JP4299347B2 - Wiper device and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a wiper device for wiping a vehicle windshield and a control method thereof.

  In recent years, as a wiper device for wiping a vehicle windshield, a pair of wiper blades are driven by separate wiper motors, and the wiper device of each wiper blade is configured to overlap within a certain range (overlapping type). Wiper device) has been developed.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of an overlap wiper device. As shown in the figure, the overlap type wiper device includes a driver seat side wiper blade 10 and a passenger seat side wiper blade 20. The driving force from the driver seat side wiper motor 11 is transmitted to the driver seat side wiper blade 10 via the link mechanism 12. On the other hand, the driving force from the passenger-side wiper motor 21 is transmitted to the passenger-side wiper blade 20 via the link mechanism 22.

  Usually, the driver's seat side wiper motor 11 rotates forward in one direction, and the rotational driving force is converted by the link mechanism 12 into a reciprocating rotation operation of the driver's seat side wiper blade 10. As a result, the driver's seat wiper blade 10 reciprocates between the starting position 2 set on the lower edge side of the windshield 1 and the upper folding position 3 set on one side edge side of the windshield 1.

  Similarly, the passenger seat side wiper motor 21 normally rotates forward in one direction, and the rotational driving force is converted by the link mechanism 22 into a reciprocating rotation operation of the passenger seat side wiper blade 20. As a result, the passenger-side wiper blade 20 also reciprocates between the starting position 2 set on the lower edge side of the windshield 1 and the upper folding position 4 set on the other side edge side of the windshield 1.

  These reciprocating movements of the wiper blades 10 and 20 are started from the starting position 2, respectively, but in order to avoid mutual interference, one wiper blade 10 or 20 moves in advance, and the other wiper blade 20 Or it is controlled so that 10 follows it. In general, in the forward movement from the starting position 2 to the upper turn-back positions 3 and 4, the driver-seat-side wiper blade 10 moves in advance, and the passenger-seat-side wiper blade 20 follows this. On the contrary, in the returning operation from the upper turn-back positions 3 and 4 to the starting position 2, the passenger seat side wiper blade 20 is controlled to move in advance and the driver seat side wiper blade 10 follows this.

  Then, the driver seat side wiper blade 10 wipes the driver seat side wiping region 1A of the windshield 1, and the passenger seat side wiper blade 20 wipes the passenger seat wiping region 1B of the windshield 1. The wiper areas 1A and 1B of these wiper blades overlap with each other in a hatched area (hereinafter referred to as an overlap area) 1C in FIG.

  The overlap type wiper apparatus having the above-described configuration causes each of the wiper motors 11 and 21 to be, for example, “stop (Off)”, “intermittent operation (Int)”, “low speed operation (Lo)”, “high speed operation ( "Hi)" can be switched to one of the operation modes.

Here, in particular, when switching from intermittent operation to high-speed operation, or when switching from low-speed operation to high-speed operation, the following failure may occur.
That is, in general, the intermittent operation is controlled to operate at a lower speed than the high speed operation, and when each wiper blade 10 and 20 is switched from the intermittent operation to the high speed operation during the movement, the switching timing of each wiper motor 11 and 21 is switched. As a result, the movement of each wiper blade 10 and 20 is disturbed by the combination of the deviation and the rapid speed-up, and as a result, the other wiper blade 20 or 10 that follows the preceding wiper blade 10 or 20 in the overlap region 1C. Could catch up and collide.

  Further, when the operation is switched from the low speed operation to the high speed operation, the operation of the wiper blades 10 and 20 is disturbed due to the shift of the switching timing of the wiper motors 11 and 21 and the rapid speed increase. In the overlap region 1C, the other wiper blade 20 or 10 that follows the preceding wiper blade 10 or 20 may catch up and collide.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and when the operation mode of each wiper motor is switched from intermittent operation to high-speed operation, or when switching from low-speed operation to high-speed operation, the preceding wiper blade is the first. As a result of switching to high-speed operation, the other wiper blade that follows later will catch up with the preceding wiper blade and collide in the overlap area, and it is intended to reliably prevent interference of each wiper blade And

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention relating to the wiper device of claim 1 includes a driver seat side wiper blade for wiping the driver seat side wiping area of the vehicle windshield, and an assistant for wiping the passenger seat wiping area of the vehicle windshield. A seat-side wiper blade, a driver-side wiper motor that drives the driver-side wiper blade, a passenger-side wiper motor that drives the passenger-side wiper blade, and each wiper motor at least in a stop mode, a low-speed operation mode, or a high-speed operation mode Each wiper blade between a starting position set on the lower edge of the vehicle windshield and an upper folding position set on each side edge of the vehicle windshield. The wiping area of the driver is reciprocated and is set within a certain range from the starting position, and the wiping area on the driver's seat side is assisted. When the wiper device is configured so that each wiper blade overlaps and wipes the overlap area that overlaps with the seat-side wiping area, and the setting mode of each wiper motor by the changeover switch is switched from the low-speed operation mode to the high-speed operation mode. The wiper blade for driving the wiper blade that moves in advance among the wiper blades is first switched to the operation state of the high-speed operation mode, and the wiper motor that drives the other wiper blade after a certain period of time is operated in the high-speed operation mode. Control means for switching to a state is provided.

  Further, the invention relating to the wiper device of claim 2 is a driver seat side wiper blade for wiping the driver seat side wiping area of the vehicle windshield, a passenger seat side wiper blade for wiping the passenger seat wiping area of the vehicle windshield, The driver-side wiper motor that drives the driver-side wiper blade, the passenger-side wiper motor that drives the passenger-side wiper blade, and the operation of each wiper motor are set to at least one of the stop mode, the intermittent operation mode, and the high-speed operation mode. Each wiper blade reciprocates in the wiping area between the starting position set on the lower edge of the vehicle windshield and the upper folding position set on each side edge of the vehicle windshield. In addition, the driver side wiping area and the passenger side wiping area are set within a certain range from the starting position. In the wiper device configured so that each wiper blade overlaps and wipes the overlap area to be performed, when the setting mode of each wiper motor by the changeover switch is switched from the intermittent operation mode to the high-speed operation mode, the preceding wiper blade among the wiper blades The wiper blade for driving the wiper blade that moves is switched to the operation state of the high speed operation mode first, and the control means for switching the wiper motor that drives the other wiper blade to the operation state of the high speed operation mode after a certain period of time is provided. It is characterized by that.

  According to the first and second aspects of the invention, as a result of the preceding wiper blade being switched to the high speed operation first, the other wiper blade that follows later catches up with the preceding wiper blade, resulting in an overlap region. There is no risk of collision inside.

  The invention relating to the control method of claim 3 includes a driver seat side wiper blade for wiping the driver seat side wiping region of the vehicle windshield, a passenger seat side wiper blade for wiping the passenger seat side wiping region of the vehicle windshield, and the driver seat. A driver-side wiper motor for driving the side wiper blade, a passenger-side wiper motor for driving the passenger-side wiper blade, and for setting each wiper motor to at least one of the stop mode, the low-speed operation mode, and the high-speed operation mode. Each wiper blade reciprocally moves in a wiping region between a starting position set on the lower edge of the vehicle windshield and an upper turn position set on each side edge of the vehicle windshield. The driver seat side wiping area and the passenger seat side wiping area are set within a certain range from the starting position. In the wiper apparatus in which the wiper blade wipes overlap the-overlap region, characterized in that it comprises the following steps.

(A) Step for detecting changeover operation of the changeover switch (b) Step for detecting the position of each wiper blade (c) When the setting mode of each wiper motor by the changeover switch is switched from the low speed operation mode to the high speed operation mode, Step (d) of switching the wiper blade driving wiper motor that moves in advance to the operating state of the high-speed operation mode among the wiper blades. After switching, the step of switching the wiper motor that drives the other wiper blade to the operating state of the high-speed operation mode after a certain period of time

  Further, the invention relating to the control method of claim 4 is a driver seat side wiper blade for wiping the driver seat side wiping region of the vehicle windshield, a passenger seat side wiper blade for wiping the passenger seat wiping region of the vehicle windshield, The driver-side wiper motor that drives the driver-side wiper blade, the passenger-side wiper motor that drives the passenger-side wiper blade, and the operation of each wiper motor are set to at least one of the stop mode, the intermittent operation mode, and the high-speed operation mode. Each wiper blade reciprocates in the wiping area between the starting position set on the lower edge of the vehicle windshield and the upper folding position set on each side edge of the vehicle windshield. In addition, it is set within a certain range from the starting position, and the wiping area on the driver's seat side and the wiping area on the passenger seat side overlap. In the wiper apparatus in which the wiper blade wipes overlap the overlap region that is characterized in that it comprises the following steps.

