JP7006035B2 - Raindrop amount detection device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a raindrop amount detection device.

Conventionally, Patent Document 1 has proposed, for example, a raindrop amount detection device capable of optimizing the raindrop detection range of a rain sensor in a vehicle having a different arrangement position of rain sensors.

Specifically, the raindrop amount detection device sets a predetermined provisional prohibition range on the premise that the arrangement position of the rain sensor is unknown. The prohibited range is a range in which the amount of raindrops detected by the rain sensor is not used for controlling the wiper blade. Further, the raindrop amount detection device detects the periodic peak of the raindrop amount, estimates the position of the rain sensor, and sets the range including the estimated position as the optimization prohibition range. Then, the raindrop amount detection device switches the provisional prohibition range to an optimization prohibition range narrower than the range, and acquires the raindrop amount of the rain sensor.

JP-A-2010-202090

However, in the above-mentioned conventional technique, the raindrop amount detection device estimates the position of the rain sensor and sets the optimization prohibition range. Therefore, depending on the actual movement of the wiper blade, the timing at which the wiper blade passes through the rain sensor and the optimization prohibition range may deviate from each other. Therefore, the wiper blade may pass through the rain sensor at a position exceeding the optimization prohibition range. That is, by optimizing and narrowing the temporary prohibition range, the amount of raindrops when the wiper blade passes through the rain sensor is erroneously detected. As a result, there is a problem that the amount of erroneously detected raindrops is used to control the wiper blade.

Therefore, it is conceivable to allow a margin in the optimization prohibition range so that the wiper blade passes through the rain sensor within the optimization prohibition range. However, there is a problem that the detection range of the rain sensor is narrowed due to the widening of the optimization prohibition range in the range of the reciprocating motion of the wiper blade. That is, the performance of the rain sensor cannot be fully exhibited.

In view of the above points, it is an object of the present invention to provide a raindrop amount detection device capable of suppressing erroneous detection of a rain sensor while narrowing the optimization prohibition range.

In order to achieve the above object, in the invention according to claim 1, the raindrop amount detecting device is installed in the windshield (200) of the vehicle and the rain sensor (101) for detecting the amount of raindrops adhering to the windshield. It is equipped with.

Further, the raindrop amount detection device is preset for a part of the wiping range of the wiper blade (302) that wipes the windshield by reciprocating between the two inverted positions, and also indicates the amount of raindrops. A prohibition range setting unit (105) for setting a temporary prohibition range for masking the amount information is provided.

Further, the raindrop amount detection device detects the detection position of the rain sensor based on the amount of raindrop detected by the rain sensor, and determines the predetermined range including the detection position as the optimization prohibition range narrower than the provisional prohibition range. A prohibition range determination unit (106) is provided.

Then, the optimization prohibition range determination unit determines whether or not the wiper blade has passed the rain sensor twice while the wiper blade makes one round trip in the wiping range, and determines that the wiper blade passes the rain sensor twice. In this case, the timing immediately after the second passage is set at the rear end of the optimization prohibition range. The optimization prohibition range determination unit remembers the change in the amount of raindrops when the wiper blade passes the rain sensor for the first time, and based on the change in the amount of raindrops, the timing of the start of the optimization prohibition range is changed. It is delayed from the timing of the beginning when it is first memorized.

According to this, since the rear end of the optimization prohibition range is set at the timing immediately after the passage of the second wiper blade, the margin of the prohibition range after the second passage of the wiper blade can be reduced. That is, the optimization prohibition range can be narrowed. Further, since the timing of the second passage of the wiper blade is determined at the rear end of the optimization prohibition range, the wiper blade does not pass through the rain sensor at a position beyond the rear end of the optimization prohibition range. Therefore, erroneous detection of the rain sensor can be suppressed. Therefore, it is possible to suppress erroneous detection of the rain sensor while narrowing the optimization prohibition range.

The reference numerals in parentheses of each means described in this column and the scope of claims indicate the correspondence with the specific means described in the embodiments described later.

It is a figure which showed the structure of the raindrop amount detection apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a figure which showed an example of the mounting position of the rain sensor with respect to a windshield. It is a figure which showed the provisional prohibition range in a windshield. It is a figure which showed the optimization prohibition range in a windshield. It is a flowchart which showed the content which determines the optimization prohibition range. It is a timing chart which showed the case which it is determined that the wiper blade passes the rain sensor twice. It is a timing chart showing the case where it is determined that the wiper blade passes through the rain sensor once and the case where it is determined that the wiper blade passes three times.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each of the following embodiments, the parts that are the same or equal to each other are designated by the same reference numerals in the drawings.

