JPH06263010A - Wiper control device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To secure constantly excellent visibility by detecting the data on the rain drop and the information on the vehicle speed condition, and controlling the operation of a wiper motor based on this detected value. CONSTITUTION:When a wiper switch 2 is switched to the auto-position, and the data on the rain drop from a rain drop sensor 3 are available, the intermittent mode is set by a mode setting part 7. When the data on the vehicle speed from a vehicle speed sensor 4 are constant or increased, the data are detected by a vehicle speed condition detecting part 6, and at the same time, when no data on the rain drop from the rain drop sensor 3 are available over the intermittent time to be set by an intermittent designating part 5, the mode setting part 7 commands the waiting mode. Thus, the mode setting part 7 executes the control where the information on the rain and the vehicle speed is added, and the intermittent mode is not be changed to the waiting mode by the sudden reduction of the actual vehicle speed even when the data on the rain drop are reduced, and the driving is continued with the intermittent mode.

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 which is used to wipe a wiping surface such as a windshield glass by automatically driving a wiper motor upon sensing that it has started to rain.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, the following wiper control device is known as a wiper control device for automatically driving a wiper motor when it senses that it is raining to wipe a wiping surface such as a windshield glass.

In such a wiper control device, when the raindrop sensor detects rain when the wiper switch is in the automatic mode, a voltage corresponding to the intensity and frequency of the rain is generated. The generated voltage is taken in within a predetermined detection time, increased by the amplification circuit and stored in the charging circuit built into the amplifier, and when the potential stored in the charging circuit exceeds a predetermined level, discharging is started. In the amplifier, the wiper motor is intermittently driven by intermittently supplying a current to the drive circuit via the comparison circuit. Since the pause time of intermittent drive is proportional to the time required to store the potential in the charging circuit, if the rain is heavy or the frequency is high, the charging circuit will be charged in a short time, so an intermittent time with a short pause time is set. If the rain is weak or the frequency is low, the charging circuit is charged for a long time, so an intermittent time having a long rest time is set, and the wiper motor is automatically driven intermittently at the set intermittent time. The intermittent time is updated every predetermined detection time based on the voltage according to the intensity and frequency of new rain. In addition, if you enter the tunnel while driving in the rain, it is not necessary to intermittently drive the wiper motor for the intermittent time set before entering the tunnel, so it is possible to see a sudden change in the amount of rainfall when entering the tunnel. Recognize that there is and stop driving the wiper motor for a preset time.

[0004]

The above-mentioned conventional wiper control device has a structure in which the drive of the wiper motor is stopped for a preset time by recognizing that there has been a sudden change in the amount of rain, so When the vehicle suddenly decelerates while traveling in the rain, it is possible that the drive of the wiper motor may be stopped in response to the fact that the amount of rainfall decreases in proportion to the speed of the vehicle. There were challenges.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a wiper control device for controlling the operation of the wiper motor so that a good visual field can always be ensured.

[0006]

[Constitution of the invention]

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A wiper control device according to the present invention includes a wiper switch that can be switched between an automatic position and a manual position by an occupant's operation, and raindrop data that generates raindrop data according to the intensity of rain. It is equipped with a raindrop sensor and a vehicle speed sensor that constantly generates actual vehicle speed data proportional to the actual vehicle speed of the vehicle, and an intermittent time is set based on the raindrop data generated by the raindrop sensor within a certain period of time. Raindrop data from the raindrop sensor when the wiper switch is switched to the auto position, and the setting unit, the vehicle speed state detection unit that stores the actual vehicle speed data from the vehicle speed sensor at any time and detects fluctuations in the stored actual vehicle speed data. When the vehicle speed is detected, the intermittent mode is set and the actual vehicle speed data from the vehicle speed sensor is kept constant by the vehicle speed state detector If it is detected that the raindrop data is increasing and the raindrop data from the raindrop sensor does not exist for more than the intermittent time set by the intermittent time setting unit, the mode setting unit is provided and the standby mode is set by the mode setting unit. A control unit that outputs a drive signal having an intermittent time from the intermittent time setting unit when the mode is set, and stops the output of the drive signal when the standby mode is set by the mode setting unit; It is characterized in that it is configured to have a drive means for supplying a current to the wiper motor by a signal, in the embodiment adopted as necessary, the control means, when the standby mode is set, from the raindrop sensor It is possible to perform control to return to the intermittent mode when the raindrop data is generated.

