Patent Publication Number: US-9834177-B2

Title: Method for programming a wiper system for vehicle windscreens and wiper system

Description:
PRIOR ART 
     The invention relates to a method for programming a wiper system for vehicle windscreens according to the introductory clause of claim  1 . The invention further relates to a wiper system which is programmable by a method according to the invention. 
     Such a method is known from EP 1 447 288 B1. In wiper systems for vehicle windscreens, the problem exists that vehicles, depending on the vehicle market, are produced for right-hand drive or for left-hand drive. Basically, the module of the two wiper modules, which is arranged on the steering wheel side is configured or respectively programmed as a master module, whereas the wiper module on the passenger&#39;s side operates as a slave module. Furthermore, the wiper modules also generally have an installation-specific position, which is expressed in that, depending on the installation site, the wiper module either has a differently shaped carrier for fastening on the body of the motor vehicle, or at least has differently arranged fastening points. This means in practice that to cover all variant embodiments, four different wiper modules have to be produced or respectively stored, with corresponding logistical costs: Respectively a master and slave module in the embodiment either for installation on the right-hand side or left-hand side. In order to eliminate this problem, it is known from the above-mentioned EP 1 447 288 B1 to construct the control of the wiper modules via a vehicle control apparatus and the on-board wiring system interface for master- or slave control so as to be freely configurable or respectively unconfigurable. Provision is made here that respectively both the program sequence or respectively the data sets for a master module and also for a slave module are stored in the control of the wiper modules. In the factory setting, however, the wiper modules are configured as slave module, so that on use as master module the corresponding wiper module has to be reprogrammed. On the other hand, the slave module can remain in its delivery state. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     Proceeding from the presented prior art, the invention is based on the problem of developing a method for programming a wiper system for vehicle windscreens according to the introductory clause of claim  1  such that alternative programming methods are made possible. Here, in fact, the term “programming” is always used below, but this term is also intended to include a calibrating of a wiper system, even if this is not explicitly mentioned further below. This problem is solved in a method for programming a wiper system for vehicle windscreens with the features of claim  1 . The invention is based here on the idea, in the delivery state of the wiper module, of defining the latter neither as master module nor as slave module, so that in this operating mode it is undefined or respectively not capable of functioning in an installed state in the vehicle, and of firstly providing a corresponding characteristic at least to the wiper module which is to operate as master module, by a corresponding programming. 
     Advantageous further developments of the method according to the invention for programming a wiper system for vehicle windscreens are indicated in the subclaims. All combinations of at least two of features disclosed in the claims, the description and/or the figures fall within the scope of the invention. 
     In a preferred variant of the method according to the invention, it is proposed that in the control of each wiper module, the latter is predefined as a left-hand wiper module or right-hand wiper module in the vehicle direction, and that on activating at least the one wiper module connected with the first data communication line, vehicle-specific data are transmitted which switch the respective wiper module into a master mode or into a slave mode. In other words, this means that on delivery of a wiper module, the latter, in particular by its fastening to a specific carrier on the vehicle side, is predefined as a right-hand drive or respectively left-hand drive wiper module. This means that on sending vehicle-specific data to the wiper module during programming, the latter, as a result of its predetermined installation position, can automatically detect whether the wiper module is to operate as a master module or as a slave module. 
     In a further embodiment of the invention, provision is made that additional parameters are activated via the first data communication line from the control of the wiper module. Such parameters can, for example, be parameters which alter or respectively affect particular characteristic values or characteristics in the operation of the master module or slave module. 
     In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is made that the programming to the slave module and the number of additional parameters takes place via the second data communication line from the master module. This had the advantage that a connection of the wiper module on the passenger&#39;s side, operating as slave module, with the first data communication line can be dispensed with, whereby the structural expenditure for a vehicle manufacturer can be reduced if applicable. 
     However, provision can also be made that both wiper modules are connected with the first data communication line. 
     The invention also comprises a wiper system which is programmable by a method according to the invention. 
    
