JPS61291249A - Automatic wiper controlling device for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve controllability by configurating a device in such a way that, when a wiper switch is set in an auto-mode, if an ignition switch is turned off, the wiper switch is automatically changed over to an off-mode without the change-over action of the wiper switch on the part of a driver. CONSTITUTION:When a wiper switch 14 is set in an auto-mode, a wiper motor 18 is automatically controlled so as to perform an optimum wiping operation by means of a processing circuit 12 depending on signals detected by a rainfall sensor 10. Thus, in this configuration where the wiper switch 14 is set in the auto-mode, judgement is formed by the processing circuit 12 as to whether an ignition switch 34 is turned on or not, if it is judged to be off, the wiper switch 14 is automatically changed over to an off-mode. And then when the ignition switch 34 is turned on again, the wiper switch 14 is allowed to start from its initial condition.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a method for controlling a vehicle auto wiper, and more particularly to a vehicle auto wiper control method that automatically switches and controls wiper control operations.
Concerning a control method.

[Prior art] Automatic wipers for vehicles use rain sensors to detect the amount of rain in the surrounding area and automatically stop the wiper depending on the detected amount of rain, and do not require the driver to operate the wiper switch while the vehicle is running. It is widely used in various vehicles today because it does not impose any extra burden.

When driving in the rain, the forward visibility of the windshield changes depending on the amount of rain, and therefore, in order to obtain an appropriate forward visibility, it is necessary to control the wiper at a wiper speed that corresponds to the amount of rain.

In a normal auto wiper, a rain amount detection sensor is generally provided on the wiper wiping surface of the front window of the vehicle, and the wiper operation is automatically controlled according to the amount of rain detected by the sensor.
Appropriate wiping action is performed.

In this case, the wiper switch for selecting the wiper wiping mode can be manually selected from OFF mode, AUTO mode, LO mode, and Hi mode, and is automatically turned OFF (stopped) in AUTO mode.

INT (intermittent), LO (low speed), and Hi (high speed mode) are selected.

Then, using the double-layer detection sensor, R
The mountain portion is detected every cycle of the appropriate detection time, and the wiper operation is automatically switched to the optimum operation corresponding to both detected layers.

Therefore, raindrops that adhere to the windshield during driving in the rain are removed by the appropriate wiping action of the wiper, allowing the driver to obtain good forward visibility.

However, in the conventional auto wiper drive device as described above, it is easy to forget to switch the wiper switch to the off mode while it is in the auto mode and to wash or maintain the car. If this is done, there is a problem in that when cleaning water or the like adheres to the windshield, the rain detection sensor detects this and the wiper malfunctions.

Purpose of the Invention The present invention was made to solve this problem.When the ignition switch is turned off while the wiper switch is in the auto mode, the driver automatically switches the wiper switch. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved control method for a vehicle automatic wiper that can be switched to an off mode when the wiper is turned off.

[Means and effects for solving the problem] In the method for controlling an automatic wiper for a vehicle according to the present invention, the wiper wiping mode is switched between manual mode and automatic mode by a wiper switch, and in this automatic mode, From the wiper stop control, a plurality of stepwise wiper operation controls are set according to the amount of rain, and the wiper control is automatically switched in response to the detected value from the rain amount detection sensor.

Therefore, by setting the wiper switch to auto mode, the driver can automatically obtain the optimum wiper wiping speed according to the amount of rain without having to change the switch.

Furthermore, in the method of the present invention, if the ignition switch is turned off while the wiper switch is in the auto mode, the wiper switch is automatically switched to the off mode, and when the ignition switch is turned on again, the wiper switch is always set to the initial state. It is characterized by starting from the state, that is, from the off mode.

In this way, when the ignition switch is turned off, the wiper switch is temporarily returned to its initial state without the driver performing a switching operation, so for example, if it was raining the previous day and the wiper switch was set to auto mode. Even if the ignition switch is turned off while the wiper switch is still in the wiper position, the next morning when the ignition switch is turned on, the wiper switch will be set to off mode, making the driver's operation more complicated than before. It has the advantage of being able to eliminate the problem.

[Example] Hereinafter, a preferred example of the method of the present invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a condylar tract circuit diagram to which the method of the present invention is applied.

