FR2783224A1 - DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY CONTROLLING A SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY THE MOTOR OF A WINDSCREEN WIPER BLADE OF A MOTOR VEHICLE WIPER WIPER SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (10) for automatically controlling an installation such as the motor (20) of a wiper installation. This device has a modular structure in which the various modules (A, B, C) can be separated in space without this presenting any difficulty. The modules (A, B, C) are subdivided into functional blocks, in particular a sensor module (A), an operating module (B), a control module (C).

Description

STATE OF THE ART The invention relates to a control device

  automatic installation, including a wiper motor of a motor vehicle wiper installation, depending on the wetting of a window. An implementation device is already known

  a rain detector (DE 41 12 847 Ai), comprising a cap-

  rain guard with a control device, a transmitter, a

  receiver and if necessary a circuit for processing

  lO gnal and a signal processing circuit. The device

  command acts on the transmitter to provide a signal to the receiver

  tor. This gives a sensor signal to the processing circuit

  signal and the latter transmits a prepared sensor signal to the operating circuit. The latter transmits a switching signal to connect a wiper installation according to the sensor signal and a predetermined threshold. This device has the disadvantage of not

  be modular in construction and not allow replacement

  easy placement of the different functional blocks which,

  moreover, are not generally compatible.

  Another disadvantage is that the flexible mounting of the device, for example on a vehicle, to take account of aesthetic and practical considerations, is difficult to achieve, because the rain sensor usually has a certain dimension because of the electronics which it integrates and

of the operating circuit.

  Advantages of the invention The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and to this end relates to a device of the type defined above, characterized in that: - a sensor module is fixed to the glass and provides a signal sensor depending on the wetting of the window,

  - an operating module uses the sensor signal vis-

  to the control of the installation and provides a control signal and,

  - a control module provides according to the com-

  command, a switching signal to control the installation and,

  - the modules are spatially separable units, ins-

  mounted in the vehicle. The device according to the invention has the advantage of a modular structure which makes it possible to install the different modules, separately in space without this presenting any difficulty. The device is

  divided into modules which include for example the functional blocks

  in a sensor module, in a module

  and a control module.

  It is also advantageous that the cap module

  guard detects wetting of the window (windshield) by using only electronic circuits reduced to a minimum

  and so that it can be small and not parti-

  particularly apparent. A small sensor module on the screen

  a motor vehicle breeze is less or not at all annoying the

visibility for the driver.

  It is further advantageous that the output signal

  tie of the sensor module is transmitted to the operating module which is distant in space. The module

  is advantageously not visible by the conduc-

  guardian; it is for example above the sun visor in

the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

  The operating module provides an output signal which allows the downstream unit (control module) to deduce control of the wiper motor. Preferably, the output of the operating module can be

  connect in a compatible way to the central electronics of the

  hicle. Advantageously, the control module is integrated into the central electronics of the vehicle or of the engine.

  wiper blade according to the requirements for the

  vehicle posers; it can also be accommodated in a

  separate relay box in the vehicle.

  According to other advantageous features of the invention:

  - the sensor module includes a transmitter emitting the

  light and a receiver detecting light, - the operating module includes a microcontroller,

  - the control module is integrated in the central electronics

  trale of the vehicle or in a wiper motor or is installed separately and includes in particular a power part for switching the wiper motor, - an output of the operating module is compatible with the central electronics of the vehicle automotive, - the modules are connected by lines themselves fixed by connection links on the modules,

  - the sensor module contains only op-

  ticks and it is connected by a light guide constituting

  the driver at the operating module.

  It is particularly advantageous that the branches

  between the modules are compatible to allow

  flexible installation of the modules in the vehicle of-

  frant multiple possibilities of combination.

  Drawings Examples of embodiments of the invention are represented in the drawings and will be described below from

in more detail.

So:

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the corresponding modules;

  in a first embodiment, - Figure 2 is a schematic view of the sensor module

  corresponding to another exemplary embodiment.

  Description of the exemplary embodiments

  The device 10 for automatic control of a wiper installation according to FIG. 1, consists of

  three modules A, B, C divided into functional blocks and ins-

  mounted separately in the space inside the vehicle.

  The modules A, B, C, are connected in a comparable way

tible by conductors 1,2.

  The device 10 controls a wiper motor.

  ice 20 and depending on wetting by humidity or fouling

  wise from a window 15, in particular from a windshield of a motor vehicle, it drives a simply sketched wiper blade 25, according to a permanent wiping operation or

  intermittent or a wiping operation with the

  vage, according to an automatic process.

  For manual control of the device 10 and of the wiper motor 20, there is provided a switch 30 connected to one of the modules A, B, C, preferably to the module C.