(First Embodiment)
Hereinafter, the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The raindrop amount detection device according to the present embodiment is a device that controls the wiping speed of the wiper blade according to the amount of raindrops adhering to the windshield. In this embodiment, a configuration controlled by an inversion control wiper motor will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the raindrop amount detection device 100 includes a rain sensor 101 and a wiper ECU 102.

The rain sensor 101 is a device that detects the amount of raindrops adhering to the windshield. As shown in FIG. 2, the rain sensor 101 is installed in the wiping range of the windshield 200 of the vehicle. Although not shown, the rain sensor 101 includes a light emitting element, a light receiving element, a lens, a circuit board, and a processing unit.

The light emitting element is a light emitting device that irradiates measurement light for detecting raindrops. The light receiving element is a light receiving device that receives the light of the light emitting element. The lens guides the measurement light emitted from the light emitting element to the inside and collimates it so as to be parallel light, guides the collimated measurement light to the outer surface of the windshield 200, and collects the light reflected on the outer surface. It is an optical component that leads to a light receiving element.

The circuit board is a component on which electronic components (not shown) such as a light emitting element, a light receiving element, a processing unit, and a connector are mounted. The processing unit performs processing for driving the light emitting element and processing for the detection result of the light receiving element. Each of the above parts is housed in a case and packaged.

The rain sensor 101 sets the light receiving amount of the light receiving element in a state where raindrops are not attached to the windshield 200 to 100%, and detects the change in the light receiving amount as the raindrop amount. That is, the rain sensor 101 detects the decrease in the amount of received light as the amount of raindrops. Then, the rain sensor 101 outputs a raindrop signal indicating the amount of raindrops to the wiper ECU 102.

The wiper ECU 102 is configured as an ECU (Electrical Control Unit) that controls the wiper device 300 mounted on the vehicle. The wiper ECU 102 is configured as a device including a CPU, a memory, and the like.

The wiper device 300 includes a wiper switch 301, a wiper blade 302, a wiper motor 303, a rotation angle sensor 304, and a motor control unit 305, and can be operated by supplying power from a vehicle battery.

The wiper switch 301 is operated by the user. The wiper switch 301 has operation positions such as "Hi", "Lo", and "AUTO". For example, "Hi" is a high-speed continuous wiping mode, and "Lo" is a low-speed continuous wiping mode. Further, "AUTO" is a mode in which the wiper blade wiping speed is determined according to the amount of raindrops. The wiper switch 301 outputs an operation signal to the wiper ECU 102.

The wiper blade 302 is a component that wipes off raindrops adhering to the windshield 200. Further, the wiper blade 302 is provided with a wiping mechanism (not shown). The wiping mechanism mainly includes a wiper arm that holds the wiper blade 302, a lever connected to the wiper arm via a pivot shaft, and a wiper rod that connects the lever and the wiper motor 303.

The wiper motor 303 can switch between normal rotation (outward route) and reverse rotation (return route). The direction of movement from one inversion position to the other inversion position is the forward rotation direction of the wiper motor 303, and the opposite direction is the reverse rotation direction. When the wiper blade 302 reaches the other reversing position, the wiper motor 303 rotates in the reversing direction. When the wiper blade 302 reaches one of the inverted positions, the wiper motor 303 rotates in the forward rotation direction. By repeating this, the wiper blade 302 wipes the windshield 200 while reciprocating in the wiping range between the two inverted positions.

The rotation angle sensor 304 is a device that detects the rotation position of the wiper motor 303 on the output shaft of the wiper motor 303 that rotates the wiper rod. The rotation angle sensor 304 outputs a rotation signal according to the rotation angle of the output shaft from the reference position of the output shaft.

The motor control unit 305 controls the rotation of the wiper motor 303 based on the control signal input from the wiper ECU 102. As a result, the motor control unit 305 wipes the wiper blade 302.

The wiper ECU 102 includes a raindrop amount acquisition unit 103, a wiping position detection unit 104, a prohibition range setting unit 105, an optimization prohibition range determination unit 106, and a wiping speed determination unit 107.

