JP6724382B2 - Wiping range variable wiper device and control method of wiping range variable wiper device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a wiping range variable wiper device capable of changing a wiping range and a control method of the wiping range variable wiper device.

In a vehicle wiper device for wiping a windshield glass of an automobile, a wiper arm attached with a wiper blade is reciprocated between a lower reversal position and an upper reversal position by a wiper motor. In many cases, the locus of movement of the wiper arm is a substantially arcuate shape centered on the pivot axis of the wiper arm. Therefore, the wiping range, which is a region where the wiper blade wipes the windshield glass and the like, has a substantially fan shape around the pivot axis.

In a vehicle wiper device, it is necessary to preferentially wipe the windshield glass on the driver's side in order to secure the field of view of the driver. In addition, the windshield glass of an automobile has a substantially isosceles trapezoidal shape. Therefore, in a parallel (tandem) type wiper device in which two wiper arms rotate in the same direction at the same time, when the pivot shaft is provided below the windshield glass, the upper reversal position of the wiper blade on the driver side is substantially The windshield glass having an isosceles trapezoidal shape is provided in parallel with the leg at the driver's seat side (vertical side of the isosceles trapezoid).

The upside-down position of the wiper blade on the passenger side of the tandem type wiper device is also provided in parallel with the legs of the windshield glass on the driver side in order to preferentially wipe the windshield glass on the driver side. However, as described above, since the wiping range of the wiper blade is substantially fan-shaped, when the upper reversal position is provided at the above-mentioned position, there is a region that is not wiped around the upper corner of the windshield glass on the passenger side. Occurs.

Patent Document 1 discloses a wiper device that expands the wiping range of the windshield glass on the passenger side by apparently extending the entire length of the wiper arm in operation by making the link mechanism of the wiper device a so-called four-bar link. It is disclosed.

In the wiper device described in Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 12, the driving force of the motor is transmitted to the front passenger side wiper arm 150P via the four-bar linkage 160, so that the front passenger side wiper blade 154P operates. The wiping range Z12 between the lower reversal position P4P and the upper reversal position P3P is wiped. In FIG. 12, a wiping range Z10 is a wiping range in a wiper device that does not have the four-bar linkage 160 and moves the wiper arm around the pivot axis. As shown in FIG. 12, in the wiper device described in Patent Document 1, it is possible to wipe up to a portion closer to the upper corner of the windshield glass 1 on the passenger seat side than the wiper device without the four-bar linkage 160. Has become.

JP, 2000-25578, A

However, even with the wiper device described in Patent Document 1, as shown in FIG. 12, the wiper arm on the passenger side during operation is not sufficiently extended, and the wiper device is left on the upper portion of the windshield glass 1 on the passenger side. There is a possibility that a non-wiping range 158 that is In order to suppress the occurrence of the non-wiping range 158, the fulcrum of the passenger seat side wiper arm 135 as shown in FIG. 13 is driven by the driving force of the second motor different from the first motor for reciprocating the wiper arm. A wiper device has been proposed that moves the shield glass 1 upward on the passenger seat side. In the wiper device shown in FIG. 13, the front passenger's seat side wiper blade 136 wipes the wiping range Z2, so that a wide view in front of the front passenger seat can be secured.

FIG. 13A shows a case where the wiper blade on the passenger seat side wipes the wiping range Z2 during the forward movement of the wiper blade from the lower reversal position to the upper reversal position. Further, FIG. 13B shows a case where the wiper blade on the passenger seat side wipes the wiping range Z2 when the wiper blade is moved back from the upper reversal position to the lower reversal position.

As shown in FIG. 13(A), the wiper blade 136 on the passenger side wipes the wiping range Z2 by performing a wiping operation along the movement direction 140 during forward movement, and wipes along the movement direction 142 during backward movement. By operating, the wiping range Z1 is wiped. However, when the wiper blade 136 on the passenger seat side wipes the wiping range Z2 during the forward movement, the solid matter such as snow, mud, frost, haze, and snow-melting agent on the windshield glass 1 is swept to the regions 122A and 122B. There was a risk that it would end up. If the solid matter is swept up in the area 122A shown in FIG. 13A, there is a possibility that the driver's forward vision may be hindered. Further, when the solid matter is swept up to the area 122B shown in FIG. 13A, the solid matter may block the sensor area 120 in which the rain sensor and the in-vehicle camera are provided inside the vehicle compartment.

In order to prevent the regions 122A and 122B in which the solids are swept during the extended wiping (changing the wiping range) for wiping the wiping range Z2, the extended wiping is not performed in the forward movement but is performed in the backward movement. FIG. 13B shows an example of a case where the enlarged wiping is performed at the time of the backward movement, but the passenger seat side wiper blade 136 wipes the wiping range Z1 by performing the wiping operation along the operation direction 144 at the time of the forward movement. The wiping range Z2 is wiped by performing the wiping operation along the operation direction 146 at the time of returning.

However, when a liquid such as rain is attached to the windshield glass 1 instead of a solid substance, if the liquid is expanded and wiped during the backward movement, the liquid will remain streaky on the passenger seat side of the windshield glass 1. The streaks 124 may be easily generated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above, the wiping range variable wiper apparatus and the wiping range variable for the control for changing the wiping range to either the time of forward movement and backward in accordance with the deposit of the windshield glass surface An object of the present invention is to provide a control method for a wiper device.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the wiping range variable wiper device according to claim 1 has a first output shaft, and the rotation of the first output shaft causes the wiper arm to rotate about the swing shaft of the wiper arm. A first motor for wiping a wiper blade connected to the tip of the wiper arm between an upper reversal position and a lower reversal position of a windshield, and rotation of the second output shaft causes a windshield to move on a passenger side of the windshield. A second motor that adjusts the position of the swing shaft with respect to the upper corner to change the wiping range of the windshield by the wiper blade, and whether the deposit adhered to the surface of the windshield is liquid or solid. An adhering matter determination unit for determining and a rotation of the first motor so that the wiping operation is performed, and a rotation of the second motor according to the adhering matter determined by the adhering matter determining unit. And a control unit for controlling.

This variable wiper range wiper device controls the rotation of the second motor according to the adhered matter on the surface of the windshield, so that the wiper blade can be moved forward or backward depending on the adhered matter on the surface of the windshield. It is possible to control to perform the extended wiping by changing (enlarging) the wiping range of the windshield.

Wiping range variable wiper apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, in the wiping range variable wiper apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the second output shaft is coupled to the wiper arm via a link mechanism, wherein the rotation of the second output shaft The swing shaft of the wiper arm is moved between a first position and a second position separated from the first position to the upper side of the passenger seat, and the control unit determines that the adhered substance is solid by the adhered substance determination unit. If the wiper blade is determined to be an object, the stop control is performed to stop the swing shaft of the wiper arm at the first position when the wiper blade is moving forward from the lower reverse position to the upper reverse position. And reciprocating the swing shaft of the wiper arm between the first position and the second position when the wiper blade is being wiped from the upper reversal position to the lower reversal position. The second motor is controlled so that dynamic control is performed.

This wiper range variable wiper device does not expand the wiper range of the wiper blade on the passenger side when moving forward when the adhering matter determination unit determines that the adhering matter on the windshield surface is solid matter such as snow, Occasionally, control is performed to expand the wiping range by the wiper blade on the passenger side. Solid matter such as snow may be swept up on the windshield surface on the driver side and the upper surface of the windshield during forward movement, but the solid matter swept away by the wiping action that expands the wiping range at the time of backward movement. It becomes possible to exclude below the lower inverted position.

Wiping range variable wiper apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, in the wiping range variable wiper apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the second output shaft is coupled to the wiper arm via a link mechanism, the rotation of the second output shaft The swing shaft of the wiper arm is moved between a first position and a second position distant from the first position to the upper side on the passenger seat side, and the control unit determines the adhered substance by the adhered substance determination unit. Is determined to be a liquid, when the wiper blade is moving forward from the lower reversal position to the upper reversal position, the swing shaft of the wiper arm is set to the first position and the second position. Reciprocating control is performed to reciprocate between the wiper blades and the wiper blade is wiped from the upper reversing position to the lower reversing position, and the swing shaft of the wiper arm is stopped at the first position when returning. The second motor is controlled so that the stopping control is performed.

This wiper range variable wiper device expands the wiping range by the wiper blade on the passenger side when moving forward when the adhered matter determination unit determines that the adhered matter on the windshield surface is a raindrop that is liquid, Control is performed so as not to expand the wiping range of the seat side wiper blade. When the wiping range is expanded during the forward movement, rain streaks may occur on the windshield surface on the passenger side, but the normal cleaning operation that does not expand the wiping range during the backward movement wipes the generated rain streaks. It becomes possible to remove the water that has constituted the rain streak below the lower reversal position.

Wiping range variable wiper apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, in the wiping range variable wiper apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a rotation angle detector for detecting the rotation direction and the rotation angle of the first output shaft, said control In the reciprocating motion control section, when the rotation angle of the first output shaft detected by the rotation angle detection unit becomes an angle corresponding to one of the upper reversal position and the lower reversal position, Control of rotating the second output shaft to move the swing shaft of the wiper arm from the first position to the second position is performed, and the rotation angle of the first output shaft detected by the rotation angle detection unit. When an angle corresponding to an intermediate position between the upper reverse position and the lower reverse position is reached, the second output shaft is rotated to move the swing shaft of the wiper arm from the second position to the first position. Control to move to the position.

According to this wiper range variable wiper device, when the rotation angle of the output shaft of the first motor reaches the angle corresponding to the upper reversal position or the lower reversal position, the second motor is rotated to rotate the wiper arm swing shaft. Is moved from the first position to the second position. Further, when the rotation angle of the output shaft of the first motor reaches an angle (intermediate angle) corresponding to an intermediate position between the upper reversal position and the lower reversal position, the second motor is rotated to rotate the wiper arm swing shaft. Is moved from the second position to the first position. By controlling the rotation of the output shaft of the second motor according to the rotation angle of the output shaft of the first motor, the swing shaft of the wiper arm can be moved in accordance with the wiping operation of the wiper blade.

