Wiper-washer control device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017001602-A1
Application number	US-201615194584-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 28, 2016
Priority date	Jun 30, 2015
Publication date	Jan 5, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The wiper-washer control device includes a wiper motor that causes a wiper blade to perform a wiping operation, a washer pump that causes a washer fluid to be sprayed, and a controller that, in cases in which defrosting has been instructed, controls the wiper motor and the washer pump such that a defrosting operation in which the wiping operation and spraying of washer fluid is performed in a predetermined combination.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A wiper-washer control device comprising:
a wiper motor that causes a wiper blade to perform a wiping operation on a wiping surface; a washer pump that causes a washer fluid to be sprayed; and a control unit that, in cases in which defrosting of the wiping surface has been instructed, controls the wiper motor and the washer pump such that a defrosting operation in which the wiping operation and spraying of washer fluid is performed in a predetermined combination.

2 . The wiper-washer control device of claim 1 , wherein:
the control unit controls the wiper motor and the washer pump such that a first process of performing the wiping operation at a predetermined first speed, a second process of stopping both the wiping operation and the spraying of washer fluid each for a specific duration, and a third process of performing the wiping operation at the first speed or a second speed that is different from the first speed, are performed in sequence as the defrosting operation.

3 . The wiper-washer control device of claim 2 , wherein in the third process, the control unit is set such that the second speed is a speed of the wiping operation that is slower than the first speed.

4 . The wiper-washer control device of claim 2 , wherein:
the control unit controls the wiper motor and the washer pump such that a fourth process of spraying the washer fluid on the wiping surface and performing the wiping operation at a third speed that is faster than at least one of the first speed or the second speed, is performed following after the third process.

5 . The wiper-washer control device of claim 4 , wherein the control unit controls the wiper motor and the washer pump such that the second process and the first process are performed again in sequence following after the fourth process.

6 . The wiper-washer control device of claim 1 , wherein:
the control unit controls the wiper motor and the washer pump such that processes including a first process of spraying the washer fluid on the wiping surface for a specific duration and performing the wiping operation using the wiper blade, a second process of stopping the wiping operation using the wiper blade for a specific duration at a to-and-fro return position of the wiping operation, and a third process of stopping spraying of the washer fluid and performing the wiping operation, are performed as the defrosting operation.

7 . The wiper-washer control device of claim 2 , wherein:
in the second process, the wiping operation of the wiper blade is stopped for a specific duration at at least one return position from out of two return positions in the to-and-fro wiping operation.

8 . The wiper-washer control device of claim 2 , wherein:
in the second process, the wiping operation of the wiper blade is stopped for a specific duration at two consecutive return positions in the to-and-fro wiping operation.

9 . The wiper-washer control device of claim 2 , wherein:
in the second process, the wiping operation of the wiper blade is stopped for a specific duration at each of two return positions in the to-and-fro wiping operation, and a stopping duration at a return position from an outward path to a return path is set as a longer stopping duration than a stopping duration at a return position from the return path to the outward path.

10 . The wiper-washer control device of claim 1 , wherein:
the control unit controls the wiper motor and the washer pump such that an initial process of spraying the washer fluid for a specific duration without starting the wiping operation is performed as an initial operation prior to the defrosting operation.

11 . The wiper-washer control device of claim 1 , wherein:
the washer pump pressurizes and feeds the washer fluid to a first nozzle that sprays washer fluid toward an outward path swinging side of the wiper blade during outward path swinging of a wiper arm that swings to-and-fro between a lower return position and an upper return position of the wiper blade, and to a second nozzle that sprays washer fluid toward a return path swinging side of the wiper blade during return path swinging of the wiper arm.

12 . The wiper-washer control device of claim 1 , wherein a defrosting instruction section that instructs the defrosting operation is separately included.

Assignees

• Asmo Co Ltd
• Fuji Heavy Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Oka Shinji
• Mitsuoka Naoya
• Uemura Wataru
• Katsumata Yuji

Classifications

• B60S1/026

  using electrical means · CPC title

• B60S1/482 Primary

  combined with the operation of windscreen wipers · CPC title

• B60S1/08 Primary

  electrically driven {(conjoint control of windscreen wiper motor and liquid supply of windscreen washer B60S1/482; conjoint control of windscreen wiper motor and means for cleaning parts o parts other than windscreens or front windows B60S1/56, B60S1/58, B60S1/606)} · CPC title

• B60S1/487

  the liquid being heated (nozzles provided with heating means B60S1/52) · CPC title

• B60S1/48

  Liquid supply therefor · CPC title