(I) Step for detecting changeover operation of changeover switch (ii) Step for detecting position of each wiper blade (iii) When the setting mode of each wiper motor by the changeover switch is switched from intermittent operation mode to high speed operation mode, Step (iv) of switching the wiper blade driving wiper motor that moves in advance to the operating state of the high speed operation mode among the wiper blades (iv) bringing the wiper blade driving wiper blade that moves in advance to the operating state of the high speed operation mode After switching, the step of switching the wiper motor that drives the other wiper blade to the operating state of the high-speed operation mode after a certain period of time

  According to the third and fourth aspects of the invention, as in the case of the first and second aspects of the invention, the preceding wiper blade is switched to the high speed operation first, so that the other following the latter There is no possibility that the wiper blade catches up with the preceding wiper blade and collides in the overlap region.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the operation mode of each wiper motor is switched from intermittent operation to high-speed operation, or when low-speed operation is switched to high-speed operation, the preceding wiper blade is changed to high-speed operation first. As a result of the switching, the other wiper blade that follows later catches up with the preceding wiper blade and collides with it in the overlap region, and interference of each wiper blade can be reliably prevented.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to an overlap-type wiper apparatus having the configuration shown in FIG. 1 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.
In the following description and drawings, “intermittent” may be expressed as “Int”, “low speed” as “Lo”, and “high speed” as “Hi”. Further, “driver's seat” may be referred to as “Dr” and “passenger seat” may be referred to as “As”.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the wiper device according to the present embodiment transmits the driving force of the driver seat side wiper motor 11 to the driver seat side wiper blade 10 via the link mechanism 12 and the driving force of the passenger seat side wiper motor 21. This is transmitted to the passenger seat side wiper blade 20 via the link mechanism 22, and the wiper blades 10, 20 are overlapped to wipe the windshield 1.

<Control system configuration>
FIG. 2 is a circuit configuration diagram showing a control system of the wiper device.
As shown in the figure, the control system includes a changeover switch 30, a driver seat side detection unit 40, a passenger seat side detection unit 50, and a controller 70 as control means. Processing section (hereinafter referred to as CPU) 71, power supply circuit 72, reset circuit 73, driver seat side motor drive circuit 74, passenger seat side motor drive circuit 75, driver seat side Hi / Lo switching relay 76, passenger seat side Hi / Lo A switching relay 77 and a relay drive circuit 78 are included.

  The changeover switch (wiper switch) 30 is for switching the wiper motors 11 and 21 to one of the modes of “stop (Off)”, “intermittent (Int) operation”, “low speed (Lo) operation”, and “high speed (Hi) operation”. Switch.

  When an operation mode other than stop is selected by the changeover switch 30, a signal corresponding to the operation mode (operation mode signal) is input to the CPU 71 via the input circuit of the controller 70. Further, when the stop is selected, the operation mode signal is not output.

  CPU71 discriminate | determines the selection of the operation mode by the changeover switch 30 based on the presence or absence and content of an operation mode signal. Then, the CPU 71 controls driving of the wiper motors 11 and 21 in the corresponding operation mode based on the input operation mode signal. Further, the changeover switch 30 is provided with an intermittent volume 31 for setting the drive interval of each wiper motor 11, 21 in the intermittent operation mode.

  The changeover switch 30 also serves as an operation switch for the washer motor 32. When the changeover switch 30 is switched to the washer mode, a drive voltage is output to the washer motor 32. The washer motor 32 is rotated by this drive voltage and sprays the cleaning liquid toward the windshield 1.

The driver seat side detection unit 40 includes a rotation amount detection sensor 41, a starting position detection switch 42, and an upper folding position detection switch 43.
Among these, the rotation amount detection sensor 41 is a sensor for detecting the rotation amount from the origin of the driver's seat side wiper motor 11, and includes a Hall IC 41a provided in a housing (not shown) of the driver's seat side wiper motor 11, It is comprised with the magnet 41b attached to the amateur shaft of the motor 11. FIG. The magnet 41b has N and S poles alternately attached at 90 ° intervals. When these magnets 41b rotate integrally with the armature shaft and come to a position opposite to the Hall IC 41a, positive and negative electromotive forces are generated from the Hall IC 41a. Are output alternately. This electromotive force is waveform-shaped by an input circuit of the controller 70, and a rotation signal of 2 pulses per rotation of the driver-side wiper motor 11 is input to the CPU 71.

  Based on this rotation signal, the CPU 71 recognizes the rotation amount of the driver seat side wiper motor 11, that is, the wiping position of the driver seat side wiper blade 10.

  The starting position detection switch 42 is a switch for detecting that the driver's seat side wiper blade 10 has reached the starting position 2. As described above, the starting position 2 is set on the lower edge of the windshield 1 (see FIG. 1), and the driver-side wiper motor 11 is normally driven with the rotational position corresponding to the starting position 2 as the origin. It is controlled. The start position detection switch 42 is attached to a rotational drive system (for example, a worm wheel) fixed to the output shaft of the driver seat side wiper motor 11 synchronized with the reciprocating operation of the driver seat side wiper blade 10. When the blade 10 reaches the starting position 2, a starting position detection signal is input to the CPU 71 from the starting position detection switch 42 via the input circuit of the controller 70.

  The CPU 71 recognizes that the driver's seat wiper blade 10 has reached the starting position 2 by the input of the starting position detection signal, and accumulates the driver's seat side wiper motor 11 based on the rotation signal from the rotation amount detection sensor 41. Initialize the rotation amount.

  The upper folding position detection switch 43 is a switch for detecting that the driver's seat side wiper blade 10 has reached the upper folding position 3. As described above, the upper folding position 3 is set on one side edge side of the windshield 1, and the driver's seat side wiper blade 10 reciprocates between the starting position 2 and the upper folding position 3. Then, wipe the windshield 1 (see FIG. 1). When the driver seat side wiper blade 10 reaches the upper folding position 3, an upper folding position detection signal is output from the upper folding position detection switch 43, and this signal is input to the CPU 71 via the input circuit of the controller 70. .

  The CPU 71 recognizes that the driver's seat side wiper blade 10 has reached the upper folding position 3 by the input of the upper folding position detection signal.

The passenger seat side detection unit 50 also includes a rotation amount detection sensor 51 including a Hall IC 51a and a magnet 51b, a starting position detection switch 52, and an upper folding position detection switch 53. Each of these components is configured in the same manner as that of the driver seat side detection unit 40.
The rotation amount detection sensor 51 is a sensor for detecting the rotation position from the origin of the passenger seat side wiper motor 21, and a rotation position signal of 2 pulses per rotation of the passenger seat side wiper motor 21 is input via an input circuit. Input to the CPU 71.

  Based on this rotation signal, the CPU 71 recognizes the rotation amount of the passenger-side wiper motor 21, that is, the wiping position of the passenger-side wiper blade 20.

  The starting position detection switch 52 is a switch for detecting that the passenger-side wiper blade 20 has reached the starting position 2. When the passenger-side wiper blade 20 has reached the starting position 2, this starting position detection is detected. A start position detection signal is input to the CPU 71 from the switch 52 via the input circuit of the controller 70.

  The CPU 71 recognizes that the passenger-side wiper blade 20 has reached the starting position 2 by the input of the starting position detection signal, and accumulates the passenger-side wiper motor 21 based on the rotation signal from the rotation amount detection sensor 51. Initialize the rotation amount.

  The upper folding position detection switch 53 is a switch for detecting that the passenger seat wiper blade 20 has reached the upper folding position 4 set on the other side edge of the windshield 1. When the blade 20 reaches the upper folding position 4, an upper folding position detection signal is output from the upper folding position detection switch 53 and is input to the CPU 71 via the input circuit of the controller 70.

  The CPU 71 recognizes that the passenger seat side wiper blade 20 has reached the upper folding position 4 by the input of the upper folding position detection signal.

Next, the configuration of the controller 70 will be described.
The power supply circuit 72 is a circuit that converts the voltage supplied from the power supply 80 into a voltage necessary for driving the wiper device and outputs the converted voltage. A start switch 81 is provided on the power supply line from the power supply to the power supply circuit 72 to execute power supply or stop. In general, the start switch 81 is interlocked with the engine key of the vehicle.

  The reset circuit 73 is a circuit for initializing the memory in the CPU 71 when power is supplied to the power supply circuit 72 in accordance with the ON operation of the start switch 81.

  The driver seat side motor drive circuit 74 is a circuit for driving the driver seat side wiper motor 11 to rotate by outputting the drive voltage input from the power supply circuit 72 to the brush of the driver seat side wiper motor 11. Here, as shown in FIG. 3A, the driving voltage is intermittently output to the brush of the driver's seat side wiper motor 11 at a constant time interval. A value B / A obtained by dividing the output time B of the drive voltage by the output period A is referred to as a duty ratio, and the rotational speed of the driver seat wiper motor 11 is controlled based on this duty ratio.