The wiping range variable wiper device according to claim 5, in wiping range variable wiper device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the deposit determination unit irradiates infrared rays onto the windshield, infrared reflection An optical detector that detects an adhering matter on the windshield surface based on the amount or the amount of permeation, and an outside air temperature detecting section that detects the outside air temperature of the vehicle, and the optical detecting section detects the adhering matter, and When the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature detection unit is equal to or higher than a threshold temperature, the attached matter on the windshield surface is determined to be a raindrop that is a liquid, the optical detection unit detects the attached matter, and the outside air temperature When the outside air temperature of the vehicle detected by the detection unit is lower than a threshold temperature, the adhered matter on the windshield surface is determined to be solid snow or frost.

According to this wiper range variable wiper device, the attached matter on the windshield surface detected by the optical detection unit is determined as raindrops which are liquid when the outside air temperature is high, and solid matter such as snow when the outside air temperature is low. Judge as a thing. With such a determination, it is possible to perform control to perform the extended wiping at either the forward movement or the backward movement according to the adhered matter on the surface of the windshield.

Wiping range variable wiper apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, in the wiping range variable wiper device according to claim 5, wherein the attached matter determination unit may further include an imaging unit for acquiring image data of the vehicle front to the windshield over, When the optical detection unit detects an adhering matter, and the brightness of the pixel in the darkest part of the image data acquired by the imaging section is less than the threshold brightness, the adhering matter on the windshield surface is determined as a solid containing mud. To do.

According to this wiper range variable wiper device, when the brightness of the image data acquired by the image capturing unit is low, it is determined that the solid substance is a solid substance such as mud that hardly transmits visible light. By such a determination, it is possible to perform control to perform the extended wiping at either the forward movement or the backward movement according to the adhered matter on the surface of the windshield.

In order to solve the above problems, a control method for a wiper range variable wiper device according to claim 7 has a first output shaft, and the wiper arm is rotated about the swing shaft of the wiper arm by the rotation of the first output shaft. Rotating the first output shaft of the first motor to rotate the wiper blade connected to the tip of the wiper arm between the upper reversal position and the lower reversal position of the windshield to start rotating the first output shaft; An adhering matter determining step for determining whether the adhering matter adhering to the windshield surface is a liquid or a solid matter, and the position of the swing shaft with respect to the upper corner of the windshield on the passenger side by rotation of the second output shaft. the rotation of the second motor for varying the wiping range of the windshield by said wiper blade by adjusting includes a second motor control step of controlling the determination in the deposit determination step.

This control method of the wiper range variable wiper device controls the rotation of the second motor according to the adhered matter on the surface of the windshield so that either the forward movement or the backward movement is performed according to the adhered matter on the windshield surface. It is possible to control to perform the extended wiping.

The method of wiping range variable wiper apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, in the control method of the wiping range variable wiper device according to claim 7, wherein the second motor control step, with the windshield surface in the deposit determination step When it is determined that the kimono is a solid object, a stop control for stopping the swing shaft of the wiper arm at the first position during the forward movement of the wiper blade wiping from the lower reverse position to the upper reverse position. And the wiper blade is being wiped from the upper reversal position to the lower reversal position, the swing shaft of the wiper arm is moved upward from the first position to the passenger seat side from the first position. It includes a solid matter wiping operation step of controlling the rotation of the second motor so that the reciprocating motion control is performed so as to reciprocate between the second position and the second position.

This method of controlling the wiper range variable wiper device does not increase the wiper range of the wiper blade on the passenger side when moving forward when the adhered matter on the windshield surface is determined to be solid matter such as snow in the adhered matter determination step. , The control for expanding the wiping range by the wiper blade on the passenger seat side is performed at the time of returning. Solid matter such as snow may be swept up on the windshield surface on the driver side and the upper surface of the windshield during forward movement, but the solid matter swept away by the wiping action that expands the wiping range at the time of backward movement. It becomes possible to exclude below the lower inverted position.

The method of wiping range variable wiper device according to claim 9, in the control method of the wiping range variable wiper apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein said second motor control step, the windshield surface by the deposit determination step When it is determined that the adhered substance is a liquid, when the wiper blade is performing the wiping operation from the lower reversal position to the upper reversal position, the swing shaft of the wiper arm is set to the first position and the first position. When the reciprocating control for reciprocating between the position and the second position distant above the passenger seat side is performed, and the wiper blade is performing the wiping operation from the upper reversing position to the lower reversing position, It includes a liquid wiping operation step of controlling the rotation of the second motor so that the stop control for stopping the swing shaft of the wiper arm at the first position is performed.

When the adhering matter determination step determines that the adhering matter on the windshield surface is a raindrop that is a liquid, the wiping range expanding wiper device control method expands the wiping range by the wiper blade on the passenger side during forward movement, and The control is performed so that the wiping range of the wiper blade on the passenger side is not expanded during movement. When the wiping range is expanded during the forward movement, rain streaks may occur on the windshield surface on the passenger side, but the normal cleaning operation that does not expand the wiping range during the backward movement wipes the generated rain streaks. It becomes possible to remove the water that has constituted the rain streak below the lower reversal position.

The control method for the variable wiper range wiper device according to claim 10 is the method for controlling the variable wiper range wiper device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the reciprocating motion control includes a rotation direction and a rotation angle of the first output shaft. The second output shaft of the second motor when the rotation angle of the first output shaft detected by the rotation angle detection unit for detection is an angle corresponding to one of the upper reversal position and the lower reversal position. The rotation of the second motor so that the swing shaft of the wiper arm is moved from the first position to the second position, and the first output detected by the rotation angle detector is detected. When the rotation angle of the shaft reaches an angle corresponding to an intermediate position between the upper reversal position and the lower reversal position, the second output shaft is rotated to move the swing shaft of the wiper arm to the second position. The rotation of the second motor is controlled so as to move the second motor to the first position.

According to this control method for the wiper range variable wiper device, when the rotation angle of the output shaft of the first motor reaches the angle corresponding to the upper reversal position or the lower reversal position, the second motor is rotated to rotate the wiper arm. The swing shaft is moved from the first position to the second position. Further, when the rotation angle of the output shaft of the first motor reaches the intermediate angle, the second motor is rotated to move the swing shaft of the wiper arm from the second position to the first position. By controlling the rotation direction of the output shaft of the second motor according to the rotation angle of the output shaft of the first motor, the swing shaft of the wiper arm can be moved in accordance with the wiping operation of the wiper blade.

The control method of the wiping range expansion wiper device according to claim 11 is the method of controlling the wiping range expansion wiper device according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the adhering matter determination step is performed from the vehicle compartment side to the window. Irradiate the shield with infrared rays, the optical detection unit that detects the adhered matters on the windshield surface based on the reflected or transmitted amount of the infrared rays detects the adhered matters, and the outside air temperature of the vehicle detected by the outside air temperature detector is When the temperature is equal to or higher than a threshold temperature, the attached matter on the windshield surface is determined to be a liquid raindrop, the optical detection unit detects the attached matter, and the outside air temperature of the vehicle detected by the outside air temperature detection unit is a threshold value. When the temperature is lower than the temperature, the adhered matter on the surface of the windshield is determined to be solid snow or frost.

According to the control method of the wiping range expansion wiper device, the attached matter on the windshield surface detected by the optical detection unit is determined to be a raindrop which is a liquid when the outside air temperature is high, and snow when the outside air temperature is low. It is determined to be a solid substance such as. By such a determination, it is possible to perform control to perform the extended wiping at either the forward movement or the backward movement according to the adhered matter on the surface of the windshield.

The control method of the wiping range expansion wiper device according to claim 12, wherein in the adhering matter determination step, the optical detection unit detects an adhering object, and an image capturing operation is performed. When the brightness of the pixel in the darkest part of the image data in the front of the vehicle acquired by the section through the windshield is less than the threshold brightness, the adhered matter on the surface of the windshield is determined to be solid matter containing mud.

According to the control method of the wiping range expansion wiper device, when the brightness of the image data acquired by the imaging unit is low, it is determined that the solid is a solid substance that hardly transmits visible light such as mud. By such a determination, it is possible to perform control to perform the extended wiping at either the forward movement or the backward movement according to the adhered matter on the surface of the windshield.

It is the schematic which showed an example of the wiper system for vehicles containing the wiping range expansion wiper apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a top view in the stopped state of the wiping range expansion wiper device concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is sectional drawing of the 2nd holder member along the AA line of FIG. It is a top view during operation of the wiping range expansion wiper device concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a top view during operation of the wiping range expansion wiper device concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a top view during operation of the wiping range expansion wiper device concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a top view during operation of the wiping range expansion wiper device concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is a top view during operation of the wiping range expansion wiper device concerning an embodiment of the invention. It is the circuit diagram which showed typically the circuit of the wiper system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 shows an example of a second output shaft rotation angle map that defines the rotation angle of the second output shaft according to the rotation angle of the first output shaft in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. In the wiper device according to an embodiment of the present invention, a flowchart showing an example of a wiping mode control process for performing a control to perform the extended wiping in any of the forward movement and the backward movement according to the adhered matter of the windshield glass is there. It is the schematic which showed an example of the wiper apparatus which has a 4-bar linkage. It is the schematic which showed an example of the wiping range expansion wiper apparatus, (A) shows the case where the passenger side wiper blade wipes the wiping range Z2 at the time of a forward movement, (B) shows the passenger side wiper blade at the time of a backward movement. Shows the case where the wiping range Z2 is wiped.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a wiper system 100 including a wiping range expansion wiper device (hereinafter, referred to as “wiper device”) 2 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wiper system 100 shown in FIG. 1 is for wiping a windshield glass 1 as a "windshield" provided in a vehicle such as a passenger car, for example, and includes a pair of wiper arms (a driver side wiper arm described later). 17 and the passenger seat side wiper arm 35), the first motor 11, the second motor 12, the control circuit 52, the drive circuit 56, and the washer device 70.

