US 10,479,323 B2 · Vehicle wiper device and vehicle wiper device control method

Abstract

A vehicle wiper device and vehicle wiper device control method are provided that are capable of changing a position of a wiping range of a wiper arm in a manner that is less distracting. When a switch for an enlarged wiping operation has been switched ON, a microcomputer 58 performs control to change the position of a wiping range by starting rotation of an output shaft of a second motor 12 in a predetermined direction when a rotation angle of an output shaft of a first motor 11 has reached an angle corresponding to a position within a predetermined range in the vicinity of one out of a upper return position P1P or a lower return position P2P. Accordingly, when a front passenger seat side wiper blade 36 changes direction at either the upper return position P1P or the lower return position P2P, a front passenger seat side wiper arm 35 begins to extend, and the position of a wiping range of the front passenger seat side wiper blade 36 is moved upward on a front passenger seat side.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A vehicle wiper device comprising:

a first motor that includes a first output shaft, that rotates the first output shaft to rotate a wiper arm back and forth about a pivot point of the wiper arm, and that causes a wiper blade coupled to a leading end portion of the wiper arm to perform a back and forth wiping operation between two return positions provided at different positions to each other on a windshield;
a second motor that includes a second output shaft and that rotates the second output shaft to change a position of a wiping range of the windshield by the wiper blade;
and
a controller that controls rotation of the second motor when a command to operate the second motor has been input during the wiping operation of the wiper blade so as to start operation of the second motor when the wiper blade performing the wiping operation is positioned within a predetermined range in the vicinity of one of the two return positions.

1 more element

A vehicle wiper device control method comprising:

a step of, for a first motor that includes a first output shaft and that rotates the first output shaft so as to rotate a wiper arm about a pivot point of the wiper arm such that a wiper blade coupled to a leading end portion of the wiper arm performs a wiping operation between two return positions provided at different positions to each other on a windshield, starting rotation of the first output shaft of the first motor;
a second motor operation command detection step of, for a second motor that includes a second output shaft and that rotates the second output shaft to change a position of a wiping range of the windshield by the wiper blade, detecting a command to operate the second motor;
and
a wiping range position changing step of controlling rotation of the second motor when a command to operate the second motor has been detected during the wiping operation of the wiper blade, so as to start operation of the second motor when the wiper blade performing the wiping operation is positioned within a predetermined range in the vicinity of one of the two return positions.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vehicle wiper device and vehicle wiper device control method

Life of this patent

Vehicle wiper device and vehicle wiper device control method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12