That is, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), when a shorter output time B ₁ of the driving voltage, since the driving current flowing through the driver's side wiper motor 11 decreases, the rotational speed of the driver's side wiper motor 11 becomes slower. On the other hand, increasing the output time B ₂ of the driving voltage as shown in FIG. 3 (c), the drive current flowing to the driver's seat side wiper motor 11 increases, the rotational speed of the driver's side wiper motor 11 is increased.

  The duty ratio is set based on a speed command signal (PWM signal) output from the CPU 71 to the driver seat side motor drive circuit 74.

  The passenger seat side motor drive circuit 75 also has the same configuration and function as the driver seat side motor drive circuit 74 described above, and outputs the drive voltage input from the power supply circuit 72 to the brush of the passenger seat side wiper motor 21, This is a circuit for rotationally driving the passenger side wiper motor 21. Also from the passenger seat side motor drive circuit 75, a drive voltage is output to the brush of the passenger seat side wiper motor 21 with a duty ratio set based on the speed command signal of the CPU 71.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a standard duty ratio pattern used for driving control of each wiper motor in the present embodiment.
That is, in this embodiment, the wiper blades 10 and 20 start the wiping operation from the starting position 2, reverse at the upper turn-back positions 3 and 4, and return to the starting position 2 until the driver seat side. The duty ratio of the wiper motor 11 is changed as indicated by a pattern 101, and the duty ratio of the front passenger side wiper motor 21 is changed as indicated by a pattern 102. Each of these duty ratio patterns is preset in the memory of the CPU.

  That is, in the going-out operation, the current output level to the driver's seat side wiper motor 11 in the section G1 from the start position 2 to the first wiping position P1 is almost 100% Duty up to near the first wiping position P1. After that, the duty ratio is gradually decreased. On the other hand, the current output level to the passenger-side wiper motor 21 in the section G1 is set to a duty ratio of about 50% at the starting position 2, and then gradually increased until reaching the first wiping position P1. Yes. And in the 1st wiping position P1, it sets so that the duty ratio of each wiper motor 11 and 21 may become substantially the same.

  Here, the first wiping position P1 is set near the end of the overlap region 1C. In the section G1, by driving the wiper motors 11 and 21 at the duty ratio described above, the driver seat side wiper motor 11 rotates with a large rotational torque, and the driver seat side wiper blade 10 that precedes in the forward movement is quickly moved. The collision of the wiper blades 10 and 20 in the overlap region 1C is prevented.

  In the second half of the subsequent going operation, the current output level to the driver's seat side wiper motor 11 is further lowered in the section G2 from the first wiping position P1 to the upper end folding position 3 and 4, and the upper end folding position 3 and 4 The duty ratio is kept constant at about 43% from the point of time. On the other hand, the current output level to the passenger side wiper motor 21 in the section G2 maintains a duty ratio of about 90 to 80%.

  Thereby, in the section G2, the passenger seat side wiper motor 21 rotates with a large rotational torque, and the passenger seat side wiper blade 20 can be moved quickly. As a result, the delay of the passenger seat side wiper blade 20 in the section G1 can be recovered, and the wiper blades 10 and 20 can reach the upper turn-back positions 3 and 4 almost synchronously.

  Next, in the return operation, the current output level to the passenger-seat-side wiper motor 21 is set to a duty ratio of about 90 to 80% in the section R1 from the upper folding positions 3 and 4 to the second wiping position P2. It is set. On the other hand, the current output level to the driver's seat wiper motor 11 in the section R1 is set to a duty ratio of about 43% for a while from the upper turn-back positions 3 and 4, and then gradually reaches the second wiping position P2. In addition, the duty ratio is increased. And in the 2nd wiping position P2, it sets so that the duty ratio of each wiper motor 11 and 21 may become substantially the same.

  Here, the second wiping position P2 is set near the entry end to the overlap region 1C. In the section R1, by driving the wiper motors 11 and 21 at the duty ratio described above, the passenger-side wiper motor 21 rotates with a large rotational torque, so that the passenger-side wiper blade 20 moves quickly. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the wiper blades 10 and 20 from colliding by causing the front passenger side wiper blade 20 to enter the overlap region 1C in advance.

  In the second half of the subsequent return operation, the current output level to the passenger-side wiper motor 21 is gradually reduced in the section R2 from the second wiping position P2 to the starting position 2. On the other hand, the current output level to the driver side wiper motor 11 in the section R2 is further increased until the duty ratio becomes 100%.

  Thereby, in section R2, driver's seat side wiper motor 11 rotates with big rotation torque, and driver's seat side wiper blade 10 can be moved quickly. As a result, the delay of the driver-side wiper blade 10 in the section R1 can be recovered, and the wiper blades 10 and 20 can reach the starting position 2 almost synchronously.

Returning to FIG. 2, the driver's seat side Hi / Lo switching relay 76 is a relay for selecting a brush that outputs a driving voltage for the Lo brush and the Hi brush provided in the driver's seat side wiper motor 11. Similarly, the passenger seat side Hi / Lo switching relay 77 is a relay for selecting a brush that outputs a driving voltage to the Lo brush and the Hi brush provided in the passenger seat side wiper motor 21.
In this embodiment, a motor called a 3-brush motor is used for each wiper motor 11, 21. In this 3-brush motor, the driving voltage is output between the common brush and the Hi brush, compared to the rotational speed of the armature shaft when the driving voltage is output between the common brush and the Lo brush (that is, the rotational speed of the motor). Sometimes the motor speed increases.

  The relay driving circuit 78 is a circuit for driving the Hi / Lo switching relays 76 and 77, and switches from the relay driving circuit 78 to the Hi / Lo switching relays 76 and 77 based on a command signal from the CPU 71. A signal is output. Each Hi / Lo switching relay 76, 77 selects a brush (Hi brush or Lo brush) that outputs a driving voltage based on this switching signal.

  That is, the CPU 71 outputs a command signal for selecting the Lo brush to the relay drive circuit 78 when an operation mode signal of “low speed operation (Lo)” is input from the changeover switch 30. Based on this command signal, the relay drive circuit 78 switches and controls the Hi / Lo switching relays 76 and 77 so that the drive voltage from the motor drive circuits 74 and 75 is output to the Lo brush.

  Further, when an operation mode signal of “high speed operation (Hi)” is input from the changeover switch 30, the CPU 71 outputs a command signal for selecting the Hi brush to the relay drive circuit 78. Based on this command signal, the relay drive circuit 78 switches and controls the Hi / Lo switching relays 76 and 77 so that the drive voltage from the motor drive circuits 74 and 75 is output to the Hi brush.

  When the operation mode is “intermittent operation (Int)”, the wiper motors 11 and 21 use Lo brushes. That is, when an operation mode signal of “intermittent operation (Int)” is input from the changeover switch 30, the CPU 71 outputs a command signal for selecting the Lo brush to the relay drive circuit 78. Based on this command signal, the relay drive circuit 78 switches and controls the Hi / Lo switching relays 76 and 77 so that the drive voltage from the motor drive circuits 74 and 75 is output to the Lo brush. Further, in the intermittent operation mode, the motor drive circuits 74 and 75 are controlled with the drive interval set by the intermittent volume 31, and the drive voltage pulses are output and stopped intermittently from the motor drive circuits 74 and 75. It is.

<Overall control of wiper device>
Next, a method for controlling the wiper device by the above-described control system will be described.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a main routine related to the control method of the wiper device. The control system described above controls each wiper motor according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, when a current from the vehicle power supply 80 is input to the power supply circuit 72 by the connection of the start switch 81, the reset circuit 73 detects this, and the reset circuit 73 outputs a reset signal to the CPU 71. When the CPU 71 detects a reset signal in step S1, the CPU 71 is initialized in step S2. The initialized CPU 71 is a signal data sent to the CPU 71 from the changeover switch 30, each rotation amount detection sensor 41, 51, each starting position detection switch 42, 52, and each upper folding position detection switch 43, 53. Is stored in the memory. The detection operation of each input signal is continuously performed until the power source 80 is turned off.

  Next, when the change-over switch 30 is set to the “high speed operation” or “low speed operation” mode, the process branches at step S3 to execute normal operation control (step S4). In this embodiment, in addition to the normal operation control, the blade lock control (step S5) and the snowfall control (step S6) are executed according to the situation. Each of these controls is treated as a subroutine and will be described in detail later.

  On the other hand, when the changeover switch 30 is set to the “intermittent operation” mode, the operation branches in the next step S7 to execute the intermittent operation of the wiper motors 11 and 21. In the intermittent operation, the low speed operation using the Lo brush and the stop of the time set by the intermittent volume 31 are alternately repeated. For this reason, CPU71 discriminate | determines whether it is a stop period or an operation period by step S8, and transfers to stop control at the stop period (step S9). In the present embodiment, the stop control (step S9) is also treated as a subroutine because a specific control method is adopted, and will be described in detail later. Further, during the operation period, the wiper motors 11 and 21 are driven at a low speed operation (step S10).

