Device and method for actuating a drive unit of a wiper system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9469275-B2
Application number	US-30550507-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 31, 2007
Priority date	Dec 28, 2006
Publication date	Oct 18, 2016
Grant date	Oct 18, 2016

Abstract

The invention relates to a device and a method for actuating a wiper system. The device comprises a drive unit ( 2 ) for driving at least one wiper arm ( 4 ), and a control unit ( 6 ), wherein the control unit ( 6 ) is designed to set a wiping frequency of the wiper arm ( 4 ) as a function of a load variable which is dependent on the torque which is to be applied by the drive unit ( 2 ) during a wiping operation.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for actuating a wiper system, having a drive unit ( 2 ) for driving at least one wiper arm ( 4 ), and having a control unit ( 6 ), characterized in that the control unit ( 6 ) sets a wiping frequency of the wiper arm as a function of a load variable which is dependent on the torque which is to be applied by the drive unit ( 2 ) during a wiping operation; wherein the control unit ( 6 ) reduces the wiping frequency of the wiper arm ( 4 ), from a first wiping frequency (WH 1 ) to a second reduced wiping frequency (WH 2 ) if the load variable exceeds a load threshold for a predefined time period (DT) or a predefined number of wiping cycles, and sets the wiping frequency of the wiper arm ( 4 ) to the first wiping frequency (WH 1 ) after a second load threshold has been undershot.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that a driver unit ( 3 ) for actuating the drive unit ( 2 ) and for setting a wiping frequency in accordance with a manipulated variable is provided.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2 , characterized in that a load variable detector ( 7 ) is provided in order to make available the load variable as a function of the torque which is to be applied by the drive unit ( 2 ).

4. The device as claimed in claim 3 , characterized in that the load variable detector ( 7 ) is provided in order to determine the load variable as a function of at least one of the variables comprising the drive voltage, drive current and rotational speed which are present in the drive unit ( 2 ).

5. The device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the control unit ( 6 ) reduces the wiping frequency of the wiper arm ( 4 ) to the second wiping frequency (WH 2 ) in accordance with a continuous decrease in the wiping frequency.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the control unit ( 6 ) sets the first wiping frequency (WH 1 ) of the wiper arm ( 4 ) after a second load threshold (LS 2 ) has been undershot, immediately or in accordance with a predefined continuous rise.

7. The device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that a switch ( 9 ) which can be operated manually is provided for setting the wiping frequency to a predefined wiping frequency independently of the wiping frequency which is set.

8. A method of actuating a wiper system, having a drive unit ( 2 ) for driving at least one wiper arm ( 4 ), the method comprising setting a wiping frequency of the wiper arm as a function of a load variable which is dependent on the torque which is to be applied by the drive unit ( 2 ) during a wiping operation; reducing the wiping frequency of the wiper arm ( 4 ), from a first wiping frequency (WH 1 ) to a second reduced wiping frequency (WH 2 ) if the load variable exceeds a load threshold for a predefined time period (DT) or for a predefined number of wiping cycles, and setting the wiping frequency of the wiper arm ( 4 ) to the first wiping frequency (WH 1 ) after a second load threshold has been undershot.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising using a driver unit ( 3 ) for actuating the drive unit ( 2 ) and for setting a wiping frequency in accordance with a manipulated variable.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising using a load variable detector ( 7 ) to determine the load variable as a function of the torque which is to be applied by the drive unit ( 2 ).

11. The method as claimed in claim 10 , further comprising using the load variable detector ( 7 ) to determine the load variable as a function of at least one of the variables comprising the drive voltage, drive current and rotational speed which are present in the drive unit ( 2 ).

12. The method as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising reducing the wiping frequency of the wiper arm ( 4 ) to the second wiping frequency (WH 2 ) in accordance with a continuous decrease in the wiping frequency.

13. The method as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising setting the first wiping frequency (WH 1 ) of the wiper arm ( 4 ) after a second load threshold (LS 2 ) has been undershot, immediately or in accordance with a predefined continuous rise.

14. The method as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising using a switch ( 9 ) which can be operated manually for setting the wiping frequency to a predefined wiping frequency independently of the wiping frequency which is set.

15. A device for actuating a wiper system, having a drive unit ( 2 ) for driving at least one wiper arm ( 4 ), and having a control unit ( 6 ), characterized in that the control unit ( 6 ) sets a wiping frequency of the wiper arm as a function of a load variable which is dependent on the torque which is to be applied by the drive unit ( 2 ) during a wiping operation; wherein the control unit ( 6 ) reduces the wiping frequency of the wiper arm ( 4 ), from a first wiping frequency (WH 1 ) to a second reduced wiping frequency (WH 2 ) if the load variable exceeds a load threshold, and sets the wiper arm ( 4 ) to the first wiping frequency (WH 1 ) after a second load threshold (LS 2 ) has been undershot, immediately or in accordance with a predefined continuous rise.

16. A method of actuating a wiper system, having a drive unit ( 2 ) for driving at least one wiper arm ( 4 ), the method comprising setting a wiping frequency of the wiper arm as a function of a load variable which is dependent on the torque which is to be applied by the drive unit ( 2 ) during a wiping operation; reducing the wiping frequency of the wiper arm ( 4 ), from a first wiping frequency (WH 1 ) to a second reduced wiping frequency (WH 2 ) if the load variable exceeds a load threshold; and setting the first wiping frequency (WH 1 ) of the wiper arm ( 4 ) after a second load threshold (LS 2 ) has been undershot, immediately or in accordance with a predefined continuous rise.

Assignees

• Braun Peter
• Wegner Norbert
• Retsch Harald
• Bosch Gmbh Robert

Inventors

• Braun Peter
• Wegner Norbert
• Retsch Harald

Classifications

• 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