In the figure, optimal wiper operation control in the auto mode of the wiper switch 14 is automatically performed via the processing circuit 12 according to the detected value from the rain amount detection sensor 10, and raindrops attached to the front window of the vehicle are effectively removed. be done.

The wiper switch 14 is, for example, a capacitance type electronic switch that is conductive only when pressed and in contact, and the wiper mode is switched on each time it is pressed or oFF=Au-ro=Lo;
It changes cyclically like F;:LC):Hi;:AUTO and is switched in this order. Further, these current modes are notified by an indicator.

Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the wiper switch 14
When is set to Hi in the auto mode, a circuit is configured in which the output of the battery 16 is supplied to the a-b terminals of the wiper driving motor 18.

The motor 18 used in this embodiment performs a high-speed wiper operation when the a-b terminal is energized, and a low-speed wiper operation is performed when the a-G terminal is energized.

Furthermore, when the wiper switch 14 is set to LO, the output of the battery 16 is transmitted to the motor 18 via the processing circuit 12.
- The circuit supplied to the C terminal is configured.

Next, when the wiper switch 14 is set to INT, the circuit is configured such that the output of the battery 16 is supplied to terminals a-C of the motor 18, and when the wiper switch 14 is set to OFF, the circuit is configured so that the output of the battery 16 is supplied to terminals a-C of the motor 18. Processing circuit 12 is located between terminals a and C of
As a result, a circuit is constructed that is shorted through the terminal connected to
The motor 18 is configured to be forced off.

Note that the off operation of the motor 18 is Hi or LO.

In either case, INT is often performed while the wiper is reciprocating. If no measures are taken in such a case, the wiper will remain stopped in the middle of its reciprocating motion, obstructing visibility.

For this reason, even if the wiper is turned off during its reciprocating motion, an interlocking switch 20 is provided to operate the wiper until the wiper completes its reciprocating motion.

This interlocking switch 20 operates in conjunction with the motor 18, turns on the a-b terminals while the wiper is reciprocating, and turns on the a-C terminals when the wiper reaches the reciprocating end position. The structure is such that

Even if the wiper is turned off during reciprocating operation, the output of the battery 16 is connected to the a-b terminals of the switch 20.
The signal is supplied to the a-C terminals of the motor 18 via the processing circuit 12.

Then, when the wiper has finished reciprocating, switch 2
The connection state of 0 is switched to the a-C terminal, and the motor 18 is stopped.

Here, in the present invention, when the ignition switch 34 is turned off while the wiper switch 14 is in the auto mode, the wiper switch 14 is also automatically switched to the off mode, and when the ignition switch 34 is turned on again. The wiper switch 14 is configured to start from an initial state.

That is, FIG. 2 shows an operation flowchart at this time, and in the embodiment, it is determined in step 100 whether or not the wiper switch 14 is in the auto mode, and if no, the process moves to step 150. The off indicator is lit.

If the answer is YES, the process proceeds to step 110, where the auto mode flag is turned on and the auto indicator is lit.

Next, a well-known wiper operation is performed in the main routine 120, and the process moves to step 130.

In step 130, it is determined whether the ignition switch is off. If the ignition switch is not off, the process proceeds to step 110; if it is off, the process proceeds to step 140, the wiper switch is placed in off mode, and the off indicator is illuminated in step 150.

Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 3, the rain amount detection sensor 10 mentioned above is located at the upper end of the central part of the front window 22 and is installed inside the wiping surface 24 so as not to obstruct the driver's forward view. 10 is provided, and the wiper is automatically switched to the optimum operation according to the amount of rain detected by the sensor 10.

That is, as wiper control, a plurality of wiper operation controls are set in stages from stop control to rain amount, and rain amount is detected in R appropriate detection time cycles according to each control.
Switching is automatically controlled according to the amount of rain detected.

The wiper operation control is performed in stages from wiper stop control to INT, 10. It is set to three levels: Hi.

When the wiper is set to each operation control of INT, LO, and Hi, the sensor 10 detects the amount of rain by wiping the wiper blade in a counterclockwise direction, and the wiping position is at the left end in the figure, that is, B This is done when the position is reached.