  Also in this intermittent operation, the special control may be executed by shifting to the control at the time of blade locking (step S5) or the control at the time of snowfall (step S6) depending on the situation.

  The control of the wiper device is continuously performed until the vehicle power source 80 is cut off, and ends when the vehicle power source 80 is cut off (step S11).

<Control during normal operation>
The normal operation control shown in step S4 is executed based on the flowcharts shown in FIGS.
That is, in the normal operation control, first, as shown in FIG. 6, the CPU 71 refers to the operation mode signal from the changeover switch 30 to determine whether or not the operation mode is set to high speed operation (step S101). When the operation mode is not set to the high speed operation, that is, when the operation mode is the low speed operation mode, the wiper motors 11 and 21 are driven in the normal rotation of the low speed operation (step S102).

  On the other hand, if the operation mode is set to high-speed operation, the process proceeds from step S101 to step S103. Here, the CPU 71 constantly monitors the change of the operation mode signal, and determines the operation of the changeover switch 30 based on the change of the signal. When the changeover switch 30 is switched from intermittent operation to high-speed operation, a flag (Int / Hi flag = 1) indicating that is set (step S104). When the changeover switch 30 is switched from the low speed operation to the high speed operation, a flag (Lo / Hi flag = 1) indicating that is set (steps S105 and S106).

  Next, the process proceeds to step S107 shown in FIG. 7, and when the Int / Hi flag = 1 is set, a specific control is executed when switching from intermittent operation to high-speed operation (steps S108 to S112). This control is a control for avoiding the risk of interference between the wiper motors 11 and 21 due to a synchronization shift and a sudden speed increase when the wiper blades are switched from intermittent operation to high speed operation. .

  That is, when the Int / Hi flag = 1 is set, the CPU 71 determines that the driver seat side wiper blade 10 is based on signals from the start position detection switch 42 and the upper folding position detection switch 43 provided in the driver seat side detection unit 40. Confirms whether or not the vehicle has reached the starting position 2 or the upper folding position 3 (steps S108 and S109). When the driver's seat side wiper blade 10 has not reached these positions, intermittent operation is continued at a low speed (step S110), and the process returns to the main routine of FIG.

  The loop from the main routine to the normal operation control subroutine is repeated to continue the intermittent operation at a low speed. After that, in step S108 or S109 in FIG. When arrival at the turn-back position 3 is detected, the Int / Hi flag is reset (step S111), and the wiper motors 11 and 21 are switched to high speed operation and controlled (step S112).

  The starting position 2 and the upper turning position 3 are turning points of the wiper blades 10 and 20, and the speed of the wiper blades 10 and 20 once becomes zero at these positions, and the speed gradually increases from this position. Therefore, by switching to high-speed operation at the timing when the driver's seat-side wiper blade 10 reaches the starting position 2 or the upper turn-back position 3 where the speed once becomes zero, each wiper associated with a sudden speed increase is obtained. Interference between the blades 10 and 20 can be avoided. In the above control, attention is paid to the position of the driver-side wiper blade 10 and switching to high-speed operation is performed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the passenger-side wiper blade 20 is in the starting position 2 or the upper turn-back position 3. Switching to high-speed operation may be executed at the timing of reaching.

  In Step S107 shown in FIG. 7, when the Int / Hi flag = 1 is not set, that is, when the Int / Hi flag = 0, the process proceeds to Step S113 in FIG. 8 to confirm the Lo / Hi flag. When the Lo / Hi flag = 1 is not set, that is, when the Lo / Hi flag = 0, the wiper motors 11 and 21 are switched to high speed operation as they are (step S114) and returned to the main routine of FIG. To do.

  On the other hand, when the Lo / Hi flag = 1 is set in step S113 in FIG. 8, peculiar control is executed when switching from the low speed operation to the high speed operation (steps S115 to S121). This control is performed when the wiper blades 10 and 20 are switched from the normal rotation for the low speed operation to the normal rotation for the high speed operation due to a synchronization shift of the wiper motors 11 and 21 and a sudden speed increase. This is a control for avoiding the risk of interference by 20.

  That is, when the Lo / Hi flag = 1 is set, the CPU 71 first switches the driving wiper motor 11 or 21 of the preceding wiper blade 10 or 20 to the operating state of the high-speed operation and adds one to the value of the switching counter. (Steps S115 and S116). The switching counter is built in the circuit of the CPU 71, and an arbitrary threshold value is set in advance. This threshold corresponds to the time from when the preceding wiper blade 10 or 20 is switched to the high-speed operation state until the other wiper blade 20 or 10 in the succeeding state is switched to the high-speed operation state. The wiper blade 10 or 20 is set in advance to a necessary and sufficient value until the high-speed operation of the wiper blade 10 or 20 starts.

  In the present embodiment, the driver seat side wiper blade 10 is the leading wiper blade in the forward movement from the starting position 2 to the upper turn-back positions 3 and 4, and the passenger seat side in the reverse return movement. The wiper blade 20 becomes the preceding wiper blade.

  In subsequent step S117, the value of the switching counter is compared with the threshold value. When the value of the switching counter is smaller than the threshold value, the driving wiper motor 21 or 11 of the wiper blade 20 or 10 that follows is rotated at a low speed in the forward direction. The operation is continued (step S118), and the process returns to the main routine of FIG.

  When the loop from the main routine to the normal operation control subroutine is repeated, the value of the switching counter is incremented by one in step S116 in FIG. When the value of the switching counter reaches a preset threshold value (step S117), the wiper motor 21 or 11 for driving the wiper blade 20 or 10 that follows is switched to the operating state for high speed operation (step S119). ). In this way, after the preceding wiper blade 10 or 20 is switched to the high speed operation, the subsequent wiper blade 20 or 10 is switched to the high speed operation at a sufficient interval, whereby the subsequent wiper blade 20 or 10 is switched. Can be reliably prevented from colliding with the preceding wiper blade 10 or 20.

  The CPU 71 switches the wiper blade 21 or 11 for driving the wiper blade 20 or 10 to the high speed operation state after resetting the switching counter (step S120) and resets the Lo / Hi flag (step S120). S121), the process returns to the main routine of FIG.

  The control for switching each wiper blade from intermittent operation to high-speed operation can also be executed by the next step S. That is, when the Int / Hi flag = 1 is set in step S107 shown in FIG. 7, the same control as that in steps S115 to S121 shown in FIG. 8 is performed instead of steps S108 to S112 shown in FIG. It can also be executed.

  Specifically, when the Int / Hi flag = 1 is set, the CPU 71 proceeds from step S107 in FIG. 7 to step S115 in FIG. 8 to drive the wiper motor 11 or 21 for driving the preceding wiper blade 10 or 20. Is first switched to the operating state of high-speed operation, and the value of the switching counter is incremented by one (steps S115 and S116). In subsequent step S117, the value of the switching counter is compared with the threshold value. When the value of the switching counter is smaller than the threshold value, the driving wiper motor 21 or 11 of the wiper blade 20 or 10 that follows is rotated at a low speed in the forward direction. The operation is continued (step S118), and the process returns to the main routine of FIG.

  When the loop from the main routine to the normal operation control subroutine is repeated, the value of the switching counter is incremented by one in step S116 in FIG. When the value of the switching counter reaches a preset threshold value (step S117), the wiper motor 21 or 11 for driving the wiper blade 20 or 10 that follows is switched to the operating state for high speed operation (step S119). ). In this way, after the preceding wiper blade 10 or 20 is switched to the high speed operation, the subsequent wiper blade 20 or 10 is switched to the high speed operation at a sufficient interval, whereby the subsequent wiper blade 20 or 10 is switched. Can be reliably prevented from colliding with the preceding wiper blade 10 or 20.

  The CPU 71 resets the switching counter after switching the driving wiper motor 21 or 11 of the wiper blade 20 or 10 to the high speed operation state (step S120), and resets the Int / Hi flag in step S121. Then, the process returns to the main routine of FIG.