[0008]

In the wiper control device according to the present invention,
When there is raindrop data from the raindrop sensor when the wiper switch is switched to the auto position, the mode setting unit sets the intermittent mode, and the vehicle speed data from the vehicle speed sensor in the vehicle speed state detection unit is constant or increases. If there is no raindrop data from the raindrop sensor beyond the intermittent time set by the intermittent time setting unit,
The standby mode is set by the mode setting unit. Therefore,
Since the mode setting unit performs control considering rain information and vehicle speed information, even if raindrop data decreases due to a sudden decrease in actual vehicle speed, it is not possible to change the setting of the intermittent mode to the standby mode. Instead, the wiper motor continues to be driven in the intermittent mode.

[0009]

1 and 2 show an embodiment of a wiper control device according to the present invention.

The illustrated wiper control device 1 mainly comprises
A wiper switch 2, a raindrop sensor 3, a vehicle speed sensor 4, an intermittent time setting unit 5, a vehicle speed state detecting unit 6, and a control unit 8 having a mode setting unit 7 and a driving unit 9, and the driving unit 9 includes a wiper motor. 10 is electrically connected.

The wiper switch 2 is set to either an automatic position or a manual position by the occupant switching the position. When the automatic position is set, an intermittent drive signal is transferred to the drive means 9 at the intermittent time set by the control means 8, and when the manual position is set, the drive means 9 is continuously connected via the control means 5. The drive signal is transferred. In the manual position, low speed and high speed can be selected respectively.

The raindrop sensor 3 is mounted on a bonnet of a vehicle or the like at a place where rain is relatively likely to hit. The raindrop sensor 3 has a sensor portion for generating a vibration waveform of a voltage level depending on the intensity and frequency of raindrops. And an amplifier circuit section for amplifying and outputting the vibration waveform of the voltage level from the sensor section. The vibration waveform of the voltage level generated by the rain hitting the sensor unit is transferred to the intermittent time setting unit 5 as the raindrop data signal (raindrop data) having the voltage level increased by the amplifier circuit unit. .

The vehicle speed sensor 4 generates actual vehicle speed data which is an actual vehicle speed signal proportional to the actual vehicle speed of the vehicle by converting the rotation of a meter cable or axle connected to a speedometer (not shown) into a pulse signal. This actual vehicle speed data is transferred to the vehicle speed state detection unit 6 provided in the control means 8.

On the other hand, the intermittent time setting section 5 provided in the control means 8 charges the vibration waveform of the voltage level increased in the amplification circuit section of the raindrop sensor 3 and starts discharging each time the charging is completed. And has a function of comparing the discharge potential with a reference value and setting an intermittent time in which a time until the discharge potential exceeds the reference value is a rest time. If the voltage level increased in the amplification circuit section of the raindrop sensor 3 is high, the intermittent time setting section 5 is charged in a short time, and the discharge potential exceeds the reference value in a short time. If the voltage level increased in the amplifier circuit part of the raindrop sensor 3 is set to be low, charging is performed for a long time and the discharge potential exceeds the reference value for a long time, so that the intermittent time has a long down time. Set as having. Further, when there is a voltage signal from the amplification circuit unit of the raindrop sensor 3, the intermittent time setting unit 5 transfers the voltage signal to the mode setting unit 7 described later.

A vehicle speed state detection section 6 provided in the control means 8
Has a function of storing the actual vehicle speed data transferred from the vehicle speed sensor 3 at any time, and comparing the stored vehicle speed data with the actual vehicle speed data each time to determine whether or not the vehicle speed is decreasing. Have. By determining whether the speed of the vehicle is decreasing or not, it is detected that the speed of the vehicle is constant or the speed of the vehicle is increasing to detect the fluctuation of the actual vehicle speed. To detect. The state determination signal, which is determined by the vehicle speed state detection unit 6 to indicate that the vehicle speed is constant or the vehicle speed is increasing, is transferred to the mode setting unit 7, which will be described later.

A mode setting section 7 provided in the control means 8
Recognizes the raindrop data, which is a voltage signal from the amplification circuit unit of the raindrop sensor 3, and the discrimination signal from the vehicle speed state detection unit 6, and when there is raindrop data from the raindrop sensor 3, the intermittent mode is set and intermittent. The intermittent drive signal is output to the drive means 9 at the intermittent time set by the time setting unit 5. Further, the mode setting unit 7 is predetermined even after the vehicle speed state detecting unit 6 detects that the actual vehicle speed data from the vehicle speed sensor is constant or increasing and exceeds the intermittent time set by the intermittent time setting unit 5. It has a function of setting the standby mode and stopping the output of the intermittent drive signal when there is no raindrop data from the raindrop sensor 3 for the specified time.

