JPH0117480Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a wiper control device that intermittently drives wipers used in vehicles such as automobiles, and the intermittent time is automatically adjusted depending on driving conditions.

Generally, wipers have an intermittent operation that is used when there is little rain or snow. This intermittent operation includes (1)
A type that performs fixed operations at fixed intervals,
(2) Type in which the driver can adjust the intermittent time (about 1 to 20 seconds); (3) Type in which the wiper operates a predetermined number of times (2 to 5 times) in conjunction with window washer operation. These include any one of the three types or a combination thereof.

However, even when the wiper is intermittently operating, it is better to have a longer intermittent time when the vehicle is stopped at a meeting point or at an intersection, and it is better to have a shorter intermittent time while the vehicle is running. If the intermittent time is short while the vehicle is stopped, the number of times the wiper operates increases, which is a nuisance, and can also cause squeaks and deterioration of the wiper rubber.

Furthermore, when the vehicle is running with the wipers intermittently operating because the amount of rain or snow is small, as the vehicle speed increases, the amount of rain or snow increases, making it difficult to maintain sufficient visibility. For this reason, in the past, the wiper operation was manually adjusted and changed each time depending on the driving condition of the vehicle, which had the disadvantage of making the operation extremely complicated.

The present invention was developed in view of these points, and its purpose is to automatically lengthen the intermittent time when the vehicle is stopped, and automatically shorten the intermittent time according to the vehicle speed while the vehicle is running. An object of the present invention is to provide a wiper control device that has the following features.

In order to achieve such an objective, the present invention detects the vehicle speed or gear position using a vehicle speed related means, and uses the output of an oscillator that oscillates with a time constant selected based on this output and a preset value to control the wiper. This allows the intermittent time to be controlled.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a vehicle speed sensor that detects the vehicle speed and generates an analog output proportional to the vehicle speed; 2 to 6;
1 is a comparator that outputs an "L" signal corresponding to each vehicle speed width; 7 to 11 are diodes forming an OR gate; and 12 is a vehicle speed related means constituted by these. 13 to 17 are resistors each having a different value; 18 is a capacitor forming a time constant circuit with one of the resistors 13 to 17; 19
20 is an astable multivibrator that oscillates with an oscillation period determined by the time constant circuit, and 20 is a resistor 13.
~17, an oscillator consisting of a capacitor 18 and an astable multivibrator 19, 21 a one-shot multivibrator that generates a one-shot pulse at the rising edge of comparator 2 from "L" to "H", and 23 and 24 an OR gate. The constituting diode 25 is a wiper device that drives the wiper one round trip in response to an input trigger signal.

Next, the operation of the configuration shown in FIG. 1 will be explained. The vehicle speed sensor 1 converts the rotation of the axle into an electrical signal using a small generator, and outputs an analog voltage value proportional to the vehicle speed. This vehicle speed output from the vehicle speed sensor 1 is input to comparators 2-6. Comparison input terminals (not shown) of comparators 2 to 6 have vehicle speeds of, for example, 0 to 1 Km/H and 2 Km/H, respectively.
~20Km/H, 21~40Km/H, 41~60Km/H, 61
A setting value is input in advance so that the output is "L" in a range of Km/H or more. This results in
When an analog value corresponding to the vehicle speed is output from the vehicle speed sensor 1, one of the outputs of the comparators 2 to 6 becomes "L". The astable multivibrator 19 oscillates with an oscillation period determined by the time constant of the resistor and capacitor 18 connected to the comparator to which this "L" output is output. This oscillation period, that is, the intermittent time is, for example, when the vehicle speed is 0~
20 seconds at 1Km/H, 10 seconds at 2-20Km/H
seconds, 5 seconds for 21-40Km/H, 2 seconds for 41-60Km/H, zero seconds for 61Km/H or more (continuous)
It is set so that

The one-shot multivibrator 21 is designed to output one shot pulse at the time of start-up and operate the wiper device once to ensure visibility at the time of start-up.

Further, when the comparator 6 is at "L", the oscillation output period of the astable multivibrator 19 is set to be slightly longer than the time required for one round trip of the wiper device so that the wiper operates almost continuously.

In addition to a small generator, the vehicle speed sensor 1 is generally a sensor that detects the rotation of an axle using a Hall element, or a speed meter that uses a variable resistor.

In this way, since the oscillation period of the astable multivibrator is changed in accordance with changes in vehicle speed, the optimum wiper intermittent time can be automatically obtained.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the same parts as in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the explanation thereof will be omitted. 26 is a gear position switch provided corresponding to the gear position, and 1 is the neutral of the gear position;
N, 1,
The contacts of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th terminals are closed. Reference numeral 27 is a memory having five flip-flops (not shown) corresponding to gear positions, and the output of only the flip-flop corresponding to the selected gear position becomes "L" level. memory 27 a
The output of comparator 2 that detects starting is connected to the input, and the A output is connected to diode 7 in response to the a input.
It is connected to the. One terminal of the gear position switch 26 is connected to the b input, and the B output is connected to the diode 8 in correspondence with the b input. In this way, the 2, 3, and 4 terminals of the gear position switch 26 are connected to each input of c, d, and e.
Each output of C, D, and E is connected to diodes 9, 10, and 11 corresponding to each input of c, d, and e. Also, even if you change gears from 1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th gear to neutral, if the vehicle speed does not reach zero (stopped) or equivalent (for example, 1 km/h or less),
The structure is such that the flip-flop before the gear change remains at the "L" level and the A output does not go to the "L" level. 28 is a vehicle speed sensor 1, a comparator 2, diodes 7 to 11,
This vehicle speed related means is composed of a gear position switch 26 and a memory 27.

In such a configuration, if the gear position is neutral while the vehicle is stopped, the wiper intermittent time is, for example, 20 seconds. Next, when the gear position is changed to 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gears due to acceleration, the gear position switch 26 is changed each time, and the wiper intermittent time is set to 5 seconds for 2nd gear, 2 seconds for 3rd gear, etc. When in 4th gear, it changes like zero seconds (continuous). When driving, the wiper intermittent time remains the same even when the wiper is initially put into neutral when changing gears, or when the wiper is put into neutral early to stop the vehicle, and the wiper is automatically switched to neutral after the vehicle has stopped. The intermittent time will be, for example, 20 seconds. This prevents the intermittent time from becoming longer during driving.

In this way, even if the intermittent time is controlled in accordance with the gear position, the same effect as when the intermittent time is controlled in accordance with the vehicle speed can be obtained.

As described above, according to the present invention, the vehicle speed-related means outputs a signal corresponding to the vehicle speed or gear position, and the wiper intermittent time can be controlled by this output signal, so that the range of use of the intermittent wiper is increased. It has the effect of ensuring good visibility at all times, and can be used even when driving at high speeds in light rain.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing another embodiment of the present invention. 1...Vehicle speed sensor, 2-6...Comparator,
7-11, 23, 24...Diode, 12...
Vehicle speed related means, 13 to 17...Resistor, 18...
Capacitor, 19... Astable multivibrator, 20... Oscillator, 21... One-shot multivibrator, 25... Wiper device.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A wiper control device that intermittently controls a wiper includes a vehicle speed-related means that generates an output signal corresponding to the vehicle speed, and one of a plurality of preset time constants is selected according to the output signal to change the oscillation cycle. 1. A wiper control device comprising: an oscillator; the wiper is driven by an output signal from the oscillator.