JPH06127337A - Wiper control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To learn the changeover threshold value of an operating mode for automatic wiper control so as to perform optimum wiper control by providing a means for raising the operating mode of a wiper to a low speed continuous operating mode from an intermittent operating mode when the amount of rainfall is larger than the stored amount of rainfall. CONSTITUTION:Raindrop signals inputted from a rain sensor 2 through an input circuit 52 are read and integrated by a microcomputer 56. The degree of rainfall is thereby judged, and the operating state of a wiper is detected by a signal from a cam switch 62 (iG indicates an ignition line). According to the amount of rainfall, a specified signal is supplied to the low speed operating terminal or high speed operating terminal of a wiper motor 61 through a wiper driver 57 connected to the output side of the cam switch 62, thus controlling the operation of the wiper.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wiper control device,
In particular, the wiper control device for comparing the timing of manual operation of the wiper switch with the rain sensor signal used in the automatic wiper control to change the threshold for switching the operation mode of the automatic wiper control, and the wiping timing are learned. The present invention relates to a wiper control device that combines an auto wiper controller and a seat controller.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, during the operation of an auto wiper, especially when shifting from intermittent operation to continuous operation, a change in operating speed (change from low speed continuous operation to high speed continuous operation) occurs. The driver is particularly sensitive to the timing of the operation change. Also, when the wiper operation is stopped after rain, the operation change timing is also a concern. Since each individual has different feelings regarding these operation change timings, control matching is very difficult.

Therefore, as in the prior art, there is a problem in that it is not possible to sufficiently cope with the problem by simply operating the wiper switch manually to raise or lower the operating mode of the wiper operation. The present invention has been made to solve such a technical problem, and compares the manual operation timing of the wiper switch with the rain sensor signal to learn the switching threshold value of the operation mode of the automatic wiper control and to perform the optimum control. Is to do.

Conventionally, there is no automatic wiper for learning the wiping timing, and there is no method for selecting and calling the pattern. The present invention has also solved such a problem, and is such that an automatic wiper controller and a selection switch of a seat position controller are combined so that a wiping timing pattern learned by a driver can be selected and called.

[0005]

According to one embodiment of the present invention, in order to solve such a problem, a means for controlling wiper operation when the amount of rainfall detected by a rain sensor reaches a predetermined control threshold value. Means for storing the amount of rainfall when the manually operated low speed operation wiper switch is turned on, and the amount of rainfall when the operation mode during automatic wiper control is the intermittent operation mode A wiper control device is provided, which is provided with means for changing the operation mode of the wiper from the intermittent operation mode to the low speed continuous operation mode when the amount of rainfall is greater than that.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a means for controlling wiper operation when the amount of rainfall detected by the rain sensor reaches a predetermined control threshold value, and a manually operated wiper switch for high speed operation. Means for storing the amount of rainfall when turned on, and when the amount of rainfall at that time is greater than the stored amount of rainfall in the state where the operation mode during auto wiper control is the low speed continuous operation mode, There is provided a wiper control device comprising means for increasing the operation mode of the wiper from the low speed continuous operation mode to the high speed continuous operation mode.

According to another aspect of the present invention, means for controlling the operation of the wiper when a predetermined time elapses before the amount of rainfall detected by the rain sensor reaches a predetermined control threshold, is manually operated. Means for storing the amount of rainfall when the switch is turned off, and means for stopping the operation of the wiper when the amount of rainfall during the automatic wiper control is equal to or less than the stored amount of rainfall. A wiper control device is provided.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the wiper operation pattern is stored in advance according to the seat position selection, and the wiper operation pattern stored when the seat position selection signal is received is stored. There is provided a wiper control device comprising a calling means and a means for controlling the wiper operation according to the operation pattern being called during the automatic wiper control.