The raindrop amount acquisition unit 103 calculates the amount of raindrops adhering to the windshield 200 based on the raindrop signal of the rain sensor 101. The raindrop amount acquisition unit 103 outputs the calculated raindrop amount to the wiping speed determination unit 107 as raindrop amount information.

The wiping position detection unit 104 calculates the wiping position of the wiper blade 302 based on the rotation signal of the rotation angle sensor 304. The wiping position detection unit 104 outputs information indicating the wiping position to the prohibition range setting unit 105 and the optimization prohibition range determination unit 106. The timing at which the wiping position detecting unit 104 detects the wiping position of the wiper blade 302 can be appropriately set at the time of starting the raindrop amount detecting device 100 and the wiper device 300, at any time after starting, and each time after starting.

The prohibition range setting unit 105 sets a temporary prohibition range for a part of the wiping range of the windshield 200. The "prohibited range" is a period during which the amount of raindrops detected by the rain sensor 101 is not reflected in the wiping speed of the wiper blade 302, or a period during which the rain sensor 101 is prohibited from detecting the amount of raindrops. In other words, the prohibited range is the period for masking the raindrop amount information indicating the raindrop amount.

When the windshield 200 is wiped by the wiper blade 302, the prohibition range setting unit 105 provisionally provisions a part of the wiper range in advance based on the wiper position of the wiper blade 302 detected by the wiper position detection unit 104. Set the prohibited range. Since the position of the rain sensor 101 installed in the wiping range of the windshield 200 differs depending on the vehicle model, the prohibition range setting unit 105 uniformly sets a temporary prohibition range in which the rain sensor 101 will be located regardless of the vehicle model. .. As shown in FIG. 3, the provisional prohibition range is preset to a range of more than half of the wiping range of the windshield 200.

The optimization prohibition range determination unit 106 determines the optimization prohibition range with respect to the wiping range of the windshield 200. Therefore, the optimization prohibition range determination unit 106 detects the detection position of the rain sensor 101 based on the wiping position detected by the wiping position detecting unit 104 and the amount of raindrops detected by the rain sensor 101. Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the optimization prohibition range determination unit 106 determines a predetermined range before and after the detection position including the detection position as an optimization prohibition range narrower than the provisional prohibition range.

Further, the optimization prohibition range determination unit 106 determines whether or not the wiping position of the wiper blade 302 has passed the rain sensor 101 twice while the wiper blade 302 reciprocates once in the wiping range. "Twice" indicates the outward route (rising) and the returning route (descending) of the wiper blade 302. If it is determined that the optimization prohibition range determination unit 106 has passed the cycle other than twice, an erroneous determination is made. Then, when the wiping position of the wiper blade 302 determines that the wiper blade 302 has passed the rain sensor 101 twice, the optimization prohibition range determination unit 106 sets the timing immediately after the second passage at the rear end of the optimization prohibition range. As a result, the rear end of the optimization prohibition range is the timing immediately after the wiper blade 302 surely passes through the rain sensor 101. Therefore, since the rear end of the optimization prohibition range is on the rain sensor 101 side, the optimization prohibition range can be further narrowed.

The wiping speed determination unit 107 determines the wiping speed of the wiper blade 302 according to the operation signal input from the wiper switch 301. For example, when "Hi" or "Lo" of the wiper switch 301 is selected, the wiping speed determining unit 107 determines the wiping speed corresponding to each mode.

Further, the wiping speed determining unit 107 has a flag 108 for determining whether or not to determine the wiping speed of the wiper blade 302 based on the amount of raindrops. The flag 108 becomes effective when "AUTO" of the wiper switch 301 is selected. When the flag 108 is on, the wiping speed is determined, and when the flag 108 is off, the wiping speed is not determined. The on / off of the flag 108 is operated by the prohibition range setting unit 105 or the optimization prohibition range determination unit 106.

The prohibition range setting unit 105 turns off the flag 108 when the wiper blade 302 on the outward route reaches the wiping position A in FIG. 3, and turns on the flag 108 when the wiper blade 302 on the return route reaches the wiping position A. The wiping position A corresponds to the positions of the start end and the rear end of the provisional prohibition range.

