JP2671926B2 - Intermittent wiper controller - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application] The present invention is an intermittent wiper control capable of intermittently driving a wiper device for wiping raindrops and the like adhering to a windshield of a vehicle. Regarding the device.

<Prior Art> Conventionally, in an automobile wiper device, the intermittent time is set by a timed circuit using a resistor and a capacitor so that the wiper can be operated intermittently when the amount of rainfall is relatively small. There is an intermittent wiper control device that is designed to be obtained.

By the way, it is desirable to change the intermittent time by changing the length of the intermittent time in response to changes in the rainfall state and the running state. Therefore, there is a method in which a variable resistor is used as the resistor so that the intermittent time can be changed to some extent. However, since the variable resistor is manually operated to change the intermittent time, there is a problem that the operation becomes complicated with respect to a large change in the rainfall state and the traveling state.

Therefore, as disclosed in JP-A-57-198146, a combination of a wind speed detector and a variable resistance type manual setting device, or as disclosed in JP-A-59-137858. There is a device in which a wiper is automatically operated in response to a change in a rainfall state due to a change in a running state by using a raindrop detector. According to these wiper devices, the complexity of the operation can be relatively eliminated for only the variable resistance type, but in order to accurately detect each parameter, the detector is not only expensive. There is also a problem that the mounting method is difficult.

Further, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 52-23136, a vehicle speed detector used in a vehicle speed meter is used by calculating an intermittent time using a variable resistance type manual setting device and a vehicle speed detector. Therefore, with a relatively simple structure, it is possible to change the intermittent time with respect to the rainfall amount that increases or decreases according to the change in vehicle speed. However, in any case, when the intermittent time is changed by the manual setting device, it is necessary to confirm whether or not the manually set intermittent time is appropriate by intermittent operation after setting. Therefore, there is a problem that the complexity of the operation cannot be eliminated, and a circuit configuration becomes complicated.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> In view of the problems of the related art, a main object of the present invention is to provide an appropriate intermittent time with respect to a change in a rainfall state and a running state with a simple circuit configuration and a simple operation. An intermittent wiper control device that can be set by

According to the present invention, a set switch, a constant pulse generator that generates a fixed number of pulses per unit time, and a vehicle speed are provided. A variable pulse generator that generates a pulse that changes the number of pulses per unit time, and when the set signal is input to the set switch, the sum of the respective pulse numbers of the constant pulse generator and the variable pulse generator is newly counted. A single counter to start, memory means for storing the count value of the counter immediately before the input of the set signal as an intermittent count value, when the count value of the counter reaches the intermittent count value, and when the set signal is input The control means for operating the wiper motor once and the intermittent count value of the memory means are set to a preset maximum value, and the counting by the counter can be continued. A reset switch for outputting a reset signal, wherein the reset switch is operated before the count value by the counter reaches the intermittent count value, and the set value is set before the count value by the counter reaches the maximum value. When the switch is operated, it is achieved by setting the count value by the counter at the time of the operation as a new intermittent count value.

<Action> In this way, in order to shorten the intermittent time, operate the set switch after confirming the amount of raindrops adhering to the glass after the wiper is activated, and to increase the intermittent time, the reset switch is operated. By operating the set switch after checking the amount of raindrops after operating the, you can check the appropriate intermittent time for changes in rainfall conditions and set the confirmed intermittent time as a new intermittent time. .

The intermittent time is obtained by counting the sum of the numbers of pulses from the constant pulse generator and the variable pulse generator that generates pulses that change according to the vehicle speed by counting with a single counter. The intermittent time can be changed according to the vehicle speed.

<Embodiment> Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a circuit of an intermittent wiper control device according to the present invention. For example, an intermittent operation is started and an intermittent time is set on an input side of a main control circuit 1 having a CPU. Set switch 2 for resetting, and a reset switch 3 for invalidating the set intermittent time are connected respectively, a constant pulse generator 4 for generating a constant number of pulses per unit time, and a known vehicle speed sensor 5
A variable pulse generator 6 that generates by increasing or decreasing the number of pulses per unit time in proportion to the vehicle speed signal from is connected via an OR circuit 7.