<Control at stop>
Next, the stop control (step S9) shown in FIG. 5 will be described with reference mainly to FIG.
The stop control is executed when the changeover switch 30 is set to “stop” or when the changeover switch 30 is set to the “intermittent operation” mode.
Now, each wiper blade 10, 20 returns to the starting position 2 and stops. Here, the stop means that the wiper blades 10 and 20 are stopped at the starting position 2 in the “stop” mode, and are stopped at the starting position 2 in the “intermittent operation” mode. Say.
However, depending on the wiping speed, the wiper blades 10 and 20 may overrun due to inertia, and may stop at a position shifted from the starting position 2. The wiping speed of each wiper blade 10, 20 varies depending on the surface state of the windshield 1. For example, when the amount of raindrops hitting the windshield 1 is large, the frictional resistance of the windshield 1 is reduced, so that the wiping speed of the wiper blades 10 and 20 tends to increase. In the present embodiment, in consideration of such circumstances, the following control is executed in order to stop the wiper blades 10 and 20 to the starting position 2 without overrun regardless of the surface state of the windshield 1. is doing.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 9, when the changeover switch 30 is switched to “stop” or is switched from the stop period to the operation period in the intermittent operation mode, the CPU 71 detects the switching timing (step S <b> 201). Then, the wiping speed at the predetermined wiping position is calculated (step 202). Here, the switching timing of the changeover switch 30 to “stop” can be recognized by detecting the output OFF of the operation mode signal output from the changeover switch 30. In the intermittent operation mode, the switching timing from the stop period to the operation period occurs every time the operation period starts.

  The current position of the passenger seat side wiper blade 20 can be detected by a rotation signal output from a rotation amount detection sensor 51 provided in the passenger seat side detection unit 50. In this embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 10, a fixed wiping range D is set on the track of the passenger-side wiper blade 20, and the time when the passenger-side wiper blade 20 passes this wiping range D. The wiping speed is calculated based on the rotation signal input from the rotation amount detection sensor 51. Since the rotation signal at the time of passing through the wiping range D is accumulated in the memory, the CPU 71 can read the accumulated data and calculate the wiping speed in a timely manner.

Since the wiping speed is proportional to the number of pulses of the rotation signal output per certain time from the rotation amount detection sensor 51, it can be calculated by counting the number of pulses. For example, when the rotation signal is output from the rotation amount detection sensor 51 at the pulse interval shown in FIG. 11A at the normal wiping speed, if the wiping speed of the passenger side wiper blade 20 is increased (ie, If the rotational speed of the passenger-side wiper motor 21 increases), the pulse interval of the rotation signal output from the rotation amount detection sensor 51 correspondingly decreases, for example, as shown in FIG. The number of pulses output from the rotation amount detection sensor 51 increases. On the other hand, if the wiping speed of the passenger-side wiper blade 20 decreases (that is, if the rotational speed of the passenger-side wiper motor 21 decreases), the pulse interval of the rotation signal output from the rotation amount detection sensor 51 correspondingly. 11 becomes longer as shown in FIG. 11C, for example, and the number of pulses output from the rotation amount detection sensor 51 within a predetermined time decreases. Therefore, the wiping speed of the passenger side wiper blade 20 can be calculated based on the number of pulses of the rotation signal output from the rotation amount detection sensor 51 per certain time.
Similarly, the wiping speed of the driver's seat side wiper blade 10 can also be calculated by counting the number of pulses of the rotation signal output from the rotation amount detection sensor 41.

  Next, based on the calculated wiping speed, the CPU 71 starts a start position (hereinafter simply referred to as “start position”) in which the duty ratio for driving each of the wiper motors 11 and 21 is lower than the standard duty ratio pattern shown in FIG. May also be determined) (step S203). The standard duty ratio pattern is a standard rotational speed pattern. In the present embodiment, when the changeover switch 30 is switched from the continuous operation mode to the stop mode or the intermittent operation mode, the wiper blades 10 and 20 are returned to the starting position 2 and the determined start position (that is, the timing) ), The rotational speed of each wiper motor 11, 21 is gradually reduced according to a preset duty ratio reduction pattern, and each wiper blade 10, 20 is moved to the starting position 2 while decelerating and overruns. I try to prevent run.

  The start position where the duty ratio is decreased is determined based on the wiping speed calculated in step S202. For example, assuming that the start position (standard start position) at the standard wiping speed is set to the position shown in E of FIG. 11, if the wiping speed calculated in step S202 is faster than the standard wiping speed, that speed According to the ratio, by starting to decrease the duty ratio from the wiping position farther from the start position 2 than the standard start position E, it is possible to prevent the overrun and stop the wiper blades 10, 20 to the start position 2. It becomes.

  On the other hand, when the wiping speed calculated in step S202 is slower than the standard wiping speed, the duty ratio starts decreasing from the wiping position closer to the starting position 2 than the standard starting position E according to the speed ratio. The wiper blades 10 and 20 can be quickly moved to the starting position 2.

  After determining the start position in step S203, the CPU 71 proceeds to step S204, confirms the current position of the passenger-side wiper blade 20, and determines whether the current position has passed the start position. The current position of the passenger side wiper blade 20 can be confirmed by a rotation signal from the rotation amount detection sensor 51.

  If the current position of the passenger-side wiper blade 20 has not reached the start position, the operation of the wiper motors 11 and 21 is continued based on the standard duty ratio pattern shown in FIG. 4 (step S205). Return to the main routine of FIG.

  When the routine shifts from the main routine of FIG. 5 to the stop control shown in FIG. 9 again, since the operation switching timing has already passed, the routine proceeds from step S201 to step S206 to step S204, and the passenger seat wiper blade 20 It is determined whether or not the current position has passed the start position. If the current position of the passenger side wiper blade 20 has not yet reached the start position, the operation of each of the wiper motors 11 and 21 is continued based on the standard duty ratio pattern shown in FIG. 4 (step S205). Return to the main routine of FIG.

  When the process passing through these steps S201, S206, S204, S205 and the main routine is repeated and the passage of the start position is confirmed in step S204, the CPU 71 proceeds to step S207 and decreases the preset duty ratio. The duty ratio is decreased according to the pattern. It should be noted that the duty ratio reduction pattern can be arbitrarily set, for example, continuously decreasing or gradually decreasing.

  In step S208, it is determined whether or not each wiper blade 10, 20 has reached the starting position 2 based on the rotation signal from each rotation amount detection sensor 41, 51. If the starting position 2 has not yet been reached, The control steps from the main routine of FIG. 5 to step S207 are repeated to gradually decrease the duty ratio. When the wiper blades 10 and 20 reach the starting position 2, the wiper motors 11 and 21 are individually stopped (step S209), and the data on the start position determined in step 203 and stored in the memory is reset. (Step S210).

  In this manner, the wiper blades 10 and 20 are moved while being decelerated by gradually decreasing the duty ratio output to the wiper motors 11 and 21 in accordance with a preset reduction pattern until stopping. Thus, it is possible to appropriately stop at the starting position 2. When the wiper motors 11 and 21 are stopped, the process returns to the main routine of FIG. 5 as it is in step S206.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing another method of stop control. Note that the same steps as those in the control method shown in FIG.
In the control method shown in FIG. 9, in step S203, a start position where the duty ratio is lowered from the standard duty ratio pattern shown in FIG. 4 is determined (step S203). In accordance with a decreasing pattern until a certain stop, the duty ratio is gradually decreased (step S207), and the wiper blades 10 and 20 are moved to the starting position 2 while decelerating to prevent overrun.

  On the other hand, in the control method shown in FIG. 12, after calculating the wiping speed at the predetermined wiping position in step S202, the reduction ratio of the duty ratio is determined based on the wiping speed (step S203a), and the reduction ratio is Accordingly, by gradually decreasing the duty ratio from a predetermined start position set in advance (step S207a), the wiper blades 10 and 20 are moved to the starting position 2 while decelerating, thereby preventing overrun. is there.

  The start position where the duty ratio is decreased can be arbitrarily set, and the duty ratio is gradually decreased from the time when the front passenger side wiper blade 20 passes the start position (step S204).

  The decreasing ratio of the duty ratio is determined based on the wiping speed calculated in step S202. For example, when a reduction rate (standard reduction rate) in the standard wiping speed is set in advance and the wiping speed calculated in step S202 is faster than the standard wiping speed, it is higher than the standard reduction rate according to the speed ratio. By increasing the decreasing ratio of the duty ratio, it is possible to prevent the overrun and stop the wiper blades 10 and 20 to the starting position 2.

  On the other hand, when the wiping speed calculated in step S202 is slower than the standard wiping speed, the wiper blades 10 and 20 are quickly moved by lowering the duty ratio reduction ratio than the standard reduction ratio according to the speed ratio. Can be moved to the starting position 2.

<Control when blade is locked>
Next, the control (step S5) when the blade is locked shown in FIG. 5 will be described with reference mainly to FIGS.
Switching when the movement of the wiper blades 10 and 20 is interrupted and stopped due to an obstruction attached to the windshield 1 (hereinafter this phenomenon is sometimes referred to as blade lock or simply lock). When the switch 30 is switched to the “stop” mode, the wiper blades 10 and 20 continue to be stopped even after the obstacle is removed. However, generally, when blade lock occurs, the wiper blades 10 and 20 often stop at an intermediate position in the wiping area. Thus, when each wiper blade 10 and 20 stops in the middle position of the wiping area, each wiper blade 10 and 20 partially blocks the field of view from the driver's seat and the passenger seat.

