the switch circuit 1 when the wiper switch 11 is set to the INT mode or the LO mode. A low-level pulse having a pulse width of 2 msec and a pulse interval of 200 msec as shown in FIG. 3A is derived from the control circuit 31, and the pulse is a pulse generation circuit realized by a transistor or the like.
After being inverted at 33 as shown in FIG.
It is derived from terminal + Sb via R2. When the contacts INT1 and INT2 of the wiper switch 11 are conducting, this pulse is shunted to the relay drive circuit 18 including the diode D1, the resistors R1c and R1d, the transistor Tr1, and the like.

That is, from an AC viewpoint, when the LO mode is set, the pulse from the pulse generation circuit 33 is divided by the resistor R2 and the resistors R1b and R1a as shown in FIG. And appear at the terminal + Sb. When the mode is set to the INT mode, as shown in FIG. 4 (2), the voltage is divided by the resistor R2 and the combined impedance of the resistors R1b, R1a and the relay drive circuit 18 and appears at the terminal + Sb.

Accordingly, the peak value VL in the INT mode becomes a small value, for example, 1 V as shown in FIG.
On the other hand, the peak value VH in the LO mode becomes a high value, for example, 3 V as shown in FIG. 3 (4).

Yotsute to be compared with these peak value VL, the reference voltage V _TH of predetermined the VH Te level discriminating circuit 35 Niyotsu can read the setting mode of Waipasuitsuchi 11. That is, the level discriminating circuit 35 constitutes a detecting means for detecting the operation mode of the first control means, and comprises, for example, a voltage dividing circuit, a comparator, and a reference voltage source. In voltage dividing circuit pressurized input voltage, for example, halved, also the reference voltage V _TH is set to 1.1V, for example.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining the operation when the wiper switch 11 is set to the INT mode or the LO mode. At step n1, abnormality of the raindrop sensor 4 is detected based on the output from the processing circuit 37. When no abnormality is detected, an inspection pulse is derived from the pulse control circuit 33 at step n2.

In step n3, it is determined whether or not the wiper switch 11 is set to the LO mode based on the result of the discrimination in the level discrimination circuit 35, and if so, in step n4,
After the relay coil L3 is continuously excited and the motor 21 is continuously driven at a low speed, the process returns to step n1. Also step n3
When the wiper switch 11 is set to the INT mode, the relay coils L3 and L4 are energized / demagnetized based on the detection output from the raindrop sensor 4 in step n5, and after the automatic wiper control operation is performed, the process returns to step n1. .

When an abnormality is detected in the raindrop sensor 4 in step n1, the process proceeds to step n6, the relay coil L5 is excited, and the output of the cam switch 22 is directly input to the switch circuit 1. In step n7, the relay coil L3 is excited by the switch circuit 1 for a predetermined intermittent time, and thereafter, the relay coil L1 of the switch circuit 1 is demagnetized and power is not supplied to the constant voltage circuit 30.
Is demagnetized, and the wiper stops.

Thus, in the wiper control device according to the present invention,
A control device 3 for adding an automatic wiper function is provided between the existing switch circuit 1 and the wiper motor 2, and the control device 3 can detect the setting mode of the wiper switch 11 in the switch circuit 1. Therefore, there is no need to provide a dedicated switch for the automatic wiper separately from the existing wiper switch 11, so that the operator is not confused, and the modification accompanying the addition of the dedicated switch is not required, and the mounting work is not required. It can be simplified and does not impair the appearance.

Further, a control circuit 31 for performing an automatic wiper control operation
Is configured to be energized only when the wiper switch 11 is in the INT mode and the LO mode.
The fail-safe function at the time of malfunction due to runaway of the control circuit 31 or the like can be ensured.

Further, when an abnormality occurs in the raindrop sensor 4, the cam switch
Since the output of 22 is input directly to the switch circuit 1 and the motor 21 is driven at a predetermined intermittent time, it is possible to ensure intermittent operation at least at a constant interval even when the raindrop sensor 4 is abnormal. Thus, a fail-safe function when the raindrop sensor 4 is abnormal can be ensured.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of still another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is similar to the above-described embodiment, and corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, when the abnormality of the raindrop sensor 4 occurs, the processing circuit 32
A signal similar to the output signal of the cam switch 22 which is input through the terminal is derived to the terminal + Sb through the pulse generating circuit 33. Therefore, the voltage IG is supplied to the constant voltage circuit 30 via the terminal + Bb, and the potential of the contact +1 of the wiper switch 11 is detected by the processing circuit 39 via the terminal + 1a-terminal + 1b, and the control circuit 39 Entered in 31.