When the optimization prohibition range determination unit 106 determines the optimization prohibition range, the prohibition range setting unit 105 prohibits the operation of the flag 108. Further, the optimization prohibition range determination unit 106 operates the flag 108 in place of the prohibition range setting unit 105. For example, the optimization prohibition range determination unit 106 turns off the flag 108 when the wiper blade 302 on the outward route reaches the wiper position B in FIG. 4, and turns on the flag 108 when the wiper blade 302 on the return route reaches the wiper position C. ..

In this way, the wiping speed determination unit 107 is the raindrop amount acquisition unit while the flag 108 is off, that is, while the wiper blade 302 wipes the provisional prohibition range or the optimization prohibition range of the wiping range of the windshield 200. Even if 103 acquires the amount of raindrops, it is not reflected in the wiping speed of the wiper blade 302. The above is the configuration of the raindrop amount detection device 100.

Next, the operation of the wiper ECU 102 when the wiper switch 301 is set to "AUTO" will be described. The optimization prohibition range is set according to the flow shown in FIG.

First, in step S110, the amount of raindrops detected by the rain sensor 101 is acquired. The start end of the optimization prohibition range may be set in this step S110. As a method of setting the start end of the optimization prohibition range, the detection position of the rain sensor 101 is detected based on the wiping position detected by the wiping position detection unit 104 and the amount of raindrops detected by the rain sensor 101, and predetermined before and after the detection position. There is a method of setting the start of the range as the start of the optimization prohibition range. As another setting method, there is a method in which the start end of a predetermined range including the wiping position showing the peak of the predetermined raindrop amount is set as the start end of the optimization prohibition range.

As yet another method, since the amount of raindrops is considered to gradually increase before showing a peak, the change in the amount of raindrops is detected by, for example, time-differentiating the amount of raindrops, and the change in the amount of raindrops becomes more than a predetermined value. There is a method of setting the wiping position of the wiper blade 302 as the starting end of the optimization prohibition range. The setting of the start end of the optimization prohibition range may be performed as a process different from the process shown in FIG.

In step S111, it is determined whether or not the wiper blade 302 is moving. The movement of the wiper blade 302 can be determined by whether or not a control signal is output from the wiping speed determination unit 107 to the motor control unit 305. If the wiper blade 302 is not moving, the process proceeds to step S112.

In step S112, the optimization prohibition range is released. That is, the amount of raindrops detected by the rain sensor 101 is used to control the wiper blade 302. After that, the process returns to step S110, and the amount of raindrops is acquired again. The flow of steps S110, S111, and S112 is, for example, when it is not raining or when it is not necessary to wipe the windshield 200.

If it is determined in step S111 that the wiper blade 302 is moving, the process proceeds to step S113. In step S113, the passage of the wiper blade 302 with respect to the rain sensor 101 is determined. Whether or not the wiper blade 302 has passed through the rain sensor 101 is determined by whether or not the amount of raindrops exceeds the threshold value set for the amount of raindrops. The derivative value of the amount of raindrops and the threshold value may be compared. The threshold value may be fixed to a constant value, or may be divided into a first threshold value for determining the first passage and a second threshold value for determining the second passage.

In step S114, it is determined whether or not the wiper blade 302 has passed the rain sensor 101 twice while the wiper blade 302 reciprocates once in the wiping range. If it is determined that the passage has been performed twice, the process proceeds to step S112. As a result, the optimization prohibition range is released immediately after the wiper blade 302 has passed the rain sensor 101 twice. That is, immediately after the wiper blade 302 has passed the rain sensor 101 twice, the rear end of the optimization prohibition range is set.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S114 that the passage has not been performed twice, the process proceeds to step S115. In step S115, a temporary prohibition range is set. That is, the beginning of the optimization prohibition range set earlier becomes invalid. Therefore, the prohibited range is maintained from the start end to the rear end timing of the temporary prohibited range.

In step S116, the amount of raindrops acquired in the provisional prohibition range is discarded. That is, the amount of raindrops acquired in the provisional prohibition range is not used for controlling the wiper blade 302. After that, the process returns to step S110 again.

In this way, if it is determined that the wiper blade 302 has passed the rain sensor 101 twice while the wiper blade 302 reciprocates once in the wiping range, the provisional prohibition range is narrowed to the optimization prohibition range. Further, the amount of raindrops acquired in the optimization prohibition range is not used for controlling the wiper blade 302. On the other hand, when it is determined that the wiper blade 302 has passed the rain sensor 101 a number of times other than twice, the provisional prohibition range is maintained. Such processing is repeated.

