JPH0678126U - Wiper control device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a wiper control device capable of performing an intermittent operation according to a drizzle which is difficult to detect with a raindrop sensor. [Structure] Auto stop mechanism 4 as a position detection switch for detecting whether or not a wiper blade is in a standby position
A wiper motor 1, a time setting means 11 for setting a provisional intermittent time when the signal of the raindrop sensor 2 does not occur for a predetermined time or more, and a time measurement for measuring the wiping operation time required for the wiper blade to make one reciprocation from the auto stop mechanism 4. A wiper control including a means 12 and a processing means 13 for comparing the wiping operation time detected by the time measuring means 12 with the previous wiping operation time and extending / shortening the provisional intermittent time according to the increase or decrease of the wiping operation time. apparatus.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a wiper controller used to drive a vehicle wiper by detecting a rainfall condition.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 As a wiper control device of this type, for example, a raindrop sensor that converts vibration generated by collision of raindrops to an electric signal and outputs the electric signal is used. There is a device that determines an intermittent time for driving and drives the wiper at the intermittent time.

[0003]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the conventional wiper control device as described above, it may be difficult for the raindrop sensor to detect raindrops in the case of drizzle or the like, and intermittent operation may stop to make it difficult to secure sufficient visibility. It was

Conventionally, there is a mist switch for moving the wiper a predetermined number of times as a means for dealing with drizzle and the like, but this mist switch is directly connected to the above-mentioned control device for performing intermittent operation. There was no special connection, and the operation had to be repeated every time the glass needed to be wiped.

[0005]

[The purpose of the device]

 The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional situation.According to this, even if the rain condition that can be detected by the raindrop sensor is changed to drizzle which is difficult to detect with the raindrop sensor, It is an object of the present invention to provide a wiper control device capable of performing intermittent operation.

[0006]

A wiper control device according to the present invention determines whether or not a wiper blade is at a standby position in a wiper control device that drives a wiper at an intermittent time determined based on a signal of a raindrop sensor. A wiper motor having a position detection switch for detecting, a time setting means for setting a provisional intermittent time when the signal of the raindrop sensor does not occur for a predetermined time or more, and a wiping operation time required for the wiper blade to make one reciprocation from the position detection switch. And a processing means for comparing the wiping operation time detected by the time measuring means with the previous wiping operation time and for extending / shortening the temporary intermittent time according to the increase or decrease of the wiping operation time. The above configuration is used as a means for solving the problems.

[0007]

[Function of the device]

 In the wiper control device according to the present invention, the rain condition changes to drizzle or the like, and the signal from the raindrop sensor does not enter. When a predetermined time elapses in this condition, the time setting means sets the temporary intermittent time. On the other hand, the wiper motor position detection switch and time measuring means detect the wiping operation time required for the wiper blade to make one reciprocation.

By the way, the wiping operation time required for the wiper blade to make one reciprocation changes slightly depending on the wetting condition of the wiping surface. In other words, when the state of the wiping surface becomes a so-called semi-dry state in which the amount of rain decreases and the amount of dry areas increases, the frictional resistance between the wiping surface and the wiper blade increases, and the wiping operation time becomes longer. However, as the amount of rainfall increases, the frictional resistance decreases and the wiping time becomes shorter.

Therefore, in the wiper control device according to the present invention, while no signal is generated from the raindrop sensor due to drizzle or the like, the processing means compares the wiping operation time with the previous wiping operation time and compares it with the previous wiping operation time. If the wiping operation time is longer (when the amount of rainfall is decreasing), the provisional intermittent time is extended because the amount of rainfall is decreasing, and if the wiping operation time is shortening ( When the amount of rainfall is increasing), the temporary intermittent time is set by shortening the temporary intermittent time, and the wiper motor is driven at the temporary intermittent time.

[0010]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

That is, as shown in FIG. 1, the wiper control device includes a wiper motor 1 that is a drive source of the wiper device, a raindrop sensor 2 for detecting raindrops, and a controller 3 configured by a circuit. ing.

When the wiper operation switch is turned off at random, the wiper motor 1 continues to conduct electricity, and moves an unillustrated wiper blade to a standby position (lower inverted position) to stop it. Is equipped with. This auto stop mechanism 4 is provided with first and second energizing plates 5 and 6 that rotate together with the output shaft of the motor, and first and second contactors 7 and 8 that come into contact with these plates and are known in the prior art. It has a structure.

In this embodiment, the auto stop mechanism 4 is used as a position detection switch for detecting whether or not the wiper blade is at the standby position. When the wiper blade is at the standby position, the second stop as shown in FIG. Both the contacts 7 and 8 are in contact with the energizing plate 6.

The raindrop sensor 2 is attached to, for example, an upper surface of an engine hood, converts vibration generated by collision of raindrops into an electric signal, and generates the electric signal as a raindrop detection signal.

The controller 3 includes a counter 9 that determines an intermittent time based on a signal from the raindrop sensor 2, and a driving unit 10 that drives the wiper motor 1 at the intermittent time. Time setting means 11 for setting the provisional intermittent time when the signal of No. occurs for a predetermined time or more, and the time measuring means 12 for measuring the wiping operation time required for the wiper blade to make one round trip from the auto stop mechanism (position detection switch) 4. And a processing means 13 to which signals from both means 11 and 12 are input.