Since FIG. 1 shows a case of a right-hand drive vehicle, the right side of the vehicle (left side of FIG. 1) is the driver seat side, and the left side of the vehicle (right side of FIG. 1) is the passenger seat side. When the vehicle is a left-hand drive vehicle, the left side of the vehicle (right side in FIG. 1) is the driver seat side, and the right side of the vehicle (left side in FIG. 1) is the passenger side. In addition, when the vehicle is a left-hand drive vehicle, the configuration of the wiper device 2 is reversed.

The first motor 11 reciprocates each of the driver seat side wiper arm 17 and the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 on the windshield glass 1 by rotating the output shaft forward and backward in a predetermined rotation angle range. It is a driving source. In the present embodiment, when the first motor 11 rotates in the forward direction, the driver seat side wiper arm 17 operates so that the driver seat side wiper blade 18 wipes from the lower reversal position P2D to the upper reversal position P1D, and the passenger seat side. The wiper arm 35 operates so that the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 wipes from the lower reversal position P2P to the upper reversal position P1P. When the first motor 11 rotates in the reverse direction, the driver seat side wiper arm 17 operates so that the driver seat side wiper blade 18 wipes from the upper inverted position P1D to the lower inverted position P2D, and the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 operates. The passenger seat side wiper blade 36 operates to wipe from the upper reversal position P1P to the lower reversal position P2P.

The outer edge portion of the windshield glass 1 serves as a light shielding portion 1A coated with a ceramic black pigment in order to shield visible light and ultraviolet rays. The black pigment is applied to the outer edge of the windshield glass 1 on the passenger compartment side and then melted by being heated at a predetermined temperature and fixed on the surface of the windshield glass 1 on the passenger compartment side. The windshield glass 1 is fixed to the vehicle body by an adhesive applied to the outer edge portion. However, as shown in FIG. 1, by providing the outer edge portion with a light-shielding portion 1A that does not transmit ultraviolet rays, the adhesive agent by the ultraviolet ray is applied. Suppress the deterioration of.

When the second motor 12 to be described later does not operate, the output shaft of the first motor 11 (first output shaft 11A to be described later) has a predetermined rotation angle from 0° (hereinafter, referred to as “first predetermined rotation angle”). By performing normal rotation and reverse rotation at the rotation angles up to, the driver seat side wiper blade 18 wipes the wiping range H1 and the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 wipes the wiping range Z1.

The second motor 12 has a positive rotation angle from 0° to a predetermined rotation angle (hereinafter, referred to as “second predetermined rotation angle”) when the output shaft of the second motor 12 (a second output shaft 12A described later) is positive. It is a drive source that apparently extends by rotating and rotating in the reverse direction. By operating the second motor 12 while the first motor 11 is operating, the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 apparently extends upward to the passenger seat side, and the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 wipes the wiping range Z2. Further, by changing the size of the second predetermined rotation angle, it is possible to change the range in which the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 extends. For example, if the second predetermined rotation angle is increased, the range in which the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 extends increases, and if the second predetermined rotation angle is decreased, the range in which the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 extends decreases.

The first motor 11 and the second motor 12 are motors capable of controlling the rotation direction of each output shaft to be forward and reverse rotations, and also capable of controlling the rotation speed of each output shaft. It is either a DC motor or a brushless DC motor.

A control circuit 52 for controlling the rotation of each of the first motor 11 and the second motor 12 is connected. The control circuit 52 according to the present embodiment includes, for example, an absolute angle sensor (not shown) as a “rotation angle detection unit” provided near the output shaft end of each of the first motor 11 and the second motor 12. The duty ratio of the voltage applied to each of the first motor 11 and the second motor 12 based on the detected rotation direction, rotation position, rotation speed, and rotation angle of the output shaft of each of the first motor 11 and the second motor 12. To calculate.

In the present embodiment, a pulse width that modulates the voltage applied to each of the first motor 11 and the second motor 12 into a pulse-like waveform by turning on/off the voltage (approximately 12V) of the vehicle-mounted battery that is the power supply by the switching element. It is generated by modulation (PWM). In the present embodiment, the duty ratio is the ratio of the time of one pulse generated when the above-mentioned switching element is turned on to one cycle of the waveform of the voltage generated by PWM. Further, one cycle of the waveform of the voltage generated by the PWM is the sum of the time of the above-mentioned pulse 1 and the time when the above-mentioned switching element is turned off and no pulse is generated. The drive circuit 56 turns on/off the switching elements in the drive circuit 56 according to the duty ratio calculated by the control circuit 52 to generate a voltage to be applied to each of the first motor 11 and the second motor 12, and to generate the generated voltage into a first voltage. It is applied to the terminals of the windings of the first motor 11 and the second motor 12.

Since each of the first motor 11 and the second motor 12 according to the present embodiment has a speed reduction mechanism configured by a worm gear, the rotation direction, the rotation speed, and the rotation angle of each output shaft are the same as those of the first motor. The rotation speed and the rotation angle of each of the motor 11 main body and the second motor 12 main body are not the same. However, in the present embodiment, since each motor and each speed reduction mechanism are inseparably integrated, the rotation speed and rotation angle of the output shaft of each of the first motor 11 and the second motor 12 will be described below. The rotation direction, rotation speed, and rotation angle of each of the first motor 11 and the second motor 12 are considered.

The absolute angle sensor is provided in, for example, the speed reduction mechanism of each of the first motor 11 and the second motor 12, and converts the magnetic field (magnetic force) of an exciting coil or magnet that rotates in conjunction with each output shaft into an electric current. It is a sensor for detecting, and as an example, a magnetic sensor such as an MR sensor.

The control circuit 52 determines the position of the driver side wiper blade 18 on the windshield glass 1 from the rotation angle of the output shaft of the first motor 11 detected by the absolute angle sensor provided near the output shaft end of the first motor. A microcomputer 58 capable of calculation is provided. The microcomputer 58 controls the drive circuit 56 so that the rotation speed of the output shaft of the first motor 11 changes according to the calculated position.

Further, the microcomputer 58 detects the rotation angle of the output shaft of the first motor 11 detected by the absolute angle sensor provided near the end of the output shaft of the first motor from the windshield glass 1 of the passenger side wiper blade 36. The position is calculated, and the drive circuit 56 is controlled so that the rotation speed of the output shaft of the second motor 12 changes according to the calculated position. Further, the microcomputer 58 calculates the degree of extension of the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 from the rotation angle of the output shaft of the second motor 12 detected by the absolute angle sensor provided near the end of the output shaft of the second motor 12.

The control circuit 52 is provided with a memory 60 that is a storage device that stores data and programs used for controlling the drive circuit 56. The memory 60 stores the first motor 11 and the second motor 12 according to the rotation angle of the output shaft of the first motor 11, which indicates the positions of the driver side wiper blade 18 and the passenger side wiper blade 36 on the windshield glass 1. Data and programs for calculating the rotation speed and the like (including the rotation angle) of each output shaft are stored.

Further, a vehicle ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 90 that controls the control of the engine of the vehicle is connected to the microcomputer 58. Further, the vehicle ECU 90 includes a wiper switch 50, a direction indicator switch 54, a washer switch 62, a rain sensor 76, a vehicle speed sensor 92 for detecting the speed of the vehicle, an in-vehicle camera 94 for photographing the front of the vehicle, and a GPS (Global Positioning System). The device 96, the steering angle sensor 98, and the outside air temperature sensor 126 are connected.

The wiper switch 50 is a switch that turns on or off the electric power supplied from the vehicle battery to the first motor 11. The wiper switch 50 includes a driver seat side wiper blade 18 and a passenger seat side wiper blade 36, a low speed operation mode selection position for operating at a low speed, a high speed operation mode selection position for operating at a high speed, and an intermittent operation for intermittently operating at a constant cycle. It is possible to switch between a mode selection position, an AUTO (auto) operation mode selection position which is operated when the rain sensor 76 detects a raindrop, and a storage (stop) mode selection position. Further, a signal corresponding to the selected position of each mode is output to the microcomputer 58 via the vehicle ECU 90.

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

In the present embodiment, the wiper switch 50 may be separately provided with an expansion mode switch for changing the wiping range of the front passenger side wiper blade 36 to the wiping range Z2. When the enlargement mode switch is turned on, a predetermined signal is input to the microcomputer 58 via the vehicle ECU 90. When a predetermined signal is input, the microcomputer 58 causes the second motor 12 to wipe the wiping range Z2 when, for example, the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 moves from the lower reversal position P2P to the upper reversal position P1P. To control.

The direction indicator switch 54 is a switch for instructing the operation of a direction indicator (not shown) of the vehicle, and sends a signal for turning on the right or left direction indicator to the vehicle ECU 90 by the driver's operation. Output. The vehicle ECU 90 blinks the lamp of the right or left direction indicator based on the signal output from the direction indicator switch 54. The signal output from the direction indicator switch 54 is also input to the microcomputer 58 via the vehicle ECU 90.

The washer switch 62 is a switch that turns on or off the electric power supplied from the vehicle battery to the washer motor 64, the first motor 11, and the second motor 12. The washer switch 62 is, for example, integrally provided with an operating means such as a lever provided with the wiper switch 50 described above, and is turned on by an operation such as a passenger pulling the lever or the like. When the washer switch 62 is turned on, the microcomputer 58 operates the washer motor 64 and the first motor 11. When the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 wipes from the lower reversal position P2P to the upper reversal position P1P, the microcomputer 58 lowers the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 from the upper reversal position P1P so as to wipe the wiping range Z2. When wiping up to the reverse position P2P, the second motors 12 are controlled so as to wipe the wiping range Z1. By such control, it is possible to wipe the front side of the windshield glass 1 widely.

While the washer switch 62 is on, the washer pump 66 is driven by the rotation of the washer motor 64 provided in the washer device 70. The washer pump 66 pumps the washer liquid in the washer liquid tank 68 to the driver seat side hose 72A or the passenger seat side hose 72B. The driver side hose 72A is connected to the driver side nozzle 74A provided below the driver side of the windshield glass 1. Further, the passenger seat side hose 72B is connected to a passenger seat side nozzle 74B provided below the passenger seat side of the windshield glass 1. The pressure-fed washer liquid is jetted onto the windshield glass 1 from the driver seat side nozzle 74A and the passenger seat side nozzle 74B. The washer liquid adhering to the windshield glass 1 is wiped off along with the dirt on the windshield glass 1 by the operating driver side wiper blade 18 and the passenger side wiper blade 36.