  Further, when the driver's seat side wiper blade 20 is locked in the overlap region 1 </ b> C, if the driving of the driver's seat side wiper blade 10 is continued as it is, the passenger's seat side wiper blade 20 interferes with the driver's seat side wiper blade 10. Further, when the blade lock is released and the passenger-side wiper blade 20 is returned to operation, there is a possibility of mutual interference in the overlap region 1C depending on the positional relationship between the wiper blades 10 and 20.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the CPU 71 executes the following control in order to avoid such inconvenience when the blade lock occurs.
That is, in the memory (not shown) built in the CPU 71 shown in FIG. 2, in order to determine the occurrence of blade lock, the interval between the rotation signals (pulses) output from the respective rotation amount detection sensors 41 and 51 ( A threshold for time is set in advance. This threshold value is arbitrarily longer than the output interval (time) of the rotation signal from each of the rotation amount detection sensors 41 and 51 during the normal operation, corresponding to the high speed operation, the low speed operation, and the intermittent operation, respectively. The time is set.

  The CPU 71 detects an output interval of rotation signals from the respective rotation amount detection sensors 41 and 51 (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as a signal output interval) in step S301 of FIG. 13, and is first provided in the driver seat side detection unit 40. The signal output interval from the rotation amount detection sensor 41 is compared with the threshold value (step S302). If the signal output interval exceeds the threshold value, it is determined that the driver-side wiper blade 10 is locked, and a Dr lock flag = 1 is set (step S303). Subsequently, the signal output interval from the rotation amount detection sensor 51 provided in the passenger seat side detection unit 50 is compared with the threshold value (step S304). If the signal output interval exceeds the threshold value, it is determined that the passenger-side wiper blade 20 is locked, and the As lock flag = 1 is set (step S305).

  Next, it is determined whether or not the Dr lock flag = 1 is set in step S306, and when the Dr lock flag = 1 is set, the operation of the wiper motors 11 and 21 is stopped (step S307), as shown in FIG. The process proceeds to step S314. On the other hand, when the Dr lock flag = 1 is not set, the process proceeds to step S308.

  In step S308, it is determined whether the As lock flag = 1 is set. If the As lock flag = 1 is not set, the process returns to the main routine of FIG. On the other hand, when the As lock flag = 1, it is determined whether or not the stop position of the passenger side wiper blade 20 is within the overlap region 1C (step S309). Here, the stop position of the passenger seat side wiper blade 20 can be recognized by the rotation signal from the rotation amount detection sensor 51.

  As a result of the determination, if the passenger-side wiper blade 20 is locked in the overlap area 1C, the operation of the passenger-side wiper motor 21 is stopped (step S310) and the passenger-side wiper blade 20 is stopped. Accordingly, the allowable movement range of the driver-side wiper blade 10 is determined (step S311). That is, the moving end in the return direction is determined so as not to collide with the passenger-side wiper blade 20 stopped in the overlap region 1C. Then, the driver's seat side wiper motor 11 is operated in the forward / reverse direction so as to reciprocate the driver's seat side wiper blade 10 between the moving end and the upper folding position 3 (step S312), and step S314 shown in FIG. Migrate to Thus, by operating the driver-side wiper motor 11 in the forward / reverse direction, the collision of the driver-side wiper blade 10 with the passenger-side wiper blade 20 stopped in the overlap region 1C is avoided, and the assistant Even when the seat-side wiper blade 20 is in a locked state, the visibility on the driver's seat side can be secured.

  On the other hand, if the result of determination in step S309 is that the passenger-side wiper blade 20 is locked outside the overlap region 1C, only the operation of the passenger-side wiper motor 21 is stopped and the driver-seat-side wiper motor 11 continues normal operation. (Step S313), the process proceeds to Step S314 shown in FIG.

  In step S314 shown in FIG. 14, it is detected whether the obstacle is removed after the blade is locked and the changeover switch 30 is operated again. When the changeover switch 30 is operated again, the SW switch flag = 1 is set (step S315). The re-operation of the changeover switch 30 detected here is a switching operation to one of the modes “high speed operation”, “low speed operation”, “intermittent operation”, and “stop”. A switching operation to the “stop” mode is also included. On the other hand, if the changeover switch 30 has not been re-operated, it stands by until it is re-operated (step S316).

  If the SW switching flag = 1 is set, it is next checked whether the Dr lock flag = 1 is set (step S317). When the Dr lock flag = 1 is set, it is confirmed whether or not the changeover switch 30 has been switched to the “stop” mode (step S318). Here, when the mode of the changeover switch 30 is not the “stop” mode, the wiper motors 11 and 21 are returned to the normal operation (step S319), and the SW switching flag, the Dr lock flag, and the As lock flag are set to 0, respectively. (Steps S320, S321, and S322), the process returns to the main routine of FIG.

  When the Dr lock flag = 1 is set, the wiper motors 11 and 21 are stopped as shown in step S307 of FIG. There is no risk of interference.

  If the mode of the changeover switch 30 is the “stop” mode in step S318, each wiper motor 11 is moved so that the wiper blades 10 and 20 are moved from the stopped position toward the starting position 2 next. , 21 are operated (step S323). When the wiper blades 10 and 20 reach the starting position 2 (step S324), the wiper motors 11 and 21 are stopped (step S325), and the SW switching flag, the Dr lock flag, and the As lock flag are set to 0, respectively. (Steps S320, S321, and S322), the process returns to the main routine of FIG.

  As described above, when at least one of the driver-side wiper blade 10 and the passenger-side wiper blade 20 is blade-locked and then switched to the “stop” mode by re-operation of the changeover switch 30, each wiper blade 10 is forcibly set. , 20 is moved to the starting position 2, so that each wiper blade 10, 20 moves to the starting position 2 even when at least one of the wiper blades 10, 20 is locked at an intermediate position in the wiping range. The visibility from the driver's seat and passenger seat can be secured.

  In step S317, when the Dr lock flag = 1 is not set, the process proceeds to step S326, and the operating state of the driver seat side wiper motor 11 is confirmed. As shown in step S312 of FIG. 13, when the driver's seat side wiper motor 11 is rotating forward and backward so as to avoid interference between the wiper blades 10 and 20, the passenger's seat side wiper blade 20 is stopped. When the passenger side wiper motor 21 is operated so as to move from the existing position toward the starting position 2 (step S328) and the passenger side wiper blade 20 reaches the starting position 2 (step S329), the wiper motor 11, 21 is stopped (step S330).

  On the other hand, when the driver's seat side wiper motor 11 continues normal operation as shown in step 313 of FIG. 13, depending on the current position of the driver's seat side wiper blade 10, the passenger seat side wiper blade 20 can be used as it is. When moving from the stop position toward the start position 2, there is a risk of interference. Therefore, the current position and the moving direction (going direction or returning direction) of the driver seat side wiper blade 10 are detected by a rotation signal from the rotation amount detection sensor 41, and the driver seat side wiper blade 10 is connected to the passenger seat side wiper blade 20. It is confirmed whether the position is closer to the upper folding position 3 than the position symmetrical to the stop position, or whether the driver's seat side wiper blade 10 is moving outside the overlap region 1C (step S327).

  That is, in the next step S328, the passenger side wiper blade 20 is moved to the starting position 2. At this time, the driver seat side wiper blade 10 is located inside the passenger seat side wiper blade 20, that is, closer to the starting position 2. In the case of moving from the position toward the starting position 2 or in the overlap area 1C, the wiper blades 10 and 20 may collide in the overlap area 1C. is there.

  Therefore, in this case, the operation of the passenger seat side wiper motor 21 is stopped in step S327. When the driver-side wiper blade 10 comes outside the position symmetrical to the stop position of the passenger-side wiper blade 20, or when the driver-side wiper blade 10 moves away from the overlap region 1C, the passenger-side wiper blade 10 The passenger-side wiper motor 21 is operated so as to move 20 toward the starting position 2 (step S328). When the passenger-side wiper blade 20 reaches the starting position 2 (step S329), the wiper motor 21 is stopped. (Step S330).

  Next, after the passenger seat side wiper blade 20 reaches the starting position 2, the driver seat side wiper motor 11 is returned to the normal operation (step S331), and the driver seat side wiper blade 10 is moved to the starting position 2 (step S331). 332). If the process has shifted from step S313 in FIG. 13, the driver's seat side wiper motor 11 has already continued the normal operation, and therefore the normal operation is continued in step S331.

  Thereafter, it is confirmed whether or not the changeover switch 30 has been switched to the “stop” mode (step S333). Here, when the mode of the changeover switch 30 is not the “stop” mode, the passenger-side wiper motor 21 is returned to the normal operation (step S334), and the SW switching flag and the As lock flag are set to 0 (step S335). , S336), and returns to the main routine of FIG.