Also. The output side of the main control circuit 1 is connected via a drive circuit 8 to a wiper motor 9 for driving a wiper (not shown) for wiping raindrops adhering to, for example, the windshield of the vehicle. The main control circuit 1 is provided with a counter 10 that counts the sum of the numbers of pulses input from both pulse generators 4 and 6 via an OR circuit 7, and stores the contents of the counter 10 as an intermittent count value. A memory 11 is provided for this purpose.

In this intermittent wiper control device, every time the counter 10 starts counting, the main control circuit 1 to the drive circuit 8
Then, a drive control signal for operating the wiper motor 9 once is output. Also, each time the intermittent count value stored in the memory 11 is reached, the contents of the counter 10 are cleared and a new count is started.

Next, the procedure of intermittent operation of the wiper according to the present invention will be described below.

By turning on the wiper switch (not shown),
The operation of the wiper in the mode A shown in FIG. 2 is in a standby state. First, the counter 10 starts counting by a set signal output by turning on the set switch 2, and at the same time, a drive control signal for operating the wiper mode 9 once is supplied from the main control circuit 1 to the drive circuit 8. To be done.
Next, by turning on the set switch 2 again according to the amount of raindrops adhering to the windshield at that time, and letting the count value up to that time be N1, the intermittent count value serving as the reference of the intermittent time is set to N1 and the memory 11 And the contents of the counter 10 are cleared. Then, the counter 10 newly starts counting, and at the same time, the wiper is 1
Counts until the intermittent count value N1 stored in the memory 11 as described above is reached, and the intermittent count value is reached.
Each time it reaches N1, the mode becomes the mode C in which the counting state is cleared, and thereafter the wiper is intermittently operated in the state of the mode C.
In the constant speed traveling state, the intermittent operation is performed at the same intermittent time tN1 as shown in FIG.

Next, in mode C, for example, when rainfall increases, in order to secure the visibility with a short intermittent time,
By turning on the set switch 2 in the middle of counting until the intermittent count value 1 is reached, a count value smaller than the intermittent count value N1 up to then is stored in the memory 11 as a new intermittent count value N2. Therefore, thereafter, the intermittent operation is continuously performed with the intermittent time tN2 counted up to the new intermittent count value N2.

Further, for example, when the amount of rainfall decreases, the reset switch 3 is first turned on during counting in order to operate intermittently for a time longer than the intermittent time based on the intermittent count value N2 stored in the memory 11 until then. The reset signal output by turning on the reset switch 3 causes the intermittent count value stored in the memory 11 at that time.
N2 is disabled. Then, the counter 10 is set to the mode B which continues to count, and the set switch 2 is turned on at a new timing sufficient to secure the field of view in accordance with the amount of raindrops, thereby changing the count value at that time to a new intermittent count value.
The wiper is stored in the memory 11 as N3 and becomes the mode C again, and the intermittent operation of the wiper is continued with the intermittent time tN3 for counting up to the intermittent count value N3.

By the way, when the amount of rainfall is extremely small, the reset switch 3 is turned on in the same manner as described above to set the mode B, and the set switch 2 is left without being turned on. In this case, by setting the maximum count time Tmax as the maximum value in advance for the counter 10,
As shown in FIG. 2, after the maximum count time Tmax has elapsed, the counter 10 and the memory 11 are reset and the mode A
Is in a stopped state. In addition, in this mode A,
By turning on the set switch 2, the wiper motor 9 is actuated once at the same time as the counting is started, so that the wiper can be actuated only once at an arbitrary timing.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when the rainfall state changes during traveling, the wiper can be intermittently operated appropriately with an appropriate intermittent time for the rainfall amount each time. The setting is performed by operating the set switch 2 while confirming the amount of raindrops attached, operating the wiper motor 9 and setting the count value up to that point as a new intermittent time. The operation can be confirmed, and there is no need to confirm the intermittent operation again after setting.