  The modules A, B, C, are divided into functional blocks

following professionals:

  The first module A, also called the cap module

  sensor or detector, is installed on the windshield 15 of which

  it must detect the anchorage. Sensor module A includes

  mainly carries optical elements used in an electro-optical rain sensor. It comprises in particular a radiation emitter 17 and a radiation receiver 19 as well as means for coupling the emitter radiation

  in the window or windshield 15 and means for uncovering

  bend the radiation from the window 15. The emitter radiation is reflected one or more times according to the principle of

  total reflection on the wet exterior surface of the vi-

  tre 15 then it is transmitted. We thus realize a path of

  measurement for the rain sensor between the emitter 17 and the

  sensor 19. In fact, the wetting of the window 15 modifies the ratio of the refractive index in such a way that at this location, the emitted radiation 50 is decoupled from the window 15 and no longer arrives at the receiver 19. Optical components are also provided to guide the radiation inside the sensor module A. The electronic circuit is only intended for

  control the transmitter 17. The transmitter 17 is for example

  commissioned in time to enable the detection and exploitation of the

  stray light or ambient light falling on the

  receiver 19 during the intervals. In addition, the command ca-

  the emission reduces the power of the transmitter 17 and

  increases the operating time.

  As an output signal, the sensor module A provides a sensor signal (a) representing the wetting of the window 15 by humidity or rain; this signal is used by a second module B downstream. The sensor signal (a) is

transmitted by line 1.

  The second module B, hereinafter called the operating module, ensures the processing of the sensor signal A, received to control the wiper blade, for example according to the teaching of document DE 196 21 627 or of Requirement

  not previously published AZ 197 40 364.

  Usually, the switch-on and switch-off thresholds are recorded in the operating module B, a threshold whose overshoot up or down by the

  sensor signal (a), produces the emission of a com-

  command (b) as output signal from the operating module B.

  The operating module B comprises for example a microcon-

  trôleur as well as an interface, in particular a serial interface connected by a bidirectional data line 2 compatible with the module C. The operating module B is also invisible to the driver; it is for example installed above the

  sun visor in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. Each other location

  cementing of the motor vehicle is possible, because

  the invention allows a separate arrangement in the space between

  the modules A, B, C. The module C, hereinafter called the control module or the engine control module, provides control from the control signals B transmitted by the second line 2, to

  the wiper motor 20 in the form of control signals

  mutation C transmitted by relays or transistors.

  The electronics required for the control module C are either integrated in the central electronics of the vehicle or in

  the wiper motor or it is installed separately.

  The connection between the modules A, B, C is carried out by electrical lines 1, 2 which are fixed on the modules

  A, B, C by switching contacts.

  A service switch 30 connects the entire device 10 which can also be implemented by the automatic operating mode of the installation

  wiper by a rain sensor; in this case, the mo-

  control module C is activated or deactivated for example by the central electronics, which activates the operating module B by the bidirectional data line 2. The control switch 30 can be constituted by a push button or

  a lever fitted to the steering column.

  It is also possible to integrate each of the two modules A, B, C or the control module C and motor

  wiper 20 in a common housing.

  Besides the control of a wiper motor, it is also possible to control other installations 20 such as for example the window heating device, a headlight wiper or the window wiper.

  back. In case of seizure and exploitation of foreign light

  managed by the rain sensor, this controls in a particularly advantageous way the projectors and other

  light sources fitted to the vehicle.

  According to an alternative embodiment shown in

  Figure 2, the sensor module A is a simple op-

  tick attached to the windshield 15 with only the components

  optics or components for guiding light radiation

  neux 50. The transmitter 17 and the receiver 18 as well as their connection are provided in the downstream operating module B. The sensor module A consists for example of a transparent plastic sheet having the

  optical properties necessary for a rain sensor. The mo-

  sensor A is placed in the driver's line of sight

  if its geometry does not obstruct visibility.

  The operating module B is located, for example, on a roof module, a mirror stand, in electronics

  central unit or in a separate box.

  As a connecting conductor between modules A and B, a light guide is used, for example. The sensor signal (a) thus corresponds to the radiation 50 arriving on the receiver 10 and corresponding to the wetting of the window 15.

Claims (6)

R E V E N D I C A T I ON S   1) Device (10) for automatic control of an installation   tion, in particular of a wiper motor (20) of an installation   motor vehicle windshield wiper, depending on the wetting of a window (15), characterized in that - the device (10) has the following characteristics (A, B, C),   - a sensor module (A) is fixed to the glass (15) and provides a sensor signal (a) as a function of the wetting of the glass (15), - an operating module (B) uses the sensor signal (a) with respect to the control of the installation (20) and provides a control signal (b) and, a control module (C) supplies according to the control signal (b), a control signal switching (c) to control the installation (20) and, - the modules (A, B, C) are separable units in   space, installed in the vehicle.   2) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that   the sensor module (A) comprises a transmitter emitting the   light and a receiver that detects light.   3) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that   the operating module (B) comprises a microcontroller.   4) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the control module (C) is integrated in the central electronics of the vehicle or in a wiper motor (20) or is installed separately and comprises in particular a part of   power to switch the wiper motor (20).    ) Device according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that an output of the operating module (B) is compatible with   the central electronics of the motor vehicle.   6) Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that   the modules (A, B, C) are connected by lines (1, 2) el-   themselves fixed by connection links on the modules the (A, B, C).   7) Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor module (A) comprises only optical components and it is connected by a light guide constituting the conductor (1) to the operating module (B) .15