The microcomputer 58 controls the washer motor 64 so that it operates only while the washer switch 62 is on. Further, the microcomputer 58 causes the first motor 11 to continue the operation until the driver side wiper blade 18 and the passenger side wiper blade 36 reach the lower inverted positions P2D and P2P even if the washer switch 62 is turned off. To control. Further, when the driver side wiper blade 18 and the passenger side wiper blade 36 are wiping toward the upper reversing positions P1D and P1P, the microcomputer 58 turns off the driver side when the washer switch 62 is turned off. The second motor 12 is controlled to wipe the wiping range Z2 until the wiper blade 18 and the passenger side wiper blade 36 reach the upper reversal positions P1D and P1P by the rotation of the first motor 11.

The rain sensor 76 is, for example, a kind of optical sensor provided on the interior side of the windshield glass 1 and detects water droplets or the like on the surface of the windshield glass 1. The rain sensor 76 includes, for example, an LED that is a light emitting element for infrared rays, a photodiode that is a light receiving element, a lens that forms an optical path of infrared rays, and a control circuit. Infrared rays emitted from the passenger compartment to the outside of the vehicle by the LEDs are totally reflected by the windshield glass 1, but if water droplets are present on the surface of the windshield glass 1, a part of the infrared rays penetrates the water droplets and is emitted to the outside. The amount of reflection on the windshield glass 1 is reduced. As a result, the amount of light entering the photodiode, which is a light receiving element, decreases. Water drops on the surface of the windshield glass 1 are detected based on the decrease in the amount of light. Alternatively, the light receiving element may be provided outside the vehicle to detect the amount of transmitted infrared light, and the water droplets on the surface of the windshield glass 1 may be detected based on the amount of transmitted light. Further, the light emitting element may be provided outside the vehicle and the light receiving element may be provided inside the vehicle to detect the amount of infrared transmission.

The vehicle speed sensor 92 is a sensor that detects the number of rotations of the wheels of the vehicle and outputs a signal indicating the number of rotations. The vehicle ECU 90 calculates the vehicle speed from the signal output by the vehicle speed sensor 92 and the wheel circumference.

The vehicle-mounted camera 94 is a device that captures the front of the vehicle and acquires moving image data. The vehicle ECU 90 can determine whether the vehicle is approaching a curve by performing image processing on the moving image data acquired by the vehicle-mounted camera 94. Further, the vehicle ECU 90 can calculate the brightness in front of the vehicle from the brightness of the moving image data acquired by the vehicle-mounted camera 94.

The rain sensor 76 and the vehicle-mounted camera 94 are provided on the passenger compartment side of the sensor area 120 of the windshield glass 1. The rain sensor 76 detects raindrops or the like on the windshield glass 1 from the passenger compartment side through the windshield glass 1, and the vehicle-mounted camera 94 photographs the front of the vehicle through the windshield glass 1.

The GPS device is a device that calculates the current position of the vehicle based on a positioning signal received from a GPS satellite in the sky. In the present embodiment, the GPS device 96 dedicated to the wiper system 100 is used, but if the vehicle includes another GPS device such as a car navigation system, the other GPS device may be used.

The steering angle sensor 98 is, for example, provided on a rotation shaft (not shown) of the steering wheel and detects the rotation angle of the steering wheel. The outside air temperature sensor 126 is a sensor that detects the temperature outside the vehicle.

The configuration of the wiper device 2 according to the present embodiment will be described below with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 to 8, the wiper device 2 according to the present embodiment has a plate-shaped central frame 3, one end of which is fixed to the central frame 3, and both sides of the central frame 3 in the vehicle width direction. And a pair of pipe frames 4 and 5 extending in At the other end of the pipe frame 4, a first holder member 6 including a driver side pivot shaft 15 of a driver side wiper arm 17 and the like is formed. At the other end of the pipe frame 5, there is formed a second holder member 7 provided with the second passenger seat side pivot shaft 22 of the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 and the like. The wiper device 2 is supported on the vehicle by a support portion 3A provided on the central frame 3, and each of the fixing portion 6A of the first holder member 6 and the fixing portion 7A of the second holder member 7 is attached to the vehicle by a bolt or the like. By being fastened, it is fixed to the vehicle.

The wiper device 2 includes a first motor 11 and a second motor 12 for driving the wiper device 2 on the back surface (the surface facing the vehicle compartment side) of the central frame 3. The first output shaft 11A of the first motor 11 penetrates through the central frame 3 and projects to the surface of the central frame 3 (the surface on the outside of the vehicle), and the first drive crank arm is provided at the tip of the first output shaft 11A. One end of 13 is fixed. The second output shaft 12A of the second motor 12 penetrates the central frame 3 and projects to the surface of the central frame 3, and one end of the second drive crank arm 14 is fixed to the tip of the second output shaft 12A. ..

A driver seat side pivot shaft 15 is rotatably supported by the first holder member 6, and one end of a driver seat side swing lever 16 is provided at a base end portion (back side in FIG. 2) of the driver seat side pivot shaft 15. The arm head of the driver seat side wiper arm 17 is fixed to the front end portion (front side in FIG. 2) of the driver seat side pivot shaft 15. As shown in FIG. 1, a driver seat side wiper blade 18 for wiping the driver seat side of the windshield glass 1 is connected to the tip of the driver seat side wiper arm 17.

The other end of the first drive crank arm 13 and the other end of the driver seat side swing lever 16 are connected via a first connecting rod 19. When the first motor 11 is driven, the first drive crank arm 13 rotates, and the rotational force thereof is transmitted to the driver seat side swing lever 16 via the first connecting rod 19 and the driver seat side swing lever 16. Rock. When the driver-side swing lever 16 swings, the driver-side wiper arm 17 also swings, and the driver-side wiper blade 18 wipes the wiping range H1 between the lower reversal position P2D and the upper reversal position P1D.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the second holder member 7 taken along the line AA of FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, in the second holder member 7, the first passenger seat side pivot shaft 21 is rotatably supported around the first axis L1, and the second passenger seat side pivot shaft 22 is arranged in the second passenger seat side pivot shaft 22. It is rotatably supported about the axis L2. In the present embodiment, the first axis L1 and the second axis L2 are arranged on the same straight line L (concentric). Note that FIG. 3 shows a state in which the waterproof cover K shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 to 8 is removed.

A tubular portion 7B is formed on the second holder member 7, and a first passenger seat side pivot shaft 21 is rotatably supported on the inner peripheral side of the tubular portion 7B via a bearing 23. The first passenger seat side pivot shaft 21 is formed in a tubular shape, and the second passenger seat side pivot shaft 22 is rotatably supported on the inner peripheral side of the first passenger seat side pivot shaft 21 via a bearing 24. ..

One end of the first passenger seat side pivot lever 25 is fixed to the base end portion of the first passenger seat side pivot shaft 21, and the first drive lever 26 of the first drive lever 26 is attached to the tip end portion of the first passenger seat side pivot shaft 21. One end is fixed. As shown in FIG. 2, the other end of the first passenger seat side swing lever 25 and the other end of the driver seat side swing lever 16 are connected by a second connecting rod 27. Therefore, when the first motor 11 is driven to swing the driver seat side swing lever 16, the second connecting rod 27 transmits the driving force to the first passenger seat side swing lever 25, and the first passenger seat side swing lever. 25, the first drive lever 26 is swung (rotated) around the first axis L1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the second passenger seat-side pivot shaft 22 is formed longer than the first passenger seat-side pivot shaft 21, and the base end portion and the tip end portion of the second passenger seat-side pivot shaft 22 are first. One end of the second passenger seat side swing lever 28 is fixed to the base end portion of the second passenger seat side pivot shaft 21 so as to project in the axial direction from the passenger seat side pivot shaft 21. One end of the second drive lever 29 is fixed to the tip portion.

The other end of the second drive crank arm 14 and the other end of the second passenger seat side swing lever 28 are connected by a third connecting rod 31. Therefore, when the second motor 12 is driven, the second drive crank arm 14 rotates, and the third connecting rod 31 transmits the drive force of the second drive crank arm 14 to the second passenger seat side swing lever 28. The second drive lever 29 is swung (rotated) together with the second passenger seat side swing lever 28. As described above, the first passenger seat side pivot shaft 21 and the second passenger seat side pivot shaft 22 are provided coaxially, but the first passenger seat side pivot shaft 21 and the second passenger seat side pivot shaft 22 are mutually The first passenger seat side pivot shaft 21 and the second passenger seat side pivot shaft 22 are not interlocked and rotate independently of each other.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIGS. 4 to 8, the wiper device 2 includes a first driven lever whose base end is rotatably connected to the third axis L3 on the other end side of the first drive lever 26. 32 is provided.

In the wiper device 2, the base end portion is rotatably connected about the fourth axis line L4 on the tip end side of the first driven lever 32, and the fifth axis line L5 on the other end side of the second drive lever 29 is connected. An arm head 33, which is a second driven lever whose distal end side is rotatably connected as a center, is provided. The arm head 33 constitutes a passenger side wiper arm 35 together with a retainer 34 whose base end is fixed to the tip of the arm head 33. A front passenger seat side wiper blade 36 for wiping the front passenger seat side of the windshield glass 1 is connected to a front end portion of the front passenger seat side wiper arm 35.

The first drive lever 26, the second drive lever 29, the first driven lever 32, and the arm head 33 have a length from the first axis L1 (second axis L2) to the third axis L3 and a fourth axis L4 to the fifth axis L4. They are connected so that the lengths up to the axis L5 are the same. The first drive lever 26, the second drive lever 29, the first driven lever 32, and the arm head 33 have a length from the third axis L3 to the fourth axis L4 and a length from the first axis L1 (second axis L2) to the fifth axis L5. They are connected so that the lengths up to the axis L5 are the same. Therefore, the first drive lever 26 and the arm head 33 are held in parallel, and the second drive lever 29 and the first driven lever 32 are held in parallel, and the first drive lever 26 and the second drive lever are held. 29, the 1st driven lever 32, and the arm head 33 comprise the link mechanism of a substantially parallelogram shape.

