Electricity: motive power systems – Automatic and/or with time-delay means
Patent
1999-05-12
2000-01-04
Masih, Karen
Electricity: motive power systems
Automatic and/or with time-delay means
318443, 318444, 1525016, 1525017, 1525013, G05B 500
Patent
active
060113693
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mechanism and method for controlling windshield wipers.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
German Patent Application No. 29 22 160 describes a wiper system for operating the wipers of motor vehicles in which a correcting quantity characterizing wiper deceleration after turning off the operating switch or deactivating the motor is derived from a switching signal characterizing the angular velocity of the motor in an evaluation circuit. Taking this correcting quantity into account, the evaluation circuit emits a switching signal while the wiper is in different angular positions in order to place the wiper in a parking position as soon as the operating switch is turned off.
Using a rotational speed sensor having a first counter and a clock generator having a second counter, this arrangement starts counting from the time the wiper enters a parking zone until the counts of both counters are identical. The switching signal is then emitted for deactivating the motor. The wiper motor is deactivated earlier at high wiping speeds than at lower wiping speeds.
The disadvantage of this arrangement is that it always measures the wiping speed in a region (or parking zone) prior to the parking position or before the motor is deactivated. In addition, wiper motion is no longer detected after the motor is deactivated. This means that the wiper system dynamics are measured while the motor is energized. However, local wetness conditions on the windshield are variable. This makes it difficult to maintain the parking position solely by deriving the correcting quantity from the angular velocity of the motor.
A further disadvantage of this arrangement is that this wiper system merely places the wipers in the parking position. It does not enable the wipers to maintain the reversing positions during operation.
The use of a contact disc and a rotational speed sensor, which make the arrangement more expensive, is another disadvantage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has the advantage that the wipers can be stopped precisely at preset points in each reversing position during wiper operation. This takes into account the local conditions on the windshield before and up to the reversing position after deactivating the motor prior to reaching these positions. To do this, a counter counts the deceleration pulses after deactivating the motor prior to a reversing position until the motor or wiper comes to a standstill. In other words, the wiper system dynamics are determined during braking after the motor has been deactivated.
A further counter, which counts path pulses over the entire wiping area, thereby allowing each wiper position to be assigned to a specific count, is especially advantageous.
The path pulses and deceleration pulses can be advantageously detected by a single counter.
The counter is also advantageously reset and calibrated as the wiper moves into its parking position.
The simple layout of the mechanism, which does not have a position switch or similar device, results in cost savings, which also expands the ways in which the p.c. board can be designed.
Alternatively, the fact that the windshield wiper mechanism is also suitable for placing the wiper in a parking position without a stop after turning off an operating switch is advantageous.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a mechanism for controlling a windshield
FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of the windshield wiper mechanism according to the present invention. wiper in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1 shows a windshield wiper mechanism 10 for a motor vehicle windshield wiper system having a wiper 12 which wipes a wiping area 14 of a windshield (not illustrated). Wiping area 14 is delimited by a first reversing position U1 and a second reversing position U2 or a parking position P of wiper 12. An operating switch 34 is pressed in order to turn windshield wiper mechanism 10 on and off or to select a wiping mode. When windshield wiper m
REFERENCES:
patent: 4309646 (1982-01-01), Liedtke et al.
patent: 4866357 (1989-09-01), Miller
Masih Karen
Robert & Bosch GmbH
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