  When only the front passenger side wiper blade 20 is locked, as described above (steps S312 and S313 in FIG. 13), the driver side wiper motor 11 is continuously driven. It is not removed. Therefore, in this embodiment, as described above, the wiper blades 10 and 20 are first returned to the starting position 2 to synchronize the wiper motors 11 and 21.

  On the other hand, when the “stop” mode of the changeover switch 30 is detected in step S333, the wiper motors 11 and 21 are stopped (step S337), and the SW switching flag and the As lock flag are set to 0 (step S335, S336), returning to the main routine of FIG. Here, since the wiper blades 10 and 20 have already been moved to the starting position 2 in steps S328 to S332, the visibility from the driver seat and the passenger seat can be secured.

<Control during snowfall>
Next, the control during the snowfall shown in FIG. 5 (step S6) will be described with reference mainly to FIGS.
In operation during snowfall, a phenomenon may occur in which snow adhering to the windshield 1 is scraped by the wiper blades 10 and 20 and accumulated in the starting position 2 set at the lower edge of the windshield 1 to form a snowdrift. . When a snowdrift is formed at the starting position 2, the passenger-side wiper blade 20 located particularly at the lower side becomes difficult to move from the resistance of the snowdrift near the starting position 2. For this reason, there is a possibility that the driver side wiper blade 10 that has moved from the rear toward the starting position 2 may collide with the passenger side wiper blade 20.

  Further, if a snowdrift is formed near the starting position 2 and the wiper blades 10 and 20 cannot reach the starting position 2, the position detection of the wiper blades 10 and 20 by the starting position detection switches 42 and 52 cannot be performed. Therefore, synchronization between the rotation angle of each wiper motor 11, 21 and the position of each wiper blade 10, 20 cannot be achieved. Since the CPU 71 recognizes the position of each wiper blade 10, 20 from the rotation signal from the rotation amount detection sensors 41, 51, that is, the rotation angle of each wiper motor 11, 21, There is a problem that the positions of the wiper blades 10 and 20 cannot be accurately grasped and proper control cannot be compensated.

Therefore, in this embodiment, in order to avoid such inconvenience at the time of snowfall, the CPU 71 executes the following control.
That is, in the memory (not shown) built in the CPU 71 shown in FIG. 2, in order to detect the generation of a snowdrift, the front-passenger-side wiper motor 21 at a predetermined position separated from the starting position 2 is stored. First and second threshold values relating to angular velocity are preset. Among these, the first threshold value is that the rotation angle of the passenger-side wiper motor 21, that is, the position of the passenger-side wiper blade 20 reaches the starting position 2, but the passenger-side wiper blade 20 moves due to snow accumulation. It is difficult to set an angular velocity that may collide with the driver's seat wiper blade 10 when it is left unattended. In addition, the second threshold is arbitrarily set to an angular velocity at which the snowdrift further increases and the passenger-side wiper blade 20 cannot reach the starting position 2.

  The CPU 71 detects the output interval (time) of the rotation signal from the rotation amount detection sensor 51 provided in the passenger seat side detection unit 50 in step S401 of FIG. 15, and based on this output interval, the angular velocity of the passenger seat wiper motor 21 is detected. Is detected. In a succeeding step S402, it is confirmed whether or not the rotation angle of the passenger side wiper motor 21 has reached the starting position 2. The rotation angles of the wiper motors 11 and 21 and the positions of the wiper blades 10 and 20 are synchronized by a position counter built in the CPU 71.

  If the rotation angle of the passenger side wiper motor 21 has reached the starting position 2, the angular velocity near the starting position 2 is compared with the first threshold value (step S403), and the angular velocity is the first value. If it is larger than the threshold, the snowdrift flag is set to 0 (step S404). On the other hand, if the angular velocity is lower than the first threshold, it is determined that a snowdrift has occurred and the snowdrift flag = 1 is set. Establish (step S405). Thereafter, the position counter of the passenger-side wiper motor 21 is reset (step S406), and the rotation angle 0 ° of the wiper motors 11 and 21 is synchronized with the starting position 2 of the passenger-side wiper blade 20.

  Next, it is confirmed whether or not the snowdrift flag = 1 is set (step S407). If the snowdrift flag = 1 is not set, the snowdrift has not occurred, so the process proceeds to step S408, where the driver side wiper motor 11 It is confirmed whether the rotation angle has reached the starting position 2. When the starting position 2 is reached, the position counter of the driver-side wiper motor 11 is reset at that time (step S409), and the rotation angle of the wiper motor 11 is set to the starting position 2 of the driver-side wiper blade 10. Synchronize. Further, when the rotation angle of the driver's seat side wiper motor 11 does not reach the starting position 2, each wiper motor 11 is normally operated as it is (step S410) and returned to the main routine of FIG.

  On the other hand, if the snowdrift flag = 1, the process proceeds to step S411 in FIG. 16 and the rotation angle that reversely rotates the driver seat wiper motor 11 based on the angular velocity near the starting position 2, that is, the driver seat wiper blade 10 is set. When the rotation angle of the driver's seat wiper motor 11 reaches the lower rotation position (step S412), the wiper motor 11 is rotated in reverse to return the driver's seat wiper blade 10 to return. The operation is reversed to the going operation (step S413).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, from the return operation to the going operation at an arbitrary position (lower inversion position) before the driver's seat side wiper blade 10 reaches the starting position 2 according to the condition of the snowdrift. Inverted. That is, as the amount of snowdrift accumulated at the starting position 2 increases, the return operation is hindered at a position where the wiper blades 10 and 20 are separated from the starting position 2. Therefore, the driver's seat side wiper motor 11 is reversely rotated from a point where there is little snow, and the smooth operation of the driver's side wiper blade 10 is compensated to ensure the visibility of the driver's seat on which the driver sits.

  Here, the lower inversion position at which the driver's seat side wiper motor 11 starts reverse rotation changes according to the angular velocity in the vicinity of the starting position 2 of the passenger's seat side wiper motor 21. That is, when there is little snow and there is little decrease in angular velocity, the lower reverse position is set near the starting position 2. Then, as the snowball increases, the angular velocity decreases, so the lower reverse position is moved away from the starting position 2 in response to the decrease in angular velocity.

  Next, when the rotation angle of the driver's seat side wiper motor 11 reaches the upper turn-back position 3 (step S414), the wiper motor 11 is rotated forward again to change the driver's seat side wiper blade 10 to return operation (step S415). ).

  Here, the determination as to whether or not the upper folding position 3 has been reached is made based on a detection signal (upper folding position detection signal) from the upper folding position detection switch 43 provided in the driver seat side detection unit 40. That is, the rotation angle of the driver's seat wiper motor 11 corresponding to the moving distance from the starting position 2 to the upper turn-back position 3 is input in advance to the memory of the CPU 71, but the driver's seat-side wiper motor 11 is at an arbitrary lower turn-back position. , The CPU 71 cannot recognize the upper folding position 3 based on the rotation signal from the rotation amount detection sensor 41. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, an upper folding position detection switch 43 is provided, and it is recognized by the detection signal from this switch that the driver's seat side wiper blade 10 has reached the upper folding position 3. It is. This configuration is the same for the passenger-side wiper blade 20.

  Further, the CPU 71 resets the position counter of the driver's seat side wiper motor 11 when the detection signal is inputted from the upper folding position detection switch 43 (step S416), and sets the rotation angle 180 ° of the driver's seat side wiper motor 11 to the driver's seat side The wiper blade 10 is synchronized with the upper folding position 3 of the wiper blade 10. In other words, when the position counter is reset only at the starting position 2, the wiper blade 10 on the driver's seat is reversed before reaching the starting position 2 as described above when a snowdrift occurs, so the position counter at the starting position 2 is reset. As a result, a deviation occurs between the rotation angle of the driver-side wiper motor 11 and the wiping position of the driver-side wiper blade 10. Therefore, in the present embodiment, an upper folding position detection switch 43 is provided at the upper folding position 3, and the position counter of the driver seat side wiper motor 11 is reset based on a detection signal from the switch.

  Next, the CPU 71 compares the angular velocity in the vicinity of the starting position 2 of the passenger-side wiper motor 21 with the second threshold value (step S417). Here, when the angular velocity is larger than the second threshold value, the passenger-side wiper motor 21 is normally operated (step S418), and the process returns to the main routine of FIG.

  On the other hand, when the angular velocity is lower than the second threshold value, it is determined that the snowball is expanding, and the process proceeds to step S419 in FIG. Based on the angular velocity, the lower reverse position of the passenger-side wiper motor 21 is calculated. When the rotation angle of the front passenger side wiper motor 21 reaches this lower reverse position (step S420), the reverse wiper motor 21 is rotated reversely to reverse the front passenger seat wiper blade 20 from the return operation to the forward operation. (Step S421).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the driver-side wiper blade 10 is first reversed at an arbitrary position (lower reversal position) before reaching the starting position 2 in accordance with the condition of the snowdrift (step S413). When the snowdrift becomes large, the passenger side wiper blade 20 is also reversed at an arbitrary position (lower inversion position) before reaching the starting position 2. The calculation of the lower inversion position is performed based on the angular velocity in the vicinity of the starting position 2 as in the case of the driver-side wiper motor 11.