The fifth axis L5 is a fulcrum when the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 operates, and the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 rotates about the fifth axis L5 by the driving force of the first motor 11 to windshield glass. It reciprocates over 1. In addition, the second motor 12 moves the fifth axis L5 via the substantially parallelogrammatic link mechanism including the first drive lever 26, the second drive lever 29, the first driven lever 32, and the arm head 33. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the windshield glass 1 is moved to a position higher than that in the case of FIGS. 2, 7, and 8. Due to the movement of the fifth axis L5, the front passenger side wiper arm 35 is apparently extended. Therefore, when the second motor 12 operates together with the first motor 11, the passenger side wiper blade 36 wipes the wiping range Z2.

When only the first motor 11 operates without the second motor 12 operating, the fifth axis L5 starts from the position shown in FIGS. 2, 7 and 8 (hereinafter, referred to as “first position”). It doesn't move. Accordingly, the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 operates between the lower reversal position P2P and the upper reversal position P1P while drawing a substantially arcuate locus around the fifth axis L5 where the position does not change, and the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 is The substantially fan-shaped wiping range Z1 is wiped.

In the present embodiment, when it is necessary to widely wipe the windshield glass 1, the wiping range Z2 is wiped when the front passenger side wiper blade 36 moves from the lower reversal position P2P to the upper reversal position P1P. Thus, the first motor 11 and the second motor 12 are controlled respectively. Then, the first motor 11 and the second motor 12 are controlled so as to wipe the wiping range Z1 when the passenger side wiper blade 36 inverted at the upper inversion position P1P moves back toward the lower inversion position P2P. .. When the front passenger seat side wiper blade 36 reciprocates between the lower reversal position P2P and the upper reversal position P1P, the wiping range Z2 is wiped in the forward movement, and the wiping range Z1 is wiped in the backward movement. Can wipe a wide range of 1. Alternatively, when the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 reciprocates between the lower reversal position P2P and the upper reversal position P1P, by wiping the wiping range Z1 in the forward movement and the wiping range Z2 in the backward movement, respectively. A wide range of windshield glass 1 can be wiped. Alternatively, the wiping range Z2 may be wiped during the forward movement and the backward movement.

The operation of the wiper device 2 according to the present embodiment will be described below. In the present embodiment, the driver seat side wiper arm 17 and the driver seat side wiper blade 18 only operate around the driver seat side pivot shaft 15 in accordance with the rotation of the first motor 11, and hence the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 will be described below. The operation of the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 will be described in detail. Further, the following description of the operation of the wiper device 2 refers to the case of performing the extended wiping in the forward movement.

FIG. 2 shows a state in which the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 is located at the lower inverted position P2P and the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 is in the stop position. When the washer switch 62 or the enlargement mode switch described above is turned on in this state, the first output shaft 11A of the first motor 11 rotates in the rotation direction CC1 shown in FIG. The 1st drive lever 26 starts rotating, and the front passenger side wiper arm 35 starts rotating around the fifth axis L5. At the same time, the second output shaft 12A of the second motor 12 also starts rotating in the rotation direction CC2 shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the rotation of the first output shaft 11A in the rotation direction CC1 and the rotation of the second output shaft 12A in the rotation direction CC2 are defined as positive rotations of the respective output shafts.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 wipes the windshield glass 1 halfway (about ¼ of the forward stroke). In the present embodiment, when the first motor 11 starts rotating in the rotation direction CC1, the driving force generated by the rotation of the second motor 12 in the rotation direction CC2 is transmitted to the second drive lever 29. The second drive lever 29, to which the driving force of the second motor 12 is transmitted, moves in the operation direction CW3 and moves the fifth axis L5, which is the fulcrum of the passenger seat side wiper arm 35, above the passenger seat side of the windshield glass 1. Move towards.

In FIG. 5, the first drive shaft 26 is further rotated by the rotation of the first output shaft 11A to an intermediate rotation angle between 0° and the first predetermined angle, and the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 is moved to the lower inverted position. It shows a case where a substantially midpoint of a stroke (forward stroke) between P2P and the upper reversal position P1P is reached. In FIG. 5, the second output shaft 12A of the second motor 12 is also in a state of being rotated to the second predetermined rotation angle in the rotation direction CC2 shown in FIG. Since the rotation angle of the second output shaft 12A in the forward rotation is maximized, the fifth axis L5, which is the fulcrum of the passenger seat side wiper arm 35, is connected to the second drive crank arm 14, the third connecting rod 31, and the second connecting rod 31. It is lifted to the uppermost position (second position) by the passenger seat side swing lever 28 and the second drive lever 29. As a result, the front end of the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 is moved to a position close to the upper corner of the windshield glass 1 on the passenger seat side, as shown in FIG. The above-mentioned intermediate rotation angle is about half of the first predetermined rotation angle, but it is set individually according to the shape of the windshield glass 1, and the like. The second position is a position where the fifth axis L5 is arranged at the highest position in each enlargement ratio (variable ratio) . More specifically, the second position is such that when the front passenger side wiper blade wipes a range wider than the wiping range Z1 (for example, the wiping range Z2), the first output shaft 11A is between 0° and the first predetermined angle. This is the position where the fifth axis L5 is arranged when rotated to the intermediate rotation angle.

In FIG. 6, as the first drive lever 26 is further rotated, the passenger side wiper blade 36 reaches approximately 3/4 of the stroke (forward stroke) between the lower reversal position P2P and the upper reversal position P1P. The case is shown. In FIG. 6, the rotation direction of the first output shaft 11A of the first motor 11 is the same as that in the case of FIGS. 4 and 5, but the second output shaft 12A of the second motor 12 is opposite to the case of FIGS. It rotates in the rotation direction CW2 (reverse rotation). As the second output shaft 12A rotates in the rotation direction CW2, the second drive lever 29 operates in the operation direction CC3, and the fifth axis L5, which is the fulcrum of the passenger seat side wiper arm 35, is moved downward from the second position. It As a result, the front passenger's seat side wiper blade 36 moves on the windshield glass 1 while drawing the locus indicated by the broken line above the wiping range Z2 shown in FIG. 1, and wipes the wiping range Z2.

FIG. 7 shows a case where the first output shaft 11A of the first motor 11 rotates forward to the first predetermined rotation angle and the second output shaft 12A of the second motor 12 rotates reversely at the second predetermined rotation angle. There is. The driver seat side wiper arm 17 and the driver seat side wiper blade 18 reach the upper reversal position P1D due to the maximum rotation angle of the first output shaft 11A of the first motor 11 in the forward rotation. Further, the second output shaft 12A of the second motor 12 is reversed at the second predetermined rotation angle from the state shown in FIG. 5 (the state where the second output shaft 12A reaches the second predetermined rotation angle by the forward rotation). Due to the rotation, the fifth axis L5, which is the fulcrum of the passenger seat side wiper arm 35, moves to the first position, which is the position before the second output shaft 12A of the second motor 12 shown in FIG. 2 starts forward rotation. I'm back. As a result, the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 and the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 reach the upper reversal position P1P, which is the same as the wiping range Z1 when the second motor 12 is not driven.

FIG. 8 shows the driver seat side wiper arm 17, the driver seat side wiper blade 18, the passenger seat side wiper arm 35, and the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 moving back from the upper reversal positions P1D, P1P to the lower reversal positions P2D, P2P. The state (return stroke) is shown. At the time of the backward movement, the first output shaft 11A of the first motor 11 rotates in the reverse direction, and rotates in the rotation direction CW1 which is the reverse direction to the case of FIGS. 2 and 4 to 7. However, the second output shaft 12A of the second motor 12 does not rotate, and the fifth axis L5, which is the fulcrum of the passenger seat side wiper arm 35, does not move from the first position. Therefore, the first output shaft 11A of the first motor 11 does not move. By rotating in reverse, the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 draws a substantially arcuate locus. As a result, the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 connected to the tip of the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 wipes the wiping range Z1.

The operation of the wiper device 2 in the case of performing the extended wiping in the forward movement has been described above. When performing the extended wiping during the backward movement, as shown in FIG. 8, the first output shaft 11A of the first motor 11 is rotated in the rotation direction CW1, and the second output shaft 12A of the second motor 12 is rotated. By starting the rotation in the rotation direction CC2 shown in 4, the extension of the passenger side wiper arm 35 is started. Then, as shown in FIG. 5, when the first output shaft 11A rotates to an intermediate rotation angle between 0° and the first predetermined angle, the second output shaft 12A is rotated to the second predetermined rotation angle. The wiper arm 35 on the passenger side is maximally extended. After that, the second output shaft 12A is rotated in the rotation direction CW2 shown in FIG. 6 to converge the extended passenger seat side wiper arm 35.

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram schematically showing a circuit of the wiper system 100 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9, the wiper system 100 includes a control circuit 52 and a drive circuit 56.

As described above, the control circuit 52 has the microcomputer 58 and the memory 60, and the microcomputer 58 has a wiper switch 50, a direction indicator switch 54, a washer switch 62, and a vehicle switch 90 via a vehicle ECU 90 (not shown). A rain sensor 76, a vehicle speed sensor 92, an in-vehicle camera 94, a GPS device 96, a steering angle sensor 98, and an outside air temperature sensor 126 are connected to each other.

The drive circuit 56 includes a first pre-driver 104 and a first motor drive circuit 108 for driving the first motor 11, and a second pre-driver 106 and a second motor drive circuit 110 for driving the second motor 12. ing. The drive circuit 56 also includes a relay drive circuit 78, a FET drive circuit 80, and a washer motor drive circuit 57 for driving the washer motor 64.