[0009]

According to the above construction, the rainfall state when the low speed operation wiper switch (low switch) was manually turned on in the past is stored (learned), and the present rainfall state is stored. Depending on whether it is more than
A threshold value for transitioning from the intermittent operation mode to the low speed continuous operation mode is determined. In addition, in the past, the rain condition when the high-speed operation wiper switch (high switch) was manually turned on is stored (learned), and it is determined whether the current rain condition is greater than the stored rain condition. Thus, the threshold value for shifting from the low speed continuous operation mode to the high speed continuous operation mode is determined. Furthermore, the rain condition when the wiper switch was manually turned off in the past is memorized (learned), and the wiper is activated depending on whether or not the present rain condition is equal to or less than the memorized rain condition. The threshold value for shifting the state to the stop state is determined.

In this way, the intermittent operation mode is switched from the intermittent operation mode to the low speed continuous operation mode during the automatic wiper control in accordance with the rainfall state stored (learned) in the past when the wiper switch is manually operated. Suitable for the manual operation timing of the wiper switch because the threshold value, the threshold value for switching from the low speed continuous operation mode to the high speed continuous operation mode, and the threshold value for shifting the wiper operation to the stop state are variable. The automatic wiper control can be reacted.

Further, according to the above configuration, the learned pattern can be selected and the automatic wiper control can be performed by combining the automatic wiper controller for learning and storing the wiping timing with the seat position controller. Here, the driver can be specified when the seat position switch is selected (the person who operates the seat position switch can be limited to the person who has set the seat). Therefore, it is determined that the person is driving by the auto wiper controller. Can be judged.

[0012]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows the overall construction of a wiper control device as an embodiment of the present invention. An auto wiper controller 5 includes an auto wiper switch 1, a rain sensor 2,
The signals from the wiper switches 3 and 4 for manual operation (low speed operation (low) switch 3 and high speed operation (high) switch 4) are input, respectively. Then, when the auto wiper switch 1 is turned on, the raindrop signal output from the rain sensor 2 is supplied to the auto wiper controller 5, and input processing is performed in the input circuit 52 thereof (that is, pulsed by a comparator, for example). Further, the pulse width of the pulsed raindrop signal is read by the soft counter of the microcomputer 56 at predetermined time intervals and integrated. A signal from the cam switch 62 of the wiper motor 61 is also input via the input circuit 55.

As a result, the microcomputer 56
However, the raindrop signal input from the rain sensor 2 via the input circuit 52 is read and integrated as described above to determine the degree of rainfall, and from the cam switch 62 (iG indicates an ignition line). Of the wiper drive device 57 connected to the output side of the wiper motor 61, and outputs a predetermined signal (Lo to the low speed operation terminal or the high speed operation terminal of the wiper motor 61 depending on the amount of rainfall at that time). Signal or Hi signal), which controls the operation of the wiper. It should be noted that power is supplied to the microcomputer 56 via a power circuit 58 connected to the ignition line iG.

Furthermore, when the ignition switch is turned on, the signal from the rain sensor 2 and the states of the respective wiper switches 3 and 4 for manual operation are monitored, and when the wiper switch 3 or 4 is turned on, or Each of the above auto wiper control thresholds is determined by the rain sensor signal when the wiper switches 3 and 4 are turned off.

2 to 4 show an embodiment of the processing procedure performed by the microcomputer shown in FIG. 1. First, the initialization processing is performed in step 1 shown in FIG. 2, and the Lo mode described below is performed. Initialization of the threshold value and the Hi mode threshold value is performed. Next, in step 2, it is determined whether or not the auto wiper switch is turned on, and when it is not, the rainfall state determination processing shown in steps 3 to 8 is performed.

That is, first, until it is determined in step 3 that 2 seconds have elapsed, the number of readings of the pulse width of the raindrop signal from the rain sensor is integrated (integration of raindrop pulses) in step 4. Then, when the raindrop pulse is integrated for 2 seconds, the process proceeds to step 5, where the integrated value of the raindrop pulse stored in the buffer 1 (the value of the previous two times) is transferred to the buffer 2, and next in step 6 as the current pulse. The stored integrated value (previous value) of the raindrop pulse is transferred to the buffer 1, and in step 7, the integrated pulse value obtained in step 4 is taken in as the current pulse value. Then, in step 8, as the rainfall state at that time, the moving average values of the buffer 2, the buffer 1, and the pulse integrated values captured in the current pulse are captured at a ratio of 1: 1: 3. That is, as the value of the rainfall state,
(1/5) × [(current pulse integrated value) × 3 + (pulse integrated value stored in buffer 1) + (pulse integrated value stored in buffer 2)] is calculated and stored in, for example, a memory. To be done.