A specific example will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, the wiper blade 302 operates during the Hi period from the time point T10 to the time point T14, and the control signal stops during the Lo period. Then, the wiper blade 302 passes through the rain sensor 101 twice during the operation period of the wiper blade 302, that is, while the wiper blade 302 reciprocates once in the wiping range. In the example of FIG. 6, it passes through the time point T11 and the time point T12. As a result, the amount of raindrops (light received) detected by the rain sensor 101 includes two peaks indicating that the wiper blade 302 has risen and fallen.

For example, it is assumed that the operation period of the wiper blade 302 coincides with the provisional prohibition range, and the timing of the start end of the optimization prohibition range is assumed to be the same time point T10 as the timing of the operation start of the wiper blade 302. Then, the optimization prohibition range is released at the time point T12 immediately after the wiper blade 302 passes the rain sensor 101 for the second time. Actually, there is a time lag of the device, so it is released at the time point T13. Therefore, the rear end of the optimization prohibition range is released at the time point T13 earlier than the time point T14 at the rear end of the provisional prohibition range. The same applies when the wiper blade 302 operates from the time point T15 to the time point T19.

In this way, the margin of the prohibited range after the second passage of the wiper blade 302 with respect to the rain sensor 101 can be reduced. Therefore, the optimization prohibition range can be narrower than the provisional prohibition range. Therefore, the period for the rain sensor 101 to detect raindrops can be made longer than when the provisional prohibition range is set.

Further, since the timing of the second passage of the wiper blade 302 with respect to the rain sensor 101 is the rear end of the optimization prohibition range, the wiper blade 302 passes through the rain sensor 101 at a position beyond the rear end of the optimization prohibition range. There is no such thing. Therefore, erroneous detection of the rain sensor 101 can be suppressed.

Note that FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the rear end of the optimization prohibition range, and the timing of the start end of the optimization prohibition range coincides with the timing of the start end of the provisional prohibition range, but this is an example. .. The timing of the start end of the optimization prohibition range may be delayed from the timing of the start end of the provisional prohibition range by the method described in step S110 described above.

On the other hand, when the user touches the rain sensor 101 or when foreign matter adheres to the rain sensor 101 and then the foreign matter disappears, the wiper blade 302 makes two round trips of the wiping range while the wiper blade 302 touches the rain sensor 101 twice. It is determined that the vehicle passes the number of times other than the above. As shown in FIG. 7, when it is determined that the wiping position of the wiper blade 302 passes through the rain sensor 101 once or three times, the detection signal of the rain sensor 101 includes one or three or more peaks. .. In FIG. 7, when it is determined that the wiper blade 302 passes through the rain sensor 101 once between the time point T20 and the time point T22 when the wiper blade 302 operates, and when it passes three times between the time point T30 and the time point T34. The case where it is judged and the case where it is judged are shown.

When it is determined that the wiper blade 302 passes through the rain sensor 101 once, as described in step S115 and step S116 described above, the time point T22 is the timing of the rear end of the provisional prohibition range with the optimization prohibition range invalidated. The provisional prohibition range is valid until. In addition, the amount of raindrops detected by the rain sensor 101 is discarded within the temporary prohibition range. As a result, the provisional prohibition range is lifted and the amount of raindrops is suppressed from being erroneously detected. The same applies when it is determined that the wiper blade 302 passes through the rain sensor 101 three times or more.

Further, when it is determined that the wiping position of the wiper blade 302 has passed the rain sensor 101 three times or more, it is the timing immediately after the time point T32 when it is determined that the wiping position of the wiper blade 302 has passed the rain sensor 101 twice. The optimization prohibition range may be temporarily canceled at the time point T33. After that, the temporary prohibition range becomes effective from the time point T34 to the time point T35, which is the timing of the rear end of the temporary prohibition range.

Then, the amount of raindrops detected by the rain sensor 101 from the time point T33 to the time point T34 when the provisional prohibition range becomes effective after the optimization prohibition range is once released is controlled by the wiper blade 302 after the provisional prohibition range is released. used. That is, the wiper ECU 102 stores the amount of raindrops from the time point T33 to the time point T34 as a temporary raindrop amount. As a result, the temporary amount of raindrops can be effectively used for controlling the wiper blade 302 after the temporary prohibition range is released.

