Wiper control device for vehicle

• US 20070096560A1
• Filed: 10/31/2006
• Published: 05/03/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Junichi
• Granted Patent: US 7,576,658 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• 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 1/0833 Optical rain sensor

Abstract

A wiper control device for a vehicle with a wiper is disclosed that includes a day/night detecting device for detecting whether the vehicle is in day-like or night-like conditions. The device also includes a moisture detection device that detects a quantity of moisture on the vehicle and a controlling device that controls the wiping action of the wiper based on a wiping sensitivity to the quantity of moisture detected. The controlling device adjusts the wiping sensitivity between night-like wiping sensitivity and day-like wiping sensitivity. The controlling device adjusts wiping sensitivity to night-like wiping sensitivity when the day/night detecting device detects night-like conditions and to day-like wiping sensitivity when the day/night detecting device detects day-like conditions. Additionally, when the day/night detecting device detects a change between day-like and night-like conditions, the controlling device delays switching between night-like and day-like wiping sensitivity for a predetermined delay time.

Claims

1. A wiper control device for a vehicle with a wiper, comprising:

a day/night detecting device for detecting whether the vehicle is in day-like conditions and whether the vehicle is in night-like conditions;

a moisture detection device that detects a quantity of moisture on the vehicle; and

a controlling device that controls the wiping action of the wiper based on a wiping sensitivity to the quantity of moisture detected by the moisture detection device, wherein the controlling device adjusts the wiping sensitivity between night-like wiping sensitivity and day-like wiping sensitivity, wherein the controlling device adjusts wiping sensitivity to night-like wiping sensitivity when the day/night detecting device detects night-like conditions, and wherein the controlling device adjusts wiping sensitivity to day-like wiping sensitivity when the day/night detecting device detects day-like conditions, wherein a wiping action of the wiper is more likely to be performed at night-like wiping sensitivity as compared to at day-like wiping sensitivity, and

wherein, when the day/night detecting device detects a change between day-like and night-like conditions, the controlling device delays switching between night-like and day-like wiping sensitivity for a predetermined delay time.

2. The wiper control device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a speed detecting device that detects the running speed of the vehicle,

wherein the controlling device delays switching between night-like and day-like wiping sensitivity except when the running speed of the vehicle is below a predetermined amount.

3. The wiper control device according to claim 1, wherein, when the day/night detecting device detects a change from day-like conditions to night-like conditions, the controlling device delays switching from day-like wiping sensitivity to night-like wiping sensitivity for a first delay time.

4. The wiper control device according to claim 1, wherein, when the day/night detecting device detects a change from night-like conditions to day-like conditions, the controlling device delays switching from night-like wiping sensitivity to day-like wiping sensitivity for a second delay time.

5. The wiper control device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined delay time is between approximately five to ten seconds.

6. The wiper control device according to claim 1, wherein the day/night detecting device detects whether the vehicle is in day-like conditions and whether the vehicle is in night-like conditions according to a light switch, wherein the day/night detecting device detects that the vehicle is in day-like conditions when the light switch is on, and wherein the day/night detecting device detects that the vehicle is in night-like conditions when the light switch is off.