The microcomputer 58 of the control circuit 52 controls the rotation of the first motor 11 by turning on and off the switching element that constitutes the first motor drive circuit 108 via the first pre-driver 104, and the rotation of the first motor 11 via the second pre-driver 106. The rotation of the second motor 12 is controlled by turning on and off the switching elements of the two-motor drive circuit 110. Further, the microcomputer 58 controls the rotation of the washer motor 64 by controlling the relay driving circuit 78 and the FET driving circuit 80.

When the first motor 11 and the second motor 12 are brushed DC motors, the first motor drive circuit 108 and the second motor drive circuit 110 each include four switching elements. The switching element is, for example, an N-type FET (field effect transistor).

As shown in FIG. 9, the first motor drive circuit 108 includes FETs 108A to 108D. In the FET 108A, the drain is connected to the power supply (+B), the gate is connected to the first pre-driver 104, and the source is connected to one end of the first motor 11. The FET 108B has a drain connected to the power supply (+B), a gate connected to the first pre-driver 104, and a source connected to the other end of the first motor 11. The FET 108C has a drain connected to one end of the first motor 11, a gate connected to the first pre-driver 104, and a source grounded. The FET 108D has a drain connected to the other end of the first motor 11, a gate connected to the first predriver 104, and a source grounded.

The first pre-driver 104 controls the driving of the first motor 11 by switching the control signal supplied to the gates of the FETs 108A to 108D according to the control signal from the microcomputer 58. That is, when rotating the first output shaft 11A of the first motor 11 in a predetermined direction (forward rotation), the first pre-driver 104 turns on the set of the FET 108A and the FET 108D to output the first output of the first motor 11. When rotating the shaft 11A in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction (reverse rotation), the set of the FET 108B and the FET 108C is turned on. Further, the first pre-driver 104 performs PWM for intermittently turning on and off the FET 108A and the FET 108D based on the control signal from the microcomputer 58.

The first pre-driver 104 controls the rotation speed of the first motor 11 in the forward rotation by changing the duty ratio of turning on/off the FETs 108A and 108D by PWM. When the duty ratio increases, the effective value of the voltage applied to the terminals of the first motor 11 during the normal rotation increases, and the rotation speed of the first motor 11 increases.

Similarly, the first pre-driver 104 controls the rotation speed of the first motor 11 in the reverse rotation by changing the duty ratio related to ON/OFF of the FET 108B and the FET 108C by PWM. When the duty ratio increases, the effective value of the voltage applied to the terminals of the first motor 11 during reverse rotation increases, and the rotation speed of the first motor 11 increases.

The second motor drive circuit 110 includes FETs 110A to 110D. The FET 110A has a drain connected to the power supply (+B), a gate connected to the second pre-driver 106, and a source connected to one end of the second motor 12. The FET 110B has a drain connected to the power supply (+B), a gate connected to the second pre-driver 106, and a source connected to the other end of the second motor 12. The FET 110C has a drain connected to one end of the second motor 12, a gate connected to the second predriver 106, and a source grounded. The FET 110D has a drain connected to the other end of the second motor 12, a gate connected to the second predriver 106, and a source grounded.

The second pre-driver 106 controls the drive of the second motor 12 by switching the control signal supplied to the gates of the FETs 110A to 110D according to the control signal from the microcomputer 58. That is, when rotating the second output shaft 12A of the second motor 12 in a predetermined direction (forward rotation), the second pre-driver 106 turns on the set of the FET 110A and the FET 110D to output the second output of the second motor 12. When rotating the shaft 12A in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction (reverse rotation), the set of the FET 110B and the FET 110C is turned on. Further, the second pre-driver 104 controls the rotation speed of the second motor 12 by performing PWM as in the above-mentioned first pre-driver 104 based on the control signal from the microcomputer 58.

A two-pole sensor magnet 112A is fixed to the output shaft end 112 of the first output shaft 11A in the deceleration mechanism of the first motor 11, and a first absolute angle sensor 114 is provided so as to face the sensor magnet 112A. ing.

A two-pole sensor magnet 116A is fixed to the output shaft end portion 116 of the second output shaft 12A in the deceleration mechanism of the second motor 12, and a second absolute angle sensor 118 is provided so as to face the sensor magnet 116A. ing.

The first absolute angle sensor 114 detects the magnetic field of the sensor magnet 112A and the second absolute angle sensor 118 detects the magnetic field of the sensor magnet 116A, and outputs a signal according to the strength of the detected magnetic field. The microcomputer 58, based on the signals output by the first absolute angle sensor 114 and the second absolute angle sensor 118, respectively, the rotation angle and the rotation position of the first output shaft 11A of the first motor 11 and the second motor 12, respectively. , The rotation direction and the rotation speed are calculated.

From the rotation angle of the first output shaft 11A of the first motor 11, the position between the lower reversal position P2D and the upper reversal position P1D of the driver side wiper blade 18 can be calculated. Further, from the rotation angle of the second output shaft 12A of the second motor 12, the apparent extension degree (extension degree) of the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 can be calculated. The microcomputer 58 uses the rotation angle of the second output shaft 12A based on the position between the lower reversal position P2D and the upper reversal position P1D of the driver side wiper blade 18 calculated from the rotation angle of the first output shaft 11A. By controlling, the operations of the first motor 11 and the second motor 12 are synchronized. As an example, the memory 60 stores the position (or the rotation angle of the first output shaft 11A) between the lower reversal position P2D and the upper reversal position P1D of the driver side wiper blade 18 and the rotation angle of the second output shaft 12A. Is stored in advance, and the rotation angle of the second output shaft 12A is controlled according to the rotation angle of the first output shaft 11A according to the map.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a second output shaft rotation angle map that defines the rotation angle of the second output shaft 12A according to the rotation angle of the first output shaft 11A in the present embodiment. The horizontal axis of FIG. 10 is the first output shaft rotation angle θ _A that is the rotation angle of the first output shaft 11A, and the vertical axis is the second output shaft rotation angle θ _B that is the rotation angle of the second output shaft 12A. .. The origin O in FIG. 10 indicates a state in which the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 is in the lower inverted position P2P. Theta ₁ of FIG. 10, the result of the first output shaft 11A has first predetermined rotation angle theta ₁ rotation, passenger side wiper blade 36 indicates a state in which the upper reversal position P1P.

When the first absolute angle sensor 114 starts rotating the first output shaft 11A of the first motor 11, the microcomputer 58 detects the rotation angle of the first output shaft 11A detected by the first absolute angle sensor 114 and the second output shaft. Check with the rotation angle map. With this collation, the second output shaft rotation angle θ _B corresponding to the first output shaft rotation angle θ _A detected by the first absolute angle sensor 114 is calculated from the angle shown by the curve 190 in FIG. 10 and calculated. The rotation angle of the second output shaft 12A of the second motor 12 is controlled so that the second output shaft rotation angle θ _B is obtained.

More specifically, when the rotation angle of the first output shaft 11A of the first motor 11 starts changing from 0° in the forward rotation direction by the first absolute angle sensor 114, the microcomputer 58 determines the wiper on the passenger side. It is determined that the blade 36 has started moving from the lower reversal position P2P, and the forward rotation of the second output shaft 12A is started. As described above, the microcomputer 58 determines the rotation angle of the second output shaft 12A corresponding to the rotation angle of the first output shaft 11A using the second output shaft rotation angle map. 2 The rotation angle of the second output shaft 12A is monitored based on the signal from the absolute angle sensor 118, and the rotation of the second motor 12 is controlled so that the rotation angle is determined using the second output shaft rotation angle map. .. Although it depends on the setting of the second output shaft rotation angle map, as shown in FIG. 10, the first output shaft rotation angle θ _A becomes an intermediate rotation angle θ _m between 0° and the first predetermined rotation angle θ _1. In this case, the rotation angle of the second output shaft 12A in the normal rotation is set to the second predetermined rotation angle θ ₂ . Since the rotation angle of the second output shaft 12A in the normal rotation becomes the second predetermined rotation angle θ ₂ , the fifth axis L5, which is the fulcrum of the passenger seat side wiper arm 35, is located above the passenger seat side on the windshield glass 1 ( 2nd position).

After the rotation angle of the second output shaft 12A in the normal rotation reaches the second predetermined rotation angle θ ₂ , the rotation angle of the second output shaft 12A is decreased according to the second output shaft rotation angle map. Specifically, the rotation angle of the first output shaft 11A reaches the first predetermined rotation angle θ ₁ and the second output shaft 12A is set to the second predetermined rotation angle before the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 reaches the upper reversal position P1P. The reverse rotation at the rotation angle θ ₂ reduces the rotation angle of the second output shaft 12A to 0°. By the reverse rotation of the second output shaft 12A, the fifth axis L5 which is the fulcrum of the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 is returned to the original position (first position).

The above description is for the case of wiping the wiping range Z2 while moving the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 from the lower reversal position P2P to the upper reversal position P1P. When wiping the wiping range Z2 while moving the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 from the upper reversal position P1P to the lower reversal position P2P, the rotation angle of the first output shaft 11A is reversed from 0° by the first absolute angle sensor 114. When the change in the rotation direction is started, it is determined that the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 has started moving from the upper reversal position P1P, and the forward rotation of the second output shaft 12A of the second motor 12 is started. The second output shaft rotation angle map shown in FIG. 10 is a symmetrical curve 190 about the intermediate rotation angle θ _m , but the present invention is not limited to this. The curve of the map is set individually according to the shape of the windshield glass 1, etc.