On the other hand, the drive means 9 is a power supply connection mechanism such as a relay, and controls when the intermittent drive signal output from the mode setting section 7 of the control means 8 and the wiper switch 3 are switched to the manual position. The continuous drive signal output from the means 8 supplies a current to the wiper motor 10 in response to each drive signal to drive the wiper motor 10. When the wiper motor 10 is driven, the wiping surface is wiped with a wiper blade (not shown).

The wiper control device 1 having such a structure
Operates based on the flowchart shown in FIG. Ignition key switch (not shown) is turned on,
When the wiper switch 2 is switched to the automatic position, the control means 8 also starts operating. Therefore, when it rains during traveling, raindrop data is generated from the raindrop sensor 3, and in step 30, the raindrop data is fetched from the raindrop sensor 3 by the intermittent time setting unit 5, and in step 31.
Move to. At step 31, the actual vehicle speed data is taken in from the vehicle speed sensor 4 by the vehicle speed state detecting section 6, and the routine proceeds to step 32. In step 32, the vehicle speed sensor 4
The actual vehicle speed data from is stored in the vehicle speed state detecting means 6, and the process proceeds to step 33. In step 33, it is determined whether or not there is raindrop data from the raindrop sensor 3, and since there is raindrop data, the process moves to step 34. In step 34, the mode setting unit 7 sets the intermittent mode, and the process moves to step 35. . In step 35, it is judged whether or not the intermittent mode is set, and step 34
Since the intermittent mode is set in step 3, step 3
Go to 6. In step 36, the intermittent time setting unit 5 sets the intermittent time, and the process proceeds to step 37. In step 37, the drive signal is output to the drive means 9 at the set intermittent time, and the process returns to step 30. Drive means 9
Supplies an electric current to the wiper motor 10 by the intermittent drive signal to drive the wiper motor 10 intermittently, and wipes the wiping surface with the wiper blade. While there is raindrop data from the raindrop sensor 3, step 30, step 31, step 3
2, Yes in Step 33, Step 34, Yes in Step 35, Step 36, Step 3
7. Step 30 is repeated.

When the vehicle speed is drastically reduced due to traffic congestion or the like while traveling in the rain, in step 33 it is determined whether or not there is raindrop data from the raindrop sensor 3. Since the raindrop data disappears as the amount of rainfall decreases in proportion to the decrease, the process proceeds to step 38. In step 38, it is judged whether or not the standby mode is set, and the intermittent mode is set.
In step 39, the vehicle state detection unit 6 determines whether the vehicle speed is constant or whether the vehicle speed is increasing. Since the speed of the vehicle is decreasing rapidly, go to step 40,
In step 40, the intermittent mode that has already been set is held and the process proceeds to step 35. In step 35, the intermittent drive signal is output to the drive means 9 through Yes, step 36, and step 37, so that the wiper motor 10 is output. An electric current is supplied to drive the wiper motor 10 intermittently, and the wiper blade wipes the wiped surface. As a result, when the vehicle is traveling in the rain, the intermittent mode is maintained even if the actual vehicle speed suddenly decreases.