    
     
       Further advantages, features and details of the invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred example embodiments and with the aid of the drawings, which show in: 
         FIG. 1  a diagrammatic illustration of a two-motor wiper system with non-identical wiper modules for a left-hand drive vehicle, 
         FIG. 2  a two-motor wiper system, modified compared with  FIG. 1 , likewise in diagrammatic illustration, 
       
         FIG. 3 
         a,  
       
         3   b  an illustration of various wiper modules with their carriers for mounting onto a vehicle body, in perspective view, 
         FIG. 4  a simplified illustration of a control program of a wiper module, 
         FIG. 5  a first flow diagram for configuration of the wiper system before mounting of the wiper arm and 
         FIG. 6  a flow diagram which is modified compared with  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     Identical components or respectively components having the same function are given the same reference numbers in the figures. 
     In  FIG. 1  a first wiper system  10  according to the invention for vehicle windscreens is illustrated in a simplified manner. The wiper system  10  has two wiper modules  12 ,  13 , wherein each of the two wiper modules  12 ,  13  is coupled with a windscreen wiper  14 ,  15  via a wiper linkage which is not illustrated in further detail. Of course, provision may also be made that the wiper modules  12 ,  13  also cooperate with the windscreen wipers  14 ,  15  directly, i.e. without the use of a wiper linkage. The motor vehicle, which is not illustrated in  FIG. 1 , is a so-called left-hand drive vehicle, in which a steering wheel  16  is arranged on the left-hand side in the direction of travel. It is also possible that the wiper system  10  is arranged in a right-hand drive vehicle. In this case, the steering wheel  16   a  is arranged on the right-hand side of the vehicle in the direction of travel, which is intended to be illustrated by the illustration of the steering wheel  16   a  in dashed lines. 
     Each of the two wiper modules  12 ,  13  has a reversing motor  18 , a gear  19  and a control  20 . In addition, each of the wiper modules  12 ,  13  is also provided with a mount  22 ,  23 , which couples the wiper module  12 ,  13  mechanically on the body of the motor vehicle, in particular in its engine compartment. 
     It is essential here that, as can best be seen with the aid of  FIG. 3 a , 3 b   , depending on whether the wiper module  12 ,  13  is arranged on the driver&#39;s side or on the passenger&#39;s side, either a mount  22  is necessary or a mount  23  which is different from the latter. In addition it is to be mentioned that possibly also identical mounts  22 ,  23  can be used, but owing to different mounting sites of the mounts  22 ,  23  in any case different wiper modules  12 ,  13  are formed for the driver&#39;s or respectively passenger&#39;s side. 
     The controls  20  of the two wiper modules  12 ,  13  are connected respectively via a plus terminal  24  to the on-board wiring system of the motor vehicle. In addition, the respective wiper module  12 ,  13  is connected with ground potential via a ground connection  25 . 
     The wiper system  10  described so far is connected with a vehicle control unit  28 . Furthermore, a wiper switch  29 , via which the wiper system  10  or respectively the wiper modules  12 ,  13  are activated, is connected to the vehicle control unit  28 . In addition, the vehicle control unit  28  can be optionally equipped with an interface  30 , via which in particular the programming of the wiper system  10  can take place. The connection between the vehicle control unit  28  and the wiper system  10  or respectively the wiper modules  12 ,  13  takes place via a first data communication line  32 , wherein the first data communication line  32  is constructed in the form of a single-wire control line. The first data communication line  32  is part here of the vehicle bus system. Furthermore, an internal bus connection is provided in the form of a second data communication line  34 , which connects the two controls  20  of the two wiper modules  12 ,  13  with each other. 
     The wiper system  10   a  illustrated in  FIG. 2  is illustrated with the example of a left-hand drive vehicle. Unlike the wiper system  10  according to  FIG. 1 , the second wiper module  13  is connected here only via the second data communication line  34  with the first wiper module  12 . A connection between the vehicle control unit  28  and the wiper module  13  via the first data communication line  32  is not provided. Rather, only the first wiper module  12  is connected via the first data communication line  32  with the vehicle control unit  28 . 
     It is essential that depending on whether a left-hand drive vehicle or a right-hand drive vehicle is concerned, i.e. depending on whether the steering wheel  16 ,  16   a  is arranged on the left- or right-hand side of the vehicle in the direction of travel, the wiper module  12 ,  13  which is situated on the driver&#39;s side operates as master module  36 , whereas the wiper module  12 ,  13  which is situated on the passenger&#39;s side operates as slave module  37 . With the aid of  FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b   , it can be seen that in connection with the two different mounts  22 ,  23  therefore four different configurations of the master module  36 , slave module  37  and mounts  22 ,  23  are possible. 