Next, at step 9, it is judged whether or not the manually operated low switch (wiper switch for low speed operation) is turned on. If the result is yes, the routine proceeds to step 10 where the rain condition stored at step 8 is stored. Is taken as the Lo mode threshold value. Further, in step 11, it is determined whether or not the manually operated high switch (wiper switch for high speed operation) is turned on. If the result is yes, the process proceeds to step 12 and the rain condition value stored in step 8 is Taken in as Hi mode threshold. In this way, one writing (writing of the Lo mode threshold or the Hi mode threshold) is performed when the state of the low switch or the high switch for manual operation changes once.

Next, if the determination in step 2 is YES (auto wiper switch on), step 1 in FIG.
If the automatic wiper switch is not turned off in step 3, the process proceeds to step 14, and the value of the rainfall state during the automatic wiper control is obtained by the same processing as that shown in steps 3 to 8. Then, in step 15, it is judged whether or not the integrated value of the raindrop pulses (corresponding to step 4) calculated in the processing of step 14 is equal to or larger than a predetermined control threshold value THR.

If the determination in step 15 is YES, the process proceeds to step 21 in FIG. 4, and it is determined whether or not the wiper operation mode at that time is the intermittent operation mode for 1.5 seconds. If so (if it is in the intermittent operation mode for 1.5 seconds), proceed to step 22 and proceed to step 1 above.
It is determined whether or not the value of the rainfall state obtained in 4 is equal to or more than the Lo mode threshold value taken in in the above step 10, and if the determination in step 22 is also YES, the process directly proceeds to step 26. The mode is changed to the low speed continuous operation mode.

If the determination in step 21 is NO, the process proceeds to step 23, in which it is determined whether the wiper operating mode at that time is the low speed continuous operating mode. If so, the routine proceeds to step 24, where it is judged whether or not the value of the rainfall state obtained at step 14 is equal to or higher than the Hi mode threshold value taken at step 12, and the step 2
If the determination at 4 is also YES, the process proceeds to step 26 and the mode is increased to the high speed continuous operation mode.

Further, the above step 21 and step 23
If both of the judgments are NO (when neither the intermittent operation mode nor the low speed continuous operation mode is for 1.5 seconds), the process proceeds to step 25, and the elapsed time after the last wiper operation is the predetermined mode up threshold value. It is determined whether or not it is within the UP (see FIG. 8) (mode up determination). If the result is YES, the mode is raised in step 26. If the result is NO, the process proceeds to step 19 in FIG. 3 to keep the mode. Done. The mode keeping and the mode up will be further described later with reference to FIG.

If the determination in step 15 is NO, the process proceeds to step 16, the elapsed time after the last wiper operation is counted, and in step 17, whether the elapsed time has passed a predetermined time threshold WOT or not. Is determined. If the determination in step 17 is yes, step 18
Next, it is judged whether the integrated value of the raindrop pulse is less than or equal to a predetermined mode down threshold DWN (see FIG. 8) (mode down judgment), and if the judgment in step 18 is NO, step Modekeeping was done at 19,
On the other hand, if the answer is yes, the mode is down in step 20. The mode keeping and the mode down will be described later with reference to FIG.

Next, at step 27, the time threshold value (maximum intermittent time) WOT for the next wiper operation is set, and the count value of the elapsed time until then is cleared. Further, in step 28, the integrated value of the raindrop pulse is cleared, and then in step 29, the wiper is operated once and the process returns to step 13. In the above embodiment, the Lo or Hi mode threshold value is rewritten in response to the manual operation of the low or high switch when the auto wiper switch is off, but the auto wiper switch is on. The Lo or Hi mode threshold value can be rewritten even when the low or high switch is manually operated when the switch is turned on.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show another embodiment of the processing procedure performed by the microcomputer shown in FIG. 1. First, initialization processing is performed in step 1 shown in FIG. The threshold value is initialized. Subsequent steps 2 to 8 correspond to steps 2 to 8 in FIG. In the following step 9, it is determined whether or not the manually operated low switch and high switch (wiper switch for low speed operation and high speed operation) are turned off. If yes, the process proceeds to step 10 and is stored in step 8 above. The value of the rainfall condition is taken in as the off threshold.