  Next, when the rotation angle of the front passenger side wiper motor 21 has reached the upper folding position 4 (step S422), the wiper motor 21 is rotated forward again to change the front passenger side wiper blade 20 to return operation (step S423). ). Here again, whether or not the upper folding position 4 has been reached is determined based on a detection signal (upper folding position detection signal) from the upper folding position detection switch 53 provided in the passenger seat side detection unit 50.

  Further, the CPU 71 resets the position counter of the passenger seat side wiper motor 21 when the detection signal is input from the upper folding position detection switch 53 (step S424), and sets the rotation angle 180 ° of the passenger seat side wiper motor 21 to the passenger seat side. The wiper blade 20 is synchronized with the upper folding position 4 of the wiper blade 20. When a snowdrift occurs, the process returns to the main routine of FIG. 5 through the above steps.

  When the angular velocity is lower than the second threshold value in step S417 in FIG. 16, the passenger seat wiper motor 21 is stopped (step S430) as shown in FIG. 17B. You may make it return to 5 main routines.

  If the operation of the passenger side wiper motor 21 is continued, the snow adhering to the windshield 1 is scraped to the vicinity of the starting position 2 every time the passenger side wiper blade 20 returns, Snowdrift increases. Therefore, the passenger-side wiper blade 20 that has little influence on the driving of the vehicle can be stopped according to the state of the snowdrift, whereby further increase of the snowdrift can be suppressed.

It is a figure which shows the outline | summary of an overlap type wiper apparatus. It is a circuit block diagram which shows the control system of the overlap type wiper apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure for demonstrating the duty ratio of the drive voltage output to the brush of each wiper motor. It is a figure which shows the standard duty ratio pattern used for drive control of each wiper motor in embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the main routine regarding the control method of the wiper apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart relating to normal operation control in step S4 in the main routine shown in FIG. FIG. 7 is a flowchart regarding normal operation control following FIG. 6. FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart regarding normal operation control following FIG. 7. 6 is a flowchart regarding stop control in step S9 in the main routine shown in FIG. In stop control which concerns on embodiment of this invention, it is a figure which shows an example of the wiping range which calculates wiping speed. It is a wave form diagram for demonstrating the relationship between the rotation signal pulse input from a rotation amount detection sensor, and a wiping speed. It is a flowchart which shows the other system of the stop control which concerns on embodiment of this invention. 6 is a flowchart relating to control at the time of blade locking in step S5 in the main routine shown in FIG. It is a flowchart regarding the control at the time of a blade lock following FIG. It is a flowchart regarding the control at the time of snowfall of step S6 in the main routine shown in FIG. It is a flowchart regarding the control at the time of snowing following FIG. It is a flowchart regarding the control at the time of snowing following FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1: Windshield 1
1A, 1B: Wiping area 1C: Overlap area 2: Starting position 3: Upper folding position 4: Upper folding position 10: Driver seat side wiper blade 11: Driver seat side wiper motor 12: Link mechanism 20: Passenger seat side wiper blade 21 : Passenger side wiper motor 22: Link mechanism 30: Changeover switch 31: Intermittent volume 32: Washer motor 40: Driver's seat side detection unit 41: Rotation amount detection sensor 42: Start position detection switch 43: Upper folding position detection switch 50: Assistant Seat side detection unit 51: Rotation amount detection sensor 52: Start position detection switch 53: Upper folding position detection switch 60: Vehicle speed sensor 70: Controller (control means)
71: CPU (central processing unit)
72: Power circuit 73: Reset circuit 74: Driver seat side motor drive circuit 75: Passenger seat side motor drive circuit 76: Driver seat side Hi / Lo switching relay 77: Passenger seat side Hi / Lo switch relay 78: Relay drive circuit 80 : Power supply 81: Start switch

Claims (4)

A driver side wiper blade for wiping the driver side wiping area of the vehicle windshield, a passenger side wiper blade for wiping the passenger side wiping area of the vehicle windshield, and the driver side driving the driver side wiper blade A wiper motor, a passenger-side wiper motor that drives the passenger-side wiper blade, and a changeover switch for setting the operation of each wiper motor to at least one of a stop mode, a low-speed operation mode, and a high-speed operation mode, Each wiper blade reciprocates in the wiping area between the starting position set on the lower edge side of the vehicle windshield and the upper turn-back position set on each side edge of the vehicle windshield, and is constant from the starting position. And the driver seat side wiping area overlaps with the passenger seat side wiping area. In the wiper apparatus in which the wiper blade wipes overlap the flop region,
When the setting mode of each wiper motor by the changeover switch is switched from the low-speed operation mode to the high-speed operation mode, the wiper motor for driving the wiper blade that moves in advance among the wiper blades first operates in the high-speed operation mode. And a control means for switching the wiper motor that drives the other wiper blade to the operating state of the high-speed operation mode after a certain period of time. A driver-side wiper blade for wiping the driver-side wiping area of the vehicle windshield, a passenger-side wiper blade for wiping the passenger-side wiping area of the vehicle windshield, and the driver-seat side that drives the driver-side wiper blade A wiper motor, a passenger-side wiper motor that drives the passenger-side wiper blade, and a changeover switch for setting the operation of each wiper motor to at least one of a stop mode, an intermittent operation mode, and a high-speed operation mode, Each wiper blade reciprocates in the wiping area between the starting position set on the lower edge side of the vehicle windshield and the upper turn-back position set on each side edge of the vehicle windshield, and is constant from the starting position. And the driver seat side wiping area overlaps with the passenger seat side wiping area. In the wiper apparatus in which the wiper blade wipes overlap the flop region,
When the setting mode of each wiper motor by the changeover switch is switched from the intermittent operation mode to the high-speed operation mode, the wiper blade for driving the wiper blade that moves in advance among the wiper blades is first operated in the high-speed operation mode. And a control means for switching the wiper motor that drives the other wiper blade to the operating state of the high-speed operation mode after a certain period of time. A driver side wiper blade for wiping the driver side wiping area of the vehicle windshield, a passenger side wiper blade for wiping the passenger side wiping area of the vehicle windshield, and the driver side driving the driver side wiper blade A wiper motor, a passenger-side wiper motor that drives the passenger-side wiper blade, and a changeover switch for setting the operation of each wiper motor to at least one of a stop mode, a low-speed operation mode, and a high-speed operation mode, Each wiper blade reciprocates in the wiping area between the starting position set on the lower edge side of the vehicle windshield and the upper turn-back position set on each side edge of the vehicle windshield, and is constant from the starting position. And the driver seat side wiping area overlaps with the passenger seat side wiping area. In the wiper apparatus in which the wiper blade wipes overlap the flop region,
Detecting a switching operation of the selector switch;
Detecting the position of each wiper blade;
When the setting mode of each wiper motor by the changeover switch is switched from the low-speed operation mode to the high-speed operation mode, the wiper motor for driving the wiper blade that moves in advance among the wiper blades first operates in the high-speed operation mode. Step to switch to
Switching the wiper motor for driving the wiper blade that moves in advance to the operating state of the high speed operation mode, and then switching the wiper motor that drives the other wiper blade to the operating state of the high speed operation mode after a certain period of time; A method for controlling a wiper device, comprising: A driver side wiper blade for wiping the driver side wiping area of the vehicle windshield, a passenger side wiper blade for wiping the passenger side wiping area of the vehicle windshield, and the driver side driving the driver side wiper blade A wiper motor, a passenger-side wiper motor that drives the passenger-side wiper blade, and a changeover switch for setting the operation of each wiper motor to at least one of a stop mode, an intermittent operation mode, and a high-speed operation mode, Each wiper blade reciprocates in the wiping area between the starting position set on the lower edge side of the vehicle windshield and the upper turn-back position set on each side edge of the vehicle windshield, and is constant from the starting position. And the driver seat side wiping area overlaps with the passenger seat side wiping area. In the wiper apparatus in which the wiper blade wipes overlap the flop region,
Detecting a switching operation of the selector switch;
Detecting the position of each wiper blade;
When the setting mode of each wiper motor by the changeover switch is switched from the intermittent operation mode to the high-speed operation mode, the wiper blade for driving the wiper blade that moves in advance among the wiper blades is first operated in the high-speed operation mode. Step to switch to
Switching the wiper motor for driving the wiper blade moving in advance to the operating state of the high-speed operation mode, and then switching the wiper motor driving the other wiper blade to the operating state of the high-speed operation mode after a certain period of time; A method for controlling a wiper device, comprising:

Images