Windscreen wiper device for wiping windscreens

• US 6,696,808 B2
• Filed: 08/29/2002
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Valeo Auto-Electric Wischer und Motoren GmbH
• Original Assignee: Valeo Auto-Electric Wischer und Motoren GmbH
• Inventors: Hoegler, Eberhard, Schmid, Bernd
• Primary Examiner(s): Nappi, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): MILLER, PATRICK L
• Application Number:
  US10/220,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20030020422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 318/483, 318/643, 318/280-283, 318/286, 318/445, 318/466-468, 318/490
• US Class Current: 318/445
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0818 including control systems responsive to external conditions, e.g. by detection of moisture, dirt or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0896 including control systems responsive to a vehicle driving condition, e.g. speed

Abstract

A windscreen wiper device and a method for wiping windscreens, including at least one motor whose direction of rotation can be altered, at least one wiper which is coupled to the motor and which moves back and forth between two reversing positions, a control device which switches the motor by means of switching signals and operating signals which are conveyed to the control device. The control device determines the switching signals from the operating signals to determine the reversing positions of the wiper. The degree of wetness of the windscreen surface is conveyed to the control mechanism and used as an operating signal.

Claims

1. A windshield wiper device for wiping windshields, comprising:

at least one motor whose direction can be reversed;

at least one wiper oscillating between two reversal points, the at least one wiper coupled to the motor; and

a control device which switches the motor by means of switching signals using operating signals as input signals supplied to the control device, wherein the control device determines settings of the reversal points of the wiper using the operating signals, a degree of wetness of the surface of the windshield supplied as one of the operating signals to the control device and signals dependent on motor current supplied to the control device as operating signals.

2. The windshield wiper device of claim 1, further comprising:

a rain sensor determining the degree of wetness of the windshield.

3. The windshield wiper device of claim 1, wherein signals dependent on vehicle speed are supplied to the control device as operating signals.

4. The windshield wiper device of claim 3, further comprising:

a vehicle speed sensor determining a vehicle speed.

5. The windshield wiper device of claim 1, wherein an ammeter determines the motor current.

8. The windshield wiper device of claim 1, wherein signals dependent on the speed of the wiper are supplied to the control device as operating signals.

9. The windshield wiper device of claim 8, further comprising:

a motion sensor supplying measuring signals for determining the speed of the wiper.

14. The windshield wiper device of claim 1 wherein signals dependent on the over-run of the motor alter the motor is switched off or reversed are supplied to the control device as operating signals.

15. The windshield wiper device of claim 14, further comprising:

a counter for determining the over-run of the motor.

6. A windshield wiper device for wiping windshields, comprising:

at least one motor whose direction can be reversed;

at least one wiper oscillating between two reversal points, the at least one wiper coupled to the motor; and

a control device which switches the motor by means of switching signals using operating signals supplied to the control device, wherein the control device determines the reversal points of the wiper using the operating signals, a degree of wetness of the surface of the windshield supplied as one of the operating signals; and

wherein signals dependent on the over-run of the motor after the motor is switched off or reversed are supplied to the control device as operating signals.

7. The windshield wiper device of claim 6, wherein the over-run of the motor is determined by means of a counter.

16. The windshield wiper device of claim 6, further comprising;

a vehicle speed sensor for supplying a speed of the vehicle speed as one of the operating signals to the control device.

17. The windshield wiper device of claim 6, further comprising:

a rain sensor for determining the degree of wetness of the windshield.

10. A method of operating a windshield wiper device having at least one wiper oscillating between two reversal points, the method comprising the steps of:

driving the at least one wiper using a motor whose direction can be reversed;

switching the motor by means of switching signals from a control device;

supplying operating signals to the control device, wherein the control device determines the settings of the two reversal points using the operating signals;

supplying a degree of wetness of the windshield to the control device as one of the operating signals; and

supplying signals dependent on motor current to the control device as operating signals.

11. The method from claim 10, further comprising the step of:

supplying signals dependent on vehicle speed to the control device as operating signals.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

initially setting the reversal points using the control device at a time when the vehicle is stationary.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of:

supplying signals dependent on the over-run of the motor after the motor is switched off or reversed to the control device as operating signals.

12. A method of operating a windshield wiper device having at least one wiper oscillating between two reversal points which is driven by a motor whose direction can be reversed, a control device switching the motor by means of switching signals and by operating signals supplied to the control device, wherein the control device determines the switching signals and thereby the reversal points of the wiper, characterized by the steps of supplying the degree of wetness of the windshield to the control device as operating signals and supplying signals dependent on the over-run of the motor after the motor is switched off or reversed to the control device as operating signals.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

supplying signals dependent on vehicle speed to the control device as operating signals.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

initially setting the reversal points using the control device at a time when the vehicle is stationary.