Therefore, the operation of this embodiment is as shown in FIG. 7, and is similar to the operation shown in FIG. 5, and corresponding portions are denoted by the same reference numerals. When the abnormality of the raindrop sensor 4 is detected in step n1, the process proceeds to step n11, and the output signal of the cam switch 22 input through the processing circuit 32 is directly sent to the terminal + Sa of the switch circuit 1 via the pulse generation circuit 33. Derive.

At step n12, whether or not the terminal + 1b is at a high level via the processing circuit 39, that is, the wiper switch 11
It is determined whether or not the mode is set to the T mode. If so, the intermittent wiper operation is performed in step n7. Otherwise, the wiper operation is stopped in step n13, and the process returns to step n1.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the output corresponding to the output signal from the cam switch 22 is derived through the pulse generation circuit 33, so that the configuration of the above-described relay switch S5 and relay coil L5 can be omitted. it can.

As described above, according to the present invention, the second control means for realizing the automatic wiper function is interposed between the first control means and the driving means of the wiper control device having no automatic wiper function. The control means detects a selected state of the operation mode of the first control means, and, when detecting that the first control means is selected for the intermittent mode, responds to the rain condition based on the output of the rain detection means. The driving means is controlled (auto wiper operation) so as to be in the operating state as described above. Therefore, according to the present invention, the automatic wiper function can be easily added without adding a dedicated switch for scanning selection of the automatic wiper.

In addition, when an abnormality occurs in the raindrop detecting means during the selection of the automatic wiper operation, the second control means relatively drives the driving means in the automatic wiper operation and drives the driving means in the intermittent mode selected by the selection switch. The wiper blade is driven by a substantially appropriate operation even when an abnormality occurs in the raindrop detecting means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an electric configuration of a wiper control device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram for explaining a connection state in the switch circuit 1 when the mode is set to the LO mode or the LO mode. FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram for explaining an inspection operation for reading the setting mode of the wiper switch 11, and FIG. 5 is an equivalent circuit diagram when a pulse is applied to the switch circuit 1, FIG. 5 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a wiper control device of another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of the embodiment, and FIG. 7 is a flow chart for explaining the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 switch circuit, 2 wiper motor, 3 control device, 4 rain sensor, 5 ignition key switch, 6 battery, 11 wipe switch, 30
Constant voltage circuit, 31 ... Control circuit, 32, 37, 39 ... Processing circuit,
33 …… Pulse generation circuit, 34 …… Waveform shaping circuit, 35 …… Level discrimination circuit, 38 …… Drive circuit

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (58) Field surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁶ , DB name) B60S 1/08

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A driving means for reciprocatingly driving a wiper blade, a continuous mode for continuously reciprocatingly driving a wiper blade,
An electric power is supplied so that the wiper blade is driven in a mode selected by a wiper switch that manually selects an intermittent mode in which the wiper blade is driven intermittently and a stop mode in which the wiper blade is stopped in the rest position. A wiper control device attached to a wiper drive device having a first control means, a raindrop detection means for detecting a rainfall amount, an operation of the first control means attached between the first control means and the drive means, A detecting means for detecting a mode, wherein the detecting means includes the detecting means, and when the stop mode is selected based on a detection result of the detecting means, the wiper blade is stopped at the rest position and the continuous mode is selected. Power is supplied to the driving means so as to continuously drive the wiper blade, and when the intermittent mode is selected, A second control unit that supplies power to the driving unit so as to be in an operation state corresponding to a rainfall state based on an output of the droplet detection unit, wherein the second control unit detects an abnormality of the raindrop detection unit Wiper control, comprising: abnormality detection means; and abnormality control means for supplying power to the driving means so as to drive the wiper blade in the intermittent mode when an abnormality is detected by the abnormality detection means. apparatus. 2. The test apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first control means includes an impedance circuit whose impedance changes according to a selected mode, and wherein the second control means derives a test pulse to the impedance circuit, and a voltage of the test pulse by the impedance circuit. The wiper control device according to claim 1, wherein an operation mode of the first control means is detected by detecting a change.