Next, steps 11 to 13 in FIG. 6 correspond to steps 13 to 15 in FIG. If the determination in step 13 is yes, step 1 in FIG.
6, the determination corresponding to step 25 in FIG. 4 is made, and if the result is yes, the process goes to step 17 to upgrade the mode, and if the result is no, the process goes to step 22 to keep the mode. Next, steps 14 and 15 in FIG. 6 correspond to steps 16 and 17 in FIG. 3 described above. If the determination in step 15 is YES, the process proceeds to step 18 in FIG. 7, and the value of the rainfall state obtained in step 12 is the same as in step 1
It is determined whether or not it is equal to or less than the off threshold value taken in by 0, and if YES, the process proceeds to step 19 and the wiper operation is stopped (that is, infinite intermittent mode).
Note that in step 18 above, the wiper operation is, for example, 24.
It may be performed only in the intermittent operation mode for 2 seconds, and in that case, when the determination in step 18 is YES, the intermittent operation mode for 24 seconds is stopped.

Next, if the determination at step 18 is NO, the routine proceeds to step 20, where the determination corresponding to step 18 in FIG. 3 is made, and if YES, the routine proceeds to step 21 where the mode is down and it is NO. Step 2
Proceed to 2 and the mode is kept. Continued Step 2
3 to 25 correspond to steps 27 to 29 in FIG. 3 above. The off threshold value can be rewritten even when the low or high switch is manually operated while the auto wiper switch is on.

FIG. 8 exemplifies conditions for switching the operation of the wiper in step control in a plurality of modes. The plurality of modes include high speed continuous operation (high mode) and low speed continuous operation (low mode). , Intermittent operation every 1.5 seconds, intermittent operation every 3 seconds, intermittent operation every 6 seconds, 12
Intermittent operation every second and intermittent operation every 24 seconds are set. As described above, the wiper control is performed such that the integrated value of the raindrop pulses exceeds the predetermined control threshold value THR, or the elapsed time after the previous wiper operation before reaching the control threshold value is the predetermined time threshold value. It is performed by passing WOT.

When the integrated value exceeds the control threshold value THR within the time threshold value set at that time, immediate wiper control is performed and the mode up determination is performed. If the elapsed time when the control threshold value THR is exceeded is within the predetermined mode-up threshold value UP, the mode is up and the next mode is raised to the next higher level (that is, one of the plurality of modes described above). To the higher mode). If the elapsed time when the control threshold is exceeded exceeds the mode up threshold UP, the mode is kept and the mode at that time is maintained (that is, the same mode as this time is set). . On the other hand, even when the elapsed time exceeds the time threshold value WOT at that time before the integrated value does not exceed the control threshold value THR, the wiper control is performed immediately and the mode down determination is performed. If the pulse integrated value after the passage of the time threshold value is equal to or less than the predetermined mode down threshold value DWN, the mode is down and the next mode is lowered by one (that is, one of the plurality of modes is lower than the above mode). Set to the mode. If the pulse integrated value when the time threshold value has passed exceeds the mode down threshold value DWN, the mode is kept and the mode at that time is maintained (the same mode as this time is set).

FIG. 9 shows the configuration of a wiper control device as another embodiment of the present invention, in which a pattern learned by seat position selection is called to obtain an automatic wiper control of a wiping timing suitable for a driver. It was done. In FIG. 9, parts common to those in FIG. 1 are designated by common reference numerals. The apparatus shown in FIG. 9 is further provided with a volume switch 7 for adjusting the intermittent time of the wiper operation, and a signal from the switch 7 is input to the microcomputer 56 via the input circuit 59. The microcomputer 56 is also connected to a wiping timing memory B that stores a wiper threshold pattern, and memories 3 and 4 that store the stored contents of the memory B according to the seat position.