As a result, the time from the time when the wiper wipes off the raindrops attached to the surface of the sensor monitoring area until the wiper reaches position B, that is, from the time when the wiper reaches position B, the raindrops attached to the sensor detection area are wiped away. It becomes possible to detect the amount of rain and set the next wiper operation control in response to the detected amount of rain.

Therefore, in the vehicle automatic wiper of the embodiment, wiper wiping speeds can be obtained in accordance with each operation control. In addition, in the embodiment, the detection time cycle during the wiper stop control is such that the wiper wipes the front window 22 at the LO wiping speed.
It is set to a value equal to the time T required to wipe from A to B.

By doing so, it becomes possible to detect rain falling when the wiper is set to stop control in the same state as INT and LO, and perform an appropriate wiper operation.

FIG. 4 shows the rain amount detection sensor 10 used in this embodiment, and the sensor 10 of this embodiment has a transparent silicone rubber 2
A prism 28 is fixed through a lens 6, and the light input/output surface of the prism 28 is formed at an angle greater than a critical angle with respect to the front window 22. A plurality of light emitting elements 30 and a plurality of light receiving elements 32 are provided facing each of the input and output surfaces of the prism 28, and light is outputted from the light emitting elements 30, reflected inside the front window 22, and received by the light receiving element 32. Detection of rainfall is performed using optical feedback.

Here, since the light output from the light emitting element 30 is incident on the front window 22 at an angle equal to or greater than the critical angle, if there are no raindrops on the surface of the front window 22, the detection port is located on the front window 22. It undergoes total internal reflection repeatedly and is received by the light receiving element 32, and therefore,
The amount of optical feedback in this case is 100%.

Further, when raindrops are attached to the surface of the front window 22, the detection light incident on the front window 22 is transmitted to the front window 22 due to the relationship between the refractive index of the front window 22 and the raindrops.
The amount of feedback of the detection light detected by the light receiving element 32 is reduced without being totally reflected on the surface side. This feedback amount decreases as the amount of raindrops adhering to the surface of the front window 22 increases, and in the embodiment, this characteristic is utilized to detect the amount of rain.

FIG. 5 shows the relationship between the amount of feedback of the sensor 10 of the embodiment and each operation control of the wiper in the auto mode. is set,
If the amount of feedback is greater than or equal to , it is assumed that there is no rain and the wiper is set to stop control, and if the amount of feedback is A>FB≧B, the amount of rain is determined to be a light rain, and the wiper is set to INT. If the feedback amount is B>FB≧C or more, it is determined that it is raining at a normal level, and the wiper is set to LO, and if the feedback amount is C>FB≧0, it is determined that it is raining at a normal level. It is determined that it is raining in the mountains, and the wipers are set to Hi.

As described above, in this embodiment, even if the driver leaves the wiper switch 14 in the auto mode and forgets to switch it and sets the ignition switch to the off mode, the wiper switch 14 is automatically switched off and the switch operation is performed. The above complexity is eliminated.

[Effects of the Invention] As explained above, in the present invention, when the wiper switch is in the auto mode, when the wiper switch is turned off, the wiper switch is automatically switched to the off mode, and when the ignition switch is turned on again, the wiper switch is automatically switched to the off mode. By starting the wiper switch from the initial state, it is possible to eliminate the inconvenience that the driver forgets to switch the wiper switch and the ignition switch is turned off while in auto mode.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram to which the method of the present invention is applied, Fig. 2 is an explanatory diagram of its characteristic operation flowchart, Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a front window equipped with a wiper, and Fig. 4 is an illustration of rainfall. An explanatory diagram of the detection sensor, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing the relationship between the feedback amount of the sensor and the wiper operation control. 10 ... Rainfall detection sensor 12 ... Processing circuit 14 ... Wiper switch 16 ... Battery 18 ... Motor 20 ... Interlocking switch

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) The wiper wiping mode is selected by switching between manual mode and auto mode using the wiper switch, and in the auto mode, multiple wiper operation controls are set in stages from wiper stop control to rain amount detection. In a vehicle auto wiper control method in which wiper control is automatically switched and controlled in response to a detected value from a sensor, when the wiper switch is in auto mode and the ignition switch is turned off, the wiper switch is automatically turned off. 1. A method for controlling a vehicle automatic wiper, characterized in that when the wiper switch is switched to the mode and the ignition switch is turned on again, the wiper switch starts from an initial state.