The driving means 9 is equipped with a relay switch 16 for switching between the contact 14 on the second contactor 8 side and the contact 15 on the ground side, and a relay coil 17 connected to the counter 9. When a time signal is generated, the relay switch 16 switches the relay switch 16 to the contact 15 on the ground side. As a result, the wiper motor 1 is energized. When the second contactor 8 comes into contact with the first energizing plate 5 as the wiper motor 1 operates, the relay switch 16 switches to the contact 14 on the second contactor 8 side to energize the wiper motor 1. The wiper blade 1 reciprocates once, and the wiper motor 1 stops when the second energizing plate 6 comes into contact with both the contacts 7 and 8.

The time measuring means 12 is connected to the second contactor 8 that comes into contact with the first energizing plate 5 that rotates together with the output shaft of the motor when the wiper blade is in operation. From the time, measure the wiping operation time required for the wiper blade to make one round trip.

The processing means 13 compares the wiping operation time detected by the time measuring means 12 with the previous wiping operation time, and when the wiping operation time is long, the processing means 13 causes the time setting means 11 to When the set temporary intermittent time is extended and the wiping operation time is shortened, the temporary intermittent time is shortened and the signal is sent to the counter 9.

In the wiper control device having the above-mentioned configuration, the intermittent time is determined by the counter 9 based on the signal generated from the raindrop sensor 2 within a predetermined time, and the wiper motor 1 is driven by the drive means 10 at the intermittent time. It is driving.

Next, as shown in FIG. 2, when the rainfall state is changed to drizzle or the like and the signal from the raindrop sensor 2 does not enter, and a predetermined time Tx elapses in this state, the counter 9 in this embodiment is used. The wiper motor 1 is driven by actuating the relay switch 16 by the signal from and the provisional intermittent time Ti0 is set by the time setting means 11. On the other hand, the wiper motor 1 is driven, and the wiper operation time Tm0 required for the wiper blade to make one reciprocation is detected by the auto stop mechanism (position detection switch) 4 and the time measuring means 12.

After the provisional intermittent time Ti0 has elapsed, the wiper control device actuates the relay switch 16 to drive the wiper motor 1 and detects the wiping operation time Tm1 at this time, and the processing means 13 Then, the wiping operation time Tm1 is compared with the previous wiping operation time Tm0 to determine the next provisional intermittent time Ti1.

By the way, when the state of the wiping surface becomes a so-called semi-dry state in which the amount of rain decreases and the number of dry portions increases, the frictional resistance between the wiping surface and the wiper blade increases and the wiping operation time increases. . In such a case, in the wiper control device, when the provisional intermittent time Ti1 has elapsed, the relay switch 16 is actuated to drive the wiper motor 1 and the time measuring means 12 measures the wiping operation time Tm2, and at the same time, the processing is performed. In the means 13, the wiping operation time Tm2 is compared with the previous wiping operation time Tm1. Since the wiping operation time Tm2 at this point is longer, a new provisional extension of the provisional intermittent time Ti1 of the previous time is made. The intermittent time Ti2 is determined.

Therefore, the provisional intermittent time becomes longer as the rainfall decreases. Hereinafter, the provisional intermittent time Ti3 is updated along with the measurement of the next wiping operation time Tm3, and this process is repeated. When the amount of rainfall increases and the frictional resistance between the wiping surface and the wiper blade becomes smaller and the wiping operation time becomes shorter, a new provisional intermittent time that is a reduction of the previous provisional intermittent time is determined. .

As described above, the wiper control device sequentially updates the provisional intermittent time according to the change in rainfall by utilizing the fact that the wiping operation time of the wiper blade changes depending on the wetness of the wiping surface. The wiper motor 1 is driven during the provisional intermittent time, and the normal intermittent operation control is resumed when a signal is again generated from the raindrop sensor 2.

In the above embodiment, the processing means 13 simply compares the wiping operation times to change the temporary intermittent time, but the reduction rate and the increase rate of the time obtained by comparing the wiping operation times are changed. And the reference value may be compared to change the provisional intermittent time. Further, in the above-described embodiment, when the signal is not generated from the raindrop sensor 2 and the predetermined time has elapsed, the wiper motor 1 is operated, the temporary intermittent time is set, and the wiping operation time is measured. However, it is also possible to measure the wiping operation time from the time when the normal intermittent operation is being performed, and use the predetermined elapsed time after the raindrop signal is not generated as the initial provisional intermittent time.

[0026]

[Effect of device]

 As described above, according to the wiper control device of the present invention, in the wiper control device that drives the wiper at the intermittent time determined based on the signal of the raindrop sensor, from the rainfall state that can be detected by the raindrop sensor, Even when the weather changes to drizzle, which is difficult to detect with a raindrop sensor, intermittent drive can be automatically continued according to the rainfall condition, and the convenience of the wiper can be significantly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a time chart showing a signal of a raindrop sensor, an operating state of a relay, and an operating state of a wiper motor.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 wiper motor 2 raindrop sensor 4 auto stop mechanism 11 hour setting means 12 hour measuring means 13 processing means

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A wiper control device for driving a wiper at an intermittent time determined based on a signal of a raindrop sensor, a wiper motor having a position detection switch for detecting whether or not a wiper blade is in a standby position, and a raindrop sensor. Time setting means for setting a provisional intermittent time when a signal does not occur for a predetermined time or more, time measuring means for measuring the wiping operation time required for the wiper blade to make one reciprocation from the position detection switch, and time detection means. A wiper control device comprising: processing means for comparing the wiping operation time with the previous wiping operation time and extending / shortening the temporary intermittent time in accordance with an increase or decrease in the wiping operation time.