IP Library Granted Patent US 12697940
Granted Patent B2
US 12697940 · App. 18/798,895 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Wiper control device

Inventors: Taiki Soma (Anjo-city, JP); Yasuo Naruse (Anjo-city, JP); Manabu Morita (Anjo-city, JP); Tomokatsu Fuseya (Anjo-city, JP); Mitsuyoshi Tomida (Kariya-city, JP)
Assignee: DENSO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
B60S1/0807
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12697940
App. No.
18/798,895
Filed
Aug 9, 2024
Granted
Aug 4, 2026
Kind
B2
Art Unit
3667
USPC
701/36
Abstract

A wiper control device includes an acquisition unit and an estimation unit. The estimation unit is configured to acquire a value related to a current flowing through a wiper motor that drives a wiper configured to reciprocate between a first position and a second position. The estimation unit is configured to estimate a wiper angle, which is a rotation angle of the wiper, based on a current ripple in the current flowing through the wiper motor. The current ripple has a periodicity corresponding to driving of the wiper motor.

Claims (57)

1 . A wiper control device comprising:

an acquisition unit configured to acquire a value related to a current flowing through a wiper motor that drives a wiper configured to reciprocate between a first position and a second position; and

an estimation unit configured to estimate a wiper angle, which is a rotation angle of the wiper, based on a current ripple in the current flowing through the wiper motor, the current ripple having a periodicity corresponding to driving of the wiper motor, wherein

the estimation unit is configured to estimate the wiper angle based on a number of times that an absolute value of an amount of change in the current flowing through the wiper motor becomes equal to or greater than a threshold value.

2 . The wiper control device according to claim 1 , wherein

the estimation unit is configured to change the threshold value in accordance with a change in a voltage of the wiper motor.

3 . The wiper control device according to claim 1 , wherein

the estimation unit is configured to change the threshold value in accordance with a change in a temperature of the wiper motor.

4 . The wiper control device according to claim 1 , wherein

the estimation unit is configured to change the threshold value in accordance with a change in a torque of the wiper motor.

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

a current detection unit configured to detect the current flowing through the wiper motor; and

a switching unit configured to switch a detection range of the current detected by the current detection unit, wherein

the switching unit is configured to switch the detection range in such a manner that the detection range when the current flowing through the wiper motor is equal to or greater than a protection threshold value is larger than the detection range when the current flowing through the wiper motor is less than the protection threshold value.

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

a current detection unit configured to detect the current flowing through the wiper motor; and

a switching unit configured to switch a detection range of the current detected by the current detection unit, wherein

the switching unit is configured to switch the detection range between a first detection range and a second detection range over time, and

the second detection range is smaller than the first detection range.

7 . A wiper control device comprising:

an acquisition unit configured to acquire a value related to a current flowing through a wiper motor that drives a wiper configured to reciprocate between a first position and a second position; and

an estimation unit configured to estimate a wiper angle, which is a rotation angle of the wiper, based on a current ripple in the current flowing through the wiper motor, the current ripple having a periodicity corresponding to driving of the wiper motor, wherein

the estimation unit is configured to estimate the wiper angle based on a number of times that the current flowing through the wiper motor changes from being less than a threshold value to being equal to or greater than the threshold value.

8 . The wiper control device according to claim 7 , wherein

the estimation unit is configured to change the threshold value in accordance with a change in a voltage of the wiper motor.

9 . The wiper control device according to claim 7 , wherein

the estimation unit is configured to change the threshold value in accordance with a change in a temperature of the wiper motor.

10 . The wiper control device according to claim 7 , wherein

the estimation unit is configured to change the threshold value in accordance with a change in a torque of the wiper motor.

11 . The wiper control device according to claim 7 , further comprising:

a current detection unit configured to detect the current flowing through the wiper motor; and

a switching unit configured to switch a detection range of the current detected by the current detection unit, wherein

the switching unit is configured to switch the detection range in such a manner that the detection range when the current flowing through the wiper motor is equal to or greater than a protection threshold value is larger than the detection range when the current flowing through the wiper motor is less than the protection threshold value.

12 . The wiper control device according to claim 7 , further comprising:

a current detection unit configured to detect the current flowing through the wiper motor; and

a switching unit configured to switch a detection range of the current detected by the current detection unit, wherein

the switching unit is configured to switch the detection range between a first detection range and a second detection range over time, and

the second detection range is smaller than the first detection range.

13 . A wiper control device comprising:

an acquisition unit configured to acquire a value related to a current flowing through a wiper motor that drives a wiper configured to reciprocate between a first position and a second position; and

an estimation unit configured to estimate a wiper angle, which is a rotation angle of the wiper, based on a current ripple in the current flowing through the wiper motor, the current ripple having a periodicity corresponding to driving of the wiper motor, wherein

the estimation unit is configured to estimate the wiper angle based on a number of times that the current flowing through the wiper motor changes from being greater than a threshold value to being equal to or less than the threshold value.

14 . The wiper control device according to claim 13 , wherein

the estimation unit is configured to change the threshold value in accordance with a change in a voltage of the wiper motor.

15 . The wiper control device according to claim 13 , wherein

the estimation unit is configured to change the threshold value in accordance with a change in a temperature of the wiper motor.

16 . The wiper control device according to claim 13 , wherein

the estimation unit is configured to change the threshold value in accordance with a change in a torque of the wiper motor.

17 . The wiper control device according to claim 13 , further comprising:

a current detection unit configured to detect the current flowing through the wiper motor; and

a switching unit configured to switch a detection range of the current detected by the current detection unit, wherein

the switching unit is configured to switch the detection range in such a manner that the detection range when the current flowing through the wiper motor is equal to or greater than a protection threshold value is larger than the detection range when the current flowing through the wiper motor is less than the protection threshold value.

18 . The wiper control device according to claim 13 , further comprising:

a current detection unit configured to detect the current flowing through the wiper motor; and

a switching unit configured to switch a detection range of the current detected by the current detection unit, wherein

the switching unit is configured to switch the detection range between a first detection range and a second detection range over time, and

the second detection range is smaller than the first detection range.