In addition, the microcomputer 58 changes the wiping speed of the wiper blade based on the position between the lower inverted position P2D and the upper inverted position P1D of the driver side wiper blade 18 and the degree of expansion of the passenger side wiper arm 35. It is also possible to perform control such as turning on. Hereinafter, an example of the control of the wiping speed when the second predetermined rotation angle that is the rotation angle of the second output shaft 12A is set to be large and the degree of expansion of the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 is increased will be described. In such a case, as the rotation angle of the first output shaft 11A of the first motor 11 approaches the intermediate rotation angle, the rotation speed of the first output shaft 11A is gradually reduced. Then, when the rotation angle of the first output shaft 11A reaches the intermediate rotation angle, that is, when the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 is extended to the maximum, the rotation speed of the first output shaft 11A is controlled to be the minimum. To do. For controlling the rotation speed of the first output shaft 11A, for example, a map of the rotation speed of the first output shaft 11A defined according to the rotation angle of the first output shaft 11A (not shown) is used. Further, the rotation speed of the second output shaft 12A is also controlled corresponding to the rotation speed of the first output shaft 11A. For example, if the second output shaft rotation angle map as shown in FIG. 10 is used, the rotation of the second output shaft 12A can be synchronized with the rotation of the first output shaft 11A. The rotation speed of the second output shaft 12A can also be controlled according to the increase or decrease in the rotation speed. By such control, the speed at which the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 is extended and the speed at which the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 is wiped can be reduced, and the occupant can feel less discomfort that "the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 has suddenly expanded." ..

The washer motor drive circuit 57 includes a relay unit 84 incorporating two relays RLY1 and RLY2 and two FETs 86A and 86B. The relay coils of the relays RLY1 and RLY2 of the relay unit 84 are connected to the relay drive circuit 78, respectively. The relay drive circuit 78 switches ON/OFF of the relays RLY1 and RLY2 (excitation/stop of excitation of the relay coil). While the relay coil is not excited, the relays RLY1 and RLY2 maintain the state (OFF state) in which the common terminals 84C1 and 84C2 are connected to the first terminals 84A1 and 84A2, respectively, and the relay coil is excited. The common terminals 84C1 and 84C2 are switched to be connected to the second terminals 84B1 and 84B2, respectively. The common terminal 84C1 of the relay RLY1 is connected to one end of the washer motor 64, and the common terminal 84C2 of the relay RLY2 is connected to the other end of the washer motor 64. The first terminals 84A1 and 84A2 of the relays RLY1 and RLY2 are connected to the drain of the FET 86B, and the second terminals 84B1 and 84B2 of the relays RLY1 and RLY2 are connected to the power source (+B).

The FET 86B has a gate connected to the FET drive circuit 80 and a source grounded. The duty ratio for turning on and off the FET 86B is controlled by the FET drive circuit 80. Further, the FET 86A is provided between the drain of the FET 86B and the power source (+B). Since the control signal is not input to the gate of the FET 86A, the FET 86A is not switched on and off, and is provided for the purpose of using the parasitic diode for absorbing the surge.

The relay drive circuit 78 and the FET drive circuit 80 control the drive of the washer motor 64 by switching ON/OFF of the two relays RLY1 and RLY2 and the FET 86B. That is, when rotating the output shaft of the washer motor 64 in a predetermined direction (normal rotation), the relay drive circuit 78 turns on the relay RLY1 (relay RLY2 is turned off), and the FET drive circuit 80 turns on the FET 86B at a predetermined duty ratio. Let By the above control, the rotation speed of the output shaft of the washer motor 64 is controlled.

Hereinafter, control of the wiper system 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 11 is an example of a wiping mode control process in the wiper device 2 according to the present embodiment, which performs control to perform extended wiping in either forward movement or backward movement in accordance with an adhered matter on the windshield glass 1. It is the flowchart shown. The series of procedures shown in FIG. 11 is executed when the wiper switch 50 is in the AUTO operation mode selection position for automatically operating the wiper device 2 when the rain sensor 76 detects a raindrop, and the control is performed. It is processed by the microcomputer 58 in the circuit 52.

In step 110, the signal from the rain sensor 76 is acquired, and in step 112, the image data is acquired from the vehicle-mounted camera 94. Further, in step 114, a signal indicating the temperature outside the vehicle is acquired from the outside air temperature sensor 126.

In step 116, it is determined whether or not the rain sensor 76 has detected a liquid such as raindrops or a solid matter such as snow. As described above, the rain sensor 76 detects the adhered matter on the windshield glass 1 by the change in the reflection amount of infrared rays emitted from the vehicle interior side to the outside of the vehicle. In step 116, if there is any change in the reflection amount of the infrared rays emitted from the rain sensor 76, it is determined that there is an adhered matter on the surface of the windshield glass 1, and a positive determination is made. In the case of positive determination in step 116, the procedure is moved to step 118. In the case of negative determination in step 116, the process is returned.

In step 118, it is determined whether or not the brightness of the darkest part of the image data acquired from the vehicle-mounted camera 94 is equal to or higher than the threshold brightness. If the deposits on the surface of the windshield glass 1 are colorless or white such as water droplets, snow, frost, sleet, and snow melting agent, the brightness of the image data is generally high even in the darkest part. On the other hand, if the adhered matter is mud, the brightness of the darkest part of the image data is lower than that of the case of a water drop or the like. In the present embodiment, the threshold pixel is specifically determined through an actual machine test or the like so that mud can be distinguished from water droplets, snow, frost, deceit, snow-melting agent, and the like.

In the case of positive determination in step 118, the procedure is moved to step 120. In the case of negative determination in step 118, the procedure is moved to step 124.

In step 120, it is determined whether the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature sensor 126 is equal to or higher than a threshold temperature. The threshold temperature is, for example, 4 to 5° C. where frost or the like occurs. When the determination in step 120 is affirmative, it can be determined that the deposits on the surface of the windshield glass 1 are liquids such as raindrops. Therefore, in step 122, the operation in the rain wiping mode is performed in which the extended wiping to wipe the wiping range Z2 is performed at the time of forward movement, and the normal operation is performed to wipe the wiping range Z1 at the time of returning, and the process is returned.

If the determination in step 118 is negative, it can be determined that the adhered matter is mud, and if the determination is negative in step 120, it can be determined that the adhered matter is snow, frost, haze, snow melting agent, etc. .. Whether the negative determination is made in step 118 or the negative determination in step 120, the adhered matter on the surface of the windshield glass 1 is considered to be a solid matter. Therefore, in step 124, the normal operation for wiping the wiping range Z1 at the time of forward movement is performed, and the operation in the snow/mud wiping mode for performing the extended wiping for wiping the wiping range Z2 at the time of backward movement is performed and the process is returned.

As described above, in the present embodiment, by using the rain sensor 76, the vehicle-mounted camera 94, and the outside air temperature sensor 126 together, the adhered matter on the surface of the windshield glass 1 is a liquid such as raindrops, snow or mud, or the like. It is determined whether it is a solid. Then, based on the determination, it is possible to perform control to perform the extended wiping according to the adhered matter on the surface of the windshield glass 1 in either the forward movement or the backward movement.

When the deposits on the surface of the windshield glass 1 are identified as raindrops that are liquids, a rain streak is generated on the front passenger side of the windshield glass 1 by performing extended wiping on the forward movement and performing normal operation on the backward movement. To prevent When the wiping range is expanded during the forward movement, rain streaks may occur on the windshield glass 1 surface on the passenger side, but the generated rain streaks are removed by the normal wiping operation that does not expand the wiping range during the backward movement. This is because it becomes possible to wipe off and remove the water that has constituted the rain streaks below the lower reversal position.

In addition, when the adhered matter on the surface of the windshield glass 1 is identified as solid matter containing snow or mud, the normal operation is performed at the time of forward movement and the extended wiping is performed at the time of the backward movement, so that the driver seat on the surface of the windshield glass 1 Prevents solids such as snow or mud from sweeping to the side. Solid particles such as snow may be swept up on the windshield glass surface on the driver's seat side and the upper surface of the windshield glass during the forward movement, but the solids swept up by the wiping action that expands the wiping range during the backward movement. This is because it is possible to remove the object below the downward reversal position.

In the present embodiment, the first output shaft 11A of the first motor 11 and the second output shaft 12A of the second motor 12 are controlled so as to be rotatable forward and backward (reciprocating), but the present invention is not limited to this. There is no. For example, one of the first output shaft 11A and the second output shaft 12A may rotate in one direction.

In the present embodiment, the rotation of the first output shaft 11A of the first motor 11 causes the driver seat side wiper blade 18 and the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 to move to the upper reversal positions P1D, P1P and the lower reversal positions P2D, P2P. It was moved between, but it is not limited to this. For example, a "driver's seat side first motor" and a "passenger seat side first motor" are provided as the first motor 11, and the driver's seat side wiper blade 18 is lowered to the upper reversal position P1D by the rotation of the driver's seat side first motor. A structure may be adopted in which the wiper blade 36 is moved between the reverse position P2D and the passenger seat side first motor to move the passenger seat side wiper blade 36 between the upper reverse position P1P and the lower reverse position P2P.

In the present embodiment, the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 (passenger seat side wiper blade 36) is extended until the vicinity of an intermediate angle at a predetermined rotation angle of the first output shaft 11A, and from the vicinity of the intermediate angle to the predetermined rotation angle. While the control for reducing the passenger seat side wiper arm 35 (passenger seat side wiper blade 36) is performed between them, the invention is not limited to this. For example, when the front passenger seat side wiper blade 36 wipes from the lower reverse position P2P toward the upper reverse position P1P (during forward wiping), the front passenger seat side wiper arm 35 may be controlled to gradually extend.