Further, a seat position signal transmitted from the seat control ECU 8 is input to the microcomputer 56 via the input circuit 60. Here, the seat control ECU 8 is provided with a memory A that stores a seat position pattern, and a memory 1 and a memory 2 that store the stored contents of the memory A according to the seat position. Further, the seat control ECU 8 is provided with a seat motor 85 operated by a manual switch 81, a memory switch 82, a switch 83 for seat position 1 selection, and a switch 84 for seat position 2 selection.

With the above-mentioned structure, the position of the seat is determined by the manual switch, and then the memory switch is turned on and the position selecting switch (for example, the position 1 selecting switch) is turned on. Then, the pattern of the seat position at that time is stored in the memory (for example, the memory 1) for the selected switch. In this way, when the driver next rides on the driver's seat, the stored contents of the memory 1 are called by turning on the switch for selecting the position 1, and the predetermined contents stored in the memory 1 are recalled. The seat position (the position of the driver's seat) is set to the position via the seat motor.

Further, when the driver selects the seat position 1 (or 2) as described above, the seat position signal is transmitted from the seat control ECU 8 to the auto wiper controller 5. As a result, the auto wiper controller determines whether the seat position signal corresponds to the seat position 1 or the seat position 2, and determines the wiping timing learned in advance according to the received seat position signal. The pattern is called from the memory B and the memory 3 or the memory 4 to perform the auto wiper control. In this way, the pattern learned by the selection of the seat position (the wiper threshold pattern changed by the sensitivity adjustment volume) is called, and the automatic wiper control of the wiping timing suitable for the driver is performed.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show an example of the processing procedure performed by the seat control ECU shown in FIG. 9 above. First, when it is determined in step 1 of FIG. It is determined whether the memory switch is on. If the result is "NO" (memory switch OFF), it is determined in step 3 whether the manual switch is ON. If yes (manual switch on), the process proceeds to step 4, and the operation of the seat motor is controlled according to the turned on manual switch, and in step 5, the seat position pattern at that time is stored in the memory A.
Memorized in.

If the determination in step 3 is NO, the process proceeds to step 6 and it is determined whether or not the switch for selecting the seat position 1 is turned on. If YES, the process proceeds to step 7, the pattern of the seat position is called from the memory 1 to the memory A, the seat motor is controlled according to the data stored in the memory A in step 8, and the auto wiper controller side is continued in step 9. A position signal indicating that the switch for selecting position 1 is turned on is transmitted to.

On the other hand, if the determination in step 6 is NO, the process proceeds to step 10 and it is determined whether or not the switch for selecting the seat position 2 is turned on. If YES, the process proceeds to step 11, the pattern of the seat position is called from the memory 2 to the memory A, the seat motor is controlled according to the stored data of the memory A in step 12, and the auto wiper controller side is continued in step 13. A position signal indicating that the switch for selecting the position 2 is turned on is transmitted to.

If the determination in step 2 is YES (memory switch is ON), the memory A is determined in step 14.
The above-mentioned seat position pattern is called up, and when it is determined in step 15 that the switch for selecting the seat position 1 is turned on, the stored data in the memory A is stored in the memory 1 in step 16. When it is determined in step 17 that the switch for selecting the seat position 2 is turned on, the stored data of the memory A is stored in the memory 2 in step 18.

12 and 13 show an example of a processing procedure performed by the microcomputer for the auto wiper shown in FIG. 9 above. First, in step 1 of FIG. 12, the reception of the seat position signal is YES. When the determination is made, the routine proceeds to step 2, where it is determined whether or not the signal for selecting the seat position 1 is received. If yes, the process proceeds to step 3 to call the memory 3 to the memory B. Here, the memory B is a memory that stores the wiper threshold pattern changed by the volume as described above. In the following step 4, it is determined whether or not the volume operation has been performed. If yes (on), the process proceeds to step 5 to store the wiper threshold pattern, and in step 6 the memory B
The threshold pattern is stored in. Further, in step 7, the storage data of the memory B is stored in the memory 3.