A case where the vehicle speed changes will be described below with reference to FIG. Generally, the amount of raindrops adhering to the windshield of a vehicle changes depending on the vehicle speed. In the control circuit according to the present invention, the variable pulse generator 6 is generated by increasing or decreasing the number of pulses per unit time in proportion to the vehicle speed.
Since the number of pulses from is also counted, for example, when the high speed becomes high during intermittent operation with the intermittent count value N1, the number of pulses per unit time increases and the intermittent count value
Since the counting up to N1 is completed earlier, the intermittent time tN1 becomes shorter even with the same intermittent count value N1 as shown in the figure. Further, for example, when the vehicle speed becomes low during intermittent operation with the intermittent count value N2, conversely, the time to count up to the intermittent count value becomes longer, and the intermittent time tN2 becomes longer. Therefore, even if the vehicle speed becomes low and the amount of raindrops adhering to the windshield decreases, the intermittent time becomes longer according to the vehicle speed, so that the intermittent operation of the wiper can be appropriately dealt with. Further, even when there is a change in the rainfall state, by operating the set switch 2 and the reset switch 3 in the same manner as described above in accordance with the increase / decrease in the amount of raindrops, the intermittent count value stored in the memory 11 is appropriately changed and the relative count value is changed. The intermittent time can be changed dynamically.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the maximum count time Tmax
Instead of, the upper limit of counting by the counter 10 is maximum
It may be set as Nmax, in which case the maximum count Nmax
The time for counting up to becomes the maximum intermittent time, and the maximum intermittent time depends on the vehicle speed.

It is possible to perform finer control by converting the output from the wind speed sensor or the raindrop sensor into pulses and inputting them into the OR circuit 7 together with both pulse generators 4 and 6.

[Effects of the Invention] According to the present invention, as described above, since it is possible to set an appropriate intermittent time with respect to a change in the rainfall state during constant-speed running by a simple operation while checking, it is necessary to check after setting. The complexity of operations such as resetting can be eliminated. Further, since the vehicle speed signal is added to the intermittent time, the intermittent time can be suitably changed even when the running state changes. This intermittent time is obtained by counting the sum of the number of pulses from a constant pulse generator that serves as a reference for the intermittent time and a variable pulse generator that generates a pulse that changes according to the vehicle speed, using a single counter. A simple circuit configuration can be achieved without using a complicated arithmetic circuit or analog circuit, and the time until counting the number of pulses is an intermittent time, so the circuit can be digitized and have a simple configuration. As a result, the effect is extremely large, such as easy IC integration and size reduction.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing an intermittent wiper control device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a time chart showing the operating procedure of the intermittent wiper to which the present invention is applied during constant speed traveling. FIG. 3 is a time chart showing the operating procedure of the intermittent wiper with respect to changes in vehicle speed. 1 ... Main control circuit, 2 ... Set switch 3 ... Reset switch, 4 ... Constant pulse generator 5 ... Vehicle speed sensor, 6 ... Variable pulse generator 7 ... OR circuit, 8 ... Driving circuit 9 ...... Wiper motor, 10 ...... Counter 11 ...... Memory

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A set switch, a constant pulse generator for generating a fixed number of pulses per unit time, a variable pulse generator for generating pulses for changing the number per unit time according to a vehicle speed, and the set. When a set signal is input to the switch, a single counter that newly starts counting the sum of the numbers of pulses of the constant pulse generator and the variable pulse generator, and the count value of the counter immediately before the input of the set signal are intermittent. Memory means for storing the count value, control means for operating the wiper motor once when the count value by the counter reaches the intermittent count value and when the set signal is input, and the intermittent count value for the memory means in advance. A reset switch that outputs a reset signal that has a set maximum value and that allows the counter to continue counting,
If the reset switch is operated before the count value of the counter reaches the intermittent count value, and then the set switch is operated before the count value of the counter reaches the maximum value, An intermittent wiper control device, wherein the count value is a new intermittent counter value.