When a vehicle enters a tunnel or the like while traveling in the rain and the vehicle speed is constant or increases,
When the vehicle enters the tunnel, the raindrop data from the raindrop sensor 3 suddenly disappears, and when there is no raindrop data in the determination of whether there is raindrop data in step 33, the process proceeds to step 38. In step 38, it is determined whether or not the standby mode is set. Since the intermittent mode is set, the process proceeds to step 39. In step 39, the vehicle state detection unit 6 determines whether the vehicle speed is constant or whether the vehicle speed is increasing. Whether the speed of the vehicle is constant or rising, the vehicle state detection unit 6 generates a state determination signal, and thus the process proceeds to step 41. Here, if the speed of the vehicle is neither constant nor rising, the process proceeds to step 40 and the intermittent mode that has already been set is held and step 3
5. Go to step 5, yes in step 35, step 3
By outputting an intermittent drive signal to the drive means 9 through step 6 and step 37, a current is supplied to the wiper motor 10 to drive the wiper motor 10 intermittently, and the wiping surface is wiped by the wiper blade. Whether the vehicle speed is constant or rising, at step 41, when the vehicle state detection section 6 generates a state determination signal, the transition time is set by the intermittent time setting section 5 when there is no raindrop data from the raindrop sensor 3. It is determined whether or not a predetermined time has elapsed after the set intermittent time has passed. If the predetermined time is exceeded after the intermittent time has passed, the routine proceeds to step 42, where the time without raindrop data from the raindrop sensor 3 is predetermined after the intermittent time set by the intermittent time setting unit 5 has passed. If the preset time has not been exceeded, the routine proceeds to step 43, the set intermittent mode is held and the routine proceeds to step 35, where at step 35, the drive means 9 is intermittently operated through yes, step 36 and step 37. By outputting a drive signal, a current is supplied to the wiper motor 10 to drive the wiper motor 10 intermittently, and the wiped surface is wiped by the wiper blade. In step 42, when the time when there is no raindrop data from the raindrop sensor 3 exceeds a predetermined time after the intermittent time set by the intermittent time setting unit 5 is reached, the vehicle speed sensor 6 detects the vehicle speed sensor. It is detected that the actual vehicle speed data from 3 is constant or rising, and there is no raindrop data from the raindrop sensor 3 beyond a predetermined time from the intermittent time set by the intermittent time setting section 5 and the mode setting section 7, the mode setting unit 7 sets the intermittent mode by changing the standby mode,
Go to step 35. In step 35, it is determined whether or not the intermittent mode is set. Since the standby mode is set, steps 36 and 37 are skipped and the process returns to step 30. Since the output of the drive signal for the intermittent time set by the intermittent time setting unit 5 is stopped by setting the standby mode, the drive means 9 stops the current supply to the wiper motor 10 and stops the drive of the wiper motor 10. The wiper blade stops the wiping operation on the wiping surface. The wiper motor 10 continues to operate while the wiper blade moves to the predetermined storage position by the automatic stop mechanism built in the wiper motor 10 even after the current supply is stopped, and automatically when the wiper blade reaches the storage position. Stop.

While the standby mode is set and the vehicle is traveling in the tunnel, steps 30 and 3 are performed.
If no in step 1, step 32 and step 33, and if it is in standby mode in step 38, the process proceeds to step 35, and from step 35 to step 36 and step 3
The routine for skipping 7 and returning to step 30 is repeated.

[0022]

As described above, since the wiper control device according to the present invention is configured as described above, the wiper control device performs control in consideration of rain information and vehicle speed information. Even if the raindrop data decreases due to such a decrease, the intermittent mode is not changed to the standby mode and the wiper motor continues to be driven in the intermittent mode.Therefore, control the operation of the wiper motor to obtain a reliable field of view. It has an excellent effect of being able to.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a wiper control device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating an operation in the wiper control device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 wiper control device 2 wiper switch 3 raindrop sensor 4 vehicle speed sensor 5 intermittent time setting unit 6 vehicle speed state detection unit 7 mode setting unit 8 control means 9 drive means 10 wiper motor

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A wiper switch which can be switched between an automatic position and a manual position by an operation of an occupant, a raindrop sensor which detects rain and generates raindrop data according to the intensity of rain, and an actual vehicle proportional to an actual vehicle speed. It has a vehicle speed sensor that generates speed data from time to time, and an intermittent time setting unit that sets an intermittent time based on the raindrop data generated from the raindrop sensor within a certain fixed time, and the actual vehicle speed data from the vehicle speed sensor. And a vehicle speed state detection unit that detects a change in the stored actual vehicle speed data and the wiper switch is set to the automatic position, and sets the intermittent mode when there is raindrop data from the raindrop sensor. The vehicle speed state detector detects that the actual vehicle speed data from the vehicle speed sensor is constant or increasing, and When the intermittent mode is set by the mode setting unit, the mode setting unit sets the standby mode when the raindrop data from the raindrop sensor does not exist beyond the intermittent time set by the intermittent time setting unit. A control unit that outputs a drive signal having an intermittent time from the intermittent time setting unit and stops the output of the drive signal when the standby mode is set by the mode setting unit, and a current to the wiper motor by the drive signal. A wiper control device comprising a drive means for supplying the. 2. The wiper control device according to claim 1, wherein the control means performs control for returning to the intermittent mode when raindrop data is generated from the raindrop sensor when the standby mode is set.