In addition, although this Embodiment demonstrated the embodiment which used the rotation angle of the 1st output shaft 11A of the 1st motor 11, and the rotation angle of the 2nd output shaft 12A of the 2nd motor 12, it replaced with this. Alternatively, the rotation position of the first output shaft 11A and the rotation position of the second output shaft 12A may be used.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Windshield glass (windshield), 1A... Shading part, 2... Wiper device, 3... Central frame, 3A... Support part, 4... Pipe frame, 5... Pipe frame, 6... 1st holder member, 6A... Fixed Part, 7... Second holder member, 7A... Fixed part, 7B... Cylindrical part, 11... First motor, 11A... First output shaft, 12... Second motor, 12A... Second output shaft, 13... First Drive crank arm, 14... Second drive crank arm, 15... Driver side pivot shaft, 16... Driver side swing lever, 17... Driver side wiper arm, 18... Driver side wiper blade, 19... First connecting rod , 21... First passenger seat side pivot shaft, 22... Second passenger seat side pivot shaft, 23, 24... Bearings, 25... First passenger seat side swing lever, 26... First drive lever, 27... Second connection Rod, 28... Second passenger seat side swing lever, 29... Second drive lever, 31... Third connecting rod, 32... First driven lever, 33... Arm head, 34... Retainer, 35... Passenger seat side wiper arm, 36... Passenger side wiper blade, 50... Wiper switch, 52... Control circuit, 54... Direction indicator switch, 56... Drive circuit, 57... Washer motor drive circuit, 58... Microcomputer, 60... Memory, 62... Washer switch , 64... Washer motor, 66... Washer pump, 68... Washer liquid tank, 70... Washer device, 72A... Driver side hose, 72B... Passenger side hose, 74A... Driver side nozzle, 74B... Passenger side nozzle, 76... Rain sensor, 78... Relay drive circuit, 80... FET drive circuit, 84... Relay unit, 84A1, 84A2... First terminal, 84B1, 84B2... Second terminal, 84C1, 84C2... Common terminal, 90... Vehicle ECU, 92... Vehicle speed sensor, 94... In-vehicle camera, 96... GPS device, 98... Steering angle sensor, 100... Wiper system, 104... First pre-driver, 106... Second pre-driver, 108... First motor drive circuit, 110... 2nd motor drive circuit, 112... Output shaft end part, 112A... Sensor magnet, 114... 1st absolute angle sensor, 116... Output shaft end part, 116A... Sensor magnet, 118... 2nd absolute angle sensor, 120... Sensor area , 122A, 122B... Area, 124... Rain line, 126... Outside air temperature sensor, 135... Passenger side wiper arm, 136... Passenger side wiper blade, 140, 142, 144, 146... Operating direction, 150P... Passenger side wiper arm 154P... passenger side Wiper blade, 158... Non-wiping range, 160... 4-bar linkage, 190... Curve, RLY1, RLY2... Relay, CC1, CC2, CC3, CW1, CW2... Rotation direction, CW3... Operating direction, H1... Wiping range, K ...Waterproof cover, L1...first axis, L2...second axis, L3...third axis, L4...fourth axis, L...collinear, L5...fifth axis, P1D,P1P,P3P...upside-up position, P2D , P2P, P4P... Downward reversal position, Z1, Z2, Z10, Z12... Wiping range, θ ₁ ... First predetermined rotation angle, θ ₂ ... Second predetermined rotation angle, θ _A ... First output shaft rotation angle, θ _B …Second output shaft rotation angle, θm…Intermediate rotation angle

Claims (12)

A first output shaft is provided, and the rotation of the first output shaft causes the wiper arm to rotate about the swing shaft of the wiper arm, and the wiper blade connected to the tip end of the wiper arm causes the wiper arm to rotate upward and downward from the windshield. A first motor for wiping between the reverse position and
A second output shaft is provided, and by adjusting the position of the swing shaft with respect to the upper corner of the windshield on the passenger side by rotation of the second output shaft, the wiping blade wipes the windshield. A second motor for varying the
An adhering matter determination unit that determines whether the adhering matter that has adhered to the windshield surface is a liquid or a solid matter,
A control unit that controls the rotation of the first motor so that the wiping operation is performed, and that controls the rotation of the second motor according to the attached matter determined by the attached matter determination unit;
Wiping device with variable wiping range. The second output shaft is coupled to the wiper arm via a link mechanism, the swing shaft of the wiper arm by the rotation of the second output shaft, remote from the first position and the first position on the passenger side upward Moved to and from the second position,
When the adhering matter is determined to be a solid matter by the adhering matter determining unit, the control unit moves the wiper blade from the lower reversing position to the upper reversing position in the forward movement, and the wiper arm moves. When the stop control for stopping the swing shaft at the first position is performed and the wiper blade is being wiped from the upper reverse position to the lower reverse position, the swing shaft of the wiper arm is set to the above-described direction . The wiping range variable wiper device according to claim 1, wherein the second motor is controlled so as to perform reciprocating control for reciprocating between the first position and the second position. The second output shaft is coupled to the wiper arm via a link mechanism, the swing shaft of the wiper arm by the rotation of the second output shaft, remote from the first position and the first position on the passenger side upward Move it to the second position,
When the adhering matter is judged to be a liquid by the adhering matter judging section, the control section, when the wiper blade is moving forward from the lower reversing position to the upper reversing position, in the forward movement, the wiper arm is When reciprocating control is performed to reciprocate the swing shaft between the first position and the second position, and the wiper blade is performing a wiping operation from the upper reversal position to the lower reversal position, The wiping range variable wiper device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second motor is controlled so as to perform a stop control for stopping the swing shaft of the wiper arm at the first position. Further comprising a rotation angle detector for detecting a rotation direction and a rotation angle of the first output shaft,
When the rotation angle of the first output shaft detected by the rotation angle detection unit becomes an angle corresponding to one of the upper reversal position and the lower reversal position in the reciprocating motion control, , Controlling the rotation of the second output shaft to move the swing shaft of the wiper arm from the first position to the second position, and also of the first output shaft detected by the rotation angle detector. When the rotation angle reaches an angle corresponding to an intermediate position between the upper inverted position and the lower inverted position, the second output shaft is rotated to move the swing shaft of the wiper arm from the second position to the second position. The wiping range variable wiper device according to claim 2, wherein the wiper device is controlled to move to the first position. The adhered matter determination unit,
An optical detection unit that irradiates the windshield with infrared light and detects an adhering matter on the windshield surface based on the amount of reflection or transmission of infrared light,
An outside air temperature detection unit that detects the outside air temperature of the vehicle,
Including
When the optical detection unit detects an adhering matter and the outside air temperature detected by the outside air temperature detecting section is equal to or higher than a threshold temperature, the adhering matter on the windshield surface is determined to be a raindrop that is a liquid, and the optical detection is performed. The section detects an adhering matter, and when the outside air temperature of the vehicle detected by the outside air temperature detecting section is less than a threshold temperature, the adhering matter on the windshield surface is determined to be solid snow or frost. The wiping range variable wiper device according to any one of 1 to 4. The adhered matter determination unit,
Further comprising an imaging unit for acquiring image data in front of the vehicle through the windshield,
When the optical detection unit detects an adhering matter, and the brightness of the pixel in the darkest part of the image data acquired by the imaging section is less than the threshold brightness, the adhering matter on the windshield surface is determined as a solid containing mud. The wiper device with variable wiping range according to claim 5. A first output shaft is provided, and the rotation of the first output shaft causes the wiper arm to rotate about the swing shaft of the wiper arm, and the wiper blade connected to the tip end of the wiper arm causes the wiper arm to rotate upward and downward from the windshield. A step of starting rotation of the first output shaft of the first motor for wiping between the reverse position and
An adhering matter determining step for determining whether the adhering matter adhered to the windshield surface is a liquid or a solid matter;
A second output shaft is provided, and the position of the swing shaft with respect to the upper corner of the windshield on the passenger seat side is adjusted by rotation of the second output shaft to adjust the wiping range of the windshield by the wiper blade. A second motor control step of controlling the rotation of the second motor to be varied according to the determination in the attached matter determination step ;
A method for controlling a wiper device including a variable wiping range. In the second motor control step, when the adhering matter on the windshield surface is determined to be a solid matter in the adhering matter determining step, the wiper blade wipes from the lower reversing position to the upper reversing position. At the time of forward movement, stop control for stopping the swing shaft of the wiper arm at the first position is performed, and at the time of return movement in which the wiper blade is wiping from the upper reverse position to the lower reverse position, the wiper arm is returned. The rotation of the second motor is controlled so that reciprocating control is performed to reciprocate the swing shaft between the first position and a second position that is separated from the first position and above the passenger seat. The method for controlling a wiper device with variable wiping range according to claim 7, further comprising a solid matter wiping operation step. In the second motor control step, when the adhering matter on the windshield surface is determined to be liquid in the adhering matter determining step, the wiper blade is wiped from the lower reversing position to the upper reversing position. At the time of movement, reciprocating control is performed to reciprocate the swing shaft of the wiper arm between a first position and a second position that is away from the first position and above the passenger seat, and the wiper blade is Liquid wiping for controlling the rotation of the second motor so as to perform a stop control for stopping the swing shaft of the wiper arm at the first position when the wiping operation is performed from the upper reverse position to the lower reverse position. 9. The method for controlling a wiper range variable wiper device according to claim 7, further comprising an operation step. In the reciprocating motion control, the rotation angle of the first output shaft detected by a rotation angle detection unit that detects a rotation direction and a rotation angle of the first output shaft is set to one of the upper reversal position and the lower reversal position. Rotation of the second motor to rotate the second output shaft of the second motor to move the swing shaft of the wiper arm from the first position to the second position when a corresponding angle is reached. And when the rotation angle of the first output shaft detected by the rotation angle detection unit becomes an angle corresponding to an intermediate position between the upper reversal position and the lower reversal position, the second The wiping range variable wiper device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein rotation of the second motor is controlled so as to rotate the output shaft to move the swing shaft of the wiper arm from the second position to the first position. Control method. The adhering matter determining step irradiates the windshield with infrared rays from the passenger compartment side, and detects the adhering matter by an optical detection unit that detects the adhering matter on the windshield surface based on the reflection amount or the transmission amount of the infrared rays, And when the outside air temperature of the vehicle detected by the outside air temperature detection unit is equal to or higher than the threshold temperature, the adhered matter on the windshield surface is determined as a raindrop that is a liquid, the optical detection unit detects the adhered matter, and the outside The wiping according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein when the outside air temperature of the vehicle detected by the air temperature detection unit is lower than a threshold temperature, the adhered matter on the windshield surface is determined to be solid snow or frost. Control method for variable range wiper device. The adhering matter determination step, when the optical detection unit detects an adhering matter, and the image pickup unit has a brightness of a pixel in the darkest part of image data in the front of the vehicle acquired through the windshield is less than a threshold brightness, The control method for the wiping range variable wiper device according to claim 11, wherein the adhered matter on the surface of the windshield is determined as a solid matter containing mud.

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