(Second Embodiment)
In this embodiment, a part different from the first embodiment will be described. In the present embodiment, the optimization prohibition range determination unit 106 stores the timing of the start end and the timing of the rear end of the optimization prohibition range a plurality of times.

Then, the optimization prohibition range determination unit 106 stores the timing of the start end of the optimization prohibition range a plurality of times based on the plurality of timings of the start end of the optimization prohibition range and the plurality of timings of the rear end. Delay behind the timing. Alternatively, the optimization prohibition range determination unit 106 sets the timing of the rear end of the optimization prohibition range earlier than the timing of the rear end at the start of multiple times of storage.

Alternatively, the optimization prohibition range determination unit 106 delays the timing of the start end of the optimization prohibition range from the timing of the start end at the start of storage multiple times, and starts the timing of the rear end of the optimization prohibition range multiple times. Make it earlier than the timing at the end of the hour. As a result, the optimization prohibition range can be further narrowed.

(Third Embodiment)
In this embodiment, a part different from the second embodiment will be described. The optimization prohibition range determination unit 106 stores a change in the amount of raindrops when the wiping position of the wiper blade 302 passes through the rain sensor 101 for the first time. Then, the optimization prohibition range determination unit 106 delays the timing of the start end of the optimization prohibition range from the timing of the start end at the start of the storage of the raindrop amount, based on the change in the stored raindrop amount. As a result, the optimization prohibition range can be further narrowed.

(Other embodiments)
The configuration of the raindrop amount detection device 100 shown in each of the above embodiments is an example, and the configuration is not limited to the configuration shown above, and other configurations that can realize the present invention can be used. For example, in each of the above embodiments, the configuration controlled by the inversion control wiper motor has been described, but the configuration can also be applied to the configuration in which the wiper blade 302 is controlled by another method.

When the rain sensor 101 is arranged on the ground side of the windshield 200, the start end of the optimization prohibition range is set with respect to the reverse direction of the wiper blade 302, and the rear end of the wiper blade 302 is the wiper blade 302. It may be set with respect to the direction of normal rotation of.

100 Raindrop amount detection device 101 Rain sensor 105 Prohibition range setting unit 106 Optimization Prohibition range determination unit 200 Windshield 302 Wiper blade

Claims (3)

A rain sensor (101) installed on the windshield (200) of the vehicle and detecting the amount of raindrops adhering to the windshield.
Temporary setting for a part of the wiping range of the wiper blade (302) that wipes the windshield by reciprocating between the two inverted positions and masking the raindrop amount information indicating the raindrop amount. Prohibition range setting unit (105) that sets the prohibition range of
The optimization prohibition range determination which detects the detection position of the rain sensor based on the raindrop amount detected by the rain sensor and determines the predetermined range including the detection position to the optimization prohibition range narrower than the provisional prohibition range. Part (106) and
Equipped with
The optimization prohibition range determining unit determines whether or not the wiper blade has passed the rain sensor twice while the wiper blade reciprocates once in the wiping range, and the wiper blade passes the rain sensor 2 times. If it is determined that the pass is passed, the timing immediately after the second pass is set at the rear end of the optimization prohibition range.
The optimization prohibition range determination unit stores the change in the amount of raindrops when the wiper blade passes the rain sensor for the first time, and the timing of the start of the optimization prohibition range is based on the change in the amount of raindrops. A raindrop amount detection device that delays the start timing when the change in the raindrop amount is first stored . When the optimization prohibition range determination unit determines that the wiper blade has passed the rain sensor three or more times while the wiper blade makes one round trip in the wiping range, the wiper blade passes the rain sensor 2 times. The provisional prohibition range is enabled until the timing of the rear end of the provisional prohibition range after the optimization prohibition range is temporarily released at the timing immediately after passing the cycle, and the optimization prohibition range is once released and then the provisional prohibition range is released. The raindrop amount detecting device according to claim 1, wherein the raindrop amount detected by the rain sensor before the prohibited range becomes effective is used for controlling the wiper blade after the provisional prohibited range is released. When the wiper blade determines that the wiper blade has passed the rain sensor three times or more while the wiper blade reciprocates once in the wiping range, the optimization prohibition range determination unit invalidates the optimization prohibition range. The raindrop amount detecting device according to claim 1 , wherein the provisional prohibition range is valid until the timing of the rear end of the provisional prohibition range, and the raindrop amount detected by the rain sensor in the provisional prohibition range is discarded.

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