On the other hand, if the determination in step 2 is no, the process proceeds to step 8 and it is determined whether or not a signal for selecting the seat position 2 is received. If YES, the process proceeds to step 9 to call the memory 4 into the memory B. Then, in step 10 which follows, it is determined whether or not the volume operation has been performed. When the answer is yes (on),
In step 12, the wiper threshold pattern is stored, and in step 12, the threshold pattern is stored in the memory B. Further, in step 13, the storage data of the memory B is stored in the memory 4.

On the other hand, if the determination in step 1 is no, the process proceeds to step 14 shown in FIG. 13 to determine whether or not the volume operation has been performed. If yes (on), the process proceeds to step 15 to store the wiper threshold pattern, and in step 16 store the threshold pattern in the memory B. Further, in step 17, it is determined whether or not the auto wiper switch is turned on. If the result is yes, the process proceeds to step 18 to perform wiper control according to the data stored in the memory B.

[0040]

According to the present invention, the optimum wiper control can be performed by learning the switching threshold for the operation mode of the automatic wiper control. Further, according to the present invention, it is possible to call the pattern learned by the selection of the seat position and realize the automatic wiper control of the wiping timing suitable for the driver.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a wiper control device as one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure performed by the microcomputer shown in FIG.

3 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure performed by the microcomputer shown in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure performed by the microcomputer shown in FIG.

5 is a flowchart showing another example of a processing procedure performed by the microcomputer shown in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing another example of the processing procedure performed by the microcomputer shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing another example of a processing procedure performed by the microcomputer shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a mode switching condition when the wiper operation is step-controlled in a plurality of modes.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a configuration of a wiper control device as another embodiment of the present invention.

10 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure performed by the seat control ECU shown in FIG.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure performed by the seat control ECU shown in FIG. 9.

12 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure performed by the microcomputer shown in FIG.

13 is a flowchart showing an example of a processing procedure performed by the microcomputer shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 ... Auto wiper switch 2 ... Rain sensor 3 ... Low speed operation (Lo) Wiper switch 4 ... High speed operation (Hi) Wiper switch 5 ... Auto wiper controller 61 ... Wiper motor 62 ... Cam switch 7 ... Intermittent time adjustment volume 8 ... Seat control ECU 81 ... Manual switch 82 ... Memory switch 83, 84 ... Position selection switch 85 ... Seat motor

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. Means for controlling wiper operation when the rainfall detected by a rain sensor reaches a predetermined control threshold, and rainfall when a manually operated low speed wiper switch is turned on. When the amount of rainfall at that time is larger than the stored amount of rainfall in a state in which the operation mode during the automatic wiper control is the intermittent operation mode, the operation mode of the wiper is set to the intermittent operation mode. A wiper control device comprising means for increasing the mode from the low speed continuous operation mode to the low speed continuous operation mode. 2. A means for controlling the wiper operation when the rainfall amount detected by the rain sensor reaches a predetermined control threshold value, and a rainfall amount when the manually operated high speed operation wiper switch is turned on. When the rainfall amount at that time is larger than the stored rainfall amount in a state where the storing means and the operation mode during the automatic wiper control are the low speed continuous operation mode, the wiper operation mode is set to the low speed continuous operation mode. A wiper control device comprising means for increasing the operating mode to a high-speed continuous operating mode. 3. Means for controlling the wiper operation when a predetermined time elapses before the amount of rainfall detected by the rain sensor reaches a predetermined control threshold value, when a manually operated switch is turned off. A wiper control device comprising: means for storing rainfall amount; and means for stopping the operation of the wiper when the rainfall amount during automatic wiper control is less than or equal to the stored rainfall amount. 4. A means for storing a wiper operation pattern in advance according to a seat position selection, a means for recalling the stored wiper operation pattern when a seat position selection signal is received, and a means for recalling the wiper operation pattern during automatic wiper control. A wiper control device comprising means for controlling the operation of the wiper according to an operating pattern provided.