Windscreen wiper drive control system and method

• US 9,008,905 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2010
• Issued: 04/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Prskawetz, Philipp, Tisch, Florian, Fabing, Edgard
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALHARBI, ADAM MOHAMED
• Application Number:
  US13/395,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20120173077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,727 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0814 using several drive motors; motor synchronisation circuits

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive control means, in particular for controlling a windscreen wiper drive of a motor vehicle, having a first interface and a second interface, wherein, after receiving control information via the first interface, the drive control means is arranged to configure itself in a master role and to output control information via the second interface in order to control a further drive control means.

Claims

1. A control system (100) having

a first drive controller (115, 120) for controlling a windscreen wiper drive (125, 130) of a motor vehicle (105), the first drive controller (115, 120) having

a first interface (145, 155);

and

a second interface (150, 160);

characterized in that after receiving control information via the first interface (145, 155), the drive controller (115, 120) configures itself in a master role and outputs control information via the second interface (150, 160) to control a second drive controller (115, 120).

2. The control system (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first drive controller (115, 120) configures itself in a slave role and is controlled by control information via the second interface (150, 160) after no control information has been received via the first interface (145, 155) for a predetermined period of time.

3. The control system (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first drive controller (115) configured as master outputs control information, which comprises a target position of a drive (130) connected to the second drive controller (120), via the second interface (150) and to receive control information which comprises an actual position of the drive (130).

4. The control system (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first drive controller (115, 120) controls a drive (125, 130) associated therewith in the master role based on a first stored characteristic curve (310, 320) and in the slave role based on a second stored characteristic curve (310, 320).

5. The control system (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that after receiving control information via the first interface (145, 155) as well as the second interface (150, 160), the first drive controller (115, 120) configures itself in a slave role and controls a drive (125, 130) associated therewith according to control information received via the second interface (150, 160).

6. The control system (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first drive controller (115, 120) brings a drive (125, 130) associated therewith into a park position after control information has neither been received via the first interface (145, 155) nor via the second interface (150, 160).

7. The control system (100) according to claim 1, further comprising

the second drive controller (120) has a first interface (145, 155);

and a second interface (150, 160); and

a control module (10) which is connected to the first interface (145, 155) of the first drive controller (115),

wherein the second interfaces (150, 160) of both drive controllers (115, 120) are connected to one another;

wherein the first driver controller is configured as a master and is associated with a first drive, and the second driver controller is configured as a slave and is associated with a second drive; and

wherein the first drive controller can operate the first drive even when the second drive remains in a resting position.

8. The control system according to claim 7, characterized in that the first and the second drives (125, 130) are designed to work in opposite directions.

10. The control system according to claim 7, characterized in that the control system is for two windscreen wipers of a motor vehicle (105).

9. A method for controlling a first drive (125), with which a first drive controller (115) is associated, and a second drive (130), with which a second drive controller (120) is associated, characterized by the following steps:

Receiving (415) control information via a first interface (145) of the first drive controller (115);

Configuring the first drive controller (115) in a master role based on the control information received via the first interface (145);

Configuring the second drive controller (120) in a slave role;

Outputting (425) control information to the second drive controller (120) via a second interface (150) of the first drive controller (115);

Controlling (430) the first drive (125) by the first drive controller (115); and

Controlling (450) the second drive (130) by the second drive controller (120);

wherein the second drive controller (120) is configured in the slave role in order to receive control information via the second interface (160) thereof after said second drive controller has not received any control information via the first interface (155) thereof for a length of time which exceeds a predetermined period of time.