     With the aid of  FIG. 4  it can be seen that the software of the controls  20  of the wiper modules  12 ,  13  consist at least respectively of a program sequence data set  38  and a vehicle-specific characteristic data set  39 . The characteristic data set  39  comprises here for example different wiper fields, depending on whether the control  20  operates in a wiper module  12 ,  13  as master module  36  or as slave module  37 . In addition, the characteristic data set  39  can contain vehicle type-specific data sets, such that for example with the use of a wiper module  12 ,  13  in a first vehicle, different wiper fields are necessary than with the use in a second vehicle. The program sequence data set  38  contains in particular different data sets depending on whether the control  20  is operated as master module  36  or as slave module  37 . 
     In addition, the software of the control  20  contains a data set  40 , in which there is stored whether the wiper module  12 , 13 , viewed in the vehicle direction, is installed on the right-hand or left-hand side. It is essential here that the activation or respectively the content of the program block  40  in a first embodiment of the invention already takes place on the delivery of the wiper module  12 ,  13  to a vehicle manufacturer, but at the latest before the immediate installation of the wiper module  12 ,  13  into a respective motor vehicle. In other words, this means that on installation of the wiper module  12 ,  13 , via the data set  40  the corresponding wiper module  12 ,  13  already contains the information as to whether the wiper module  12 ,  13  will be installed on the left-hand or right-hand side in the direction of travel. 
     In  FIG. 5  the sequence of the programming of the wiper modules  12 ,  13  is now explained in further detail, in which the two wiper modules  12 ,  13  are installed with the corresponding information concerning their installation site in the left-hand or right-hand side of the vehicle in the program block  40  in the motor vehicle. Here, it is assumed in the program step  41  that the two wiper modules  12 ,  13  are installed in the motor vehicle and the controls  20  of the two wiper modules  12 ,  13  are connected via the first data communication line  32  with the vehicle control unit  28 . Furthermore, the two controls  20  of the wiper modules  12 ,  13  are additionally connected with each other via the second data communication line  34 . The second data communication line  34  is in a receive mode and the first data communication line  32  is activated. Such a case of installation is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     In a second program step  42 , a voltage is now applied to the vehicle control unit  28 . This has the result that in a third program step  43 , via the first data communication line  32 , vehicle-specific data, i.e. in particular data concerning the use of the motor vehicle as a right-hand drive vehicle or left-hand drive vehicle, and if applicable the specific vehicle type, are transmitted to the two controls  20  of the wiper modules  12 ,  13 . In connection with the data stored in the data set  40  of the wiper module  12 ,  13 , the respective wiper module  12 ,  13  thereby recognizes whether it is to operate as master module  36  or as slave module  37 . 
     In the program step  44  an enquiry is now made as to whether the wiper module  12 ,  13  is configured as master module  36 . If this is the case, then the respective wiper module  12 ,  13 , operated as master module  36 , starts its communication with the vehicle control unit  28  via the first data communication line  32  in a program step  45 . 
     If, however, the wiper module  12 ,  13  is not configured as master module  37 , an enquiry is made in a program step  46  as to whether the wiper module  12 ,  13  is configured as slave module  37 . If this is the case, the first data communication line  32  is deactivated in accordance with program step  47  and a communication takes place between the two wiper modules  12 ,  13  only via the second data communication line  34 . If, on the other hand, it has been established in the program step  46  that the respective wiper module  12 ,  13  is not configured as slave module  37 , an enquiry is made in a program step  48  as to whether the respective wiper module  12 ,  13  has received vehicle-specific information via the first data communication line  32 . 
     If this is not the case, an enquiry is made via a program step  49  as to whether the configuration to the slave module  37  has taken place through information which the respective wiper module  12 ,  13  has received from the master module  36  via the second data communication line  34 . If this is the case, in a program step  50  the first data communication line  32  between the slave module  37  and the vehicle control unit  28  is deactivated and the configuration of the respective wiper module  12 ,  13  as slave module  37  is stored in the EEPROM. For the case where in the program step  49  no information is present regarding data concerning a configuration via the second data communication line  34 , a feedback into the program step  48  takes place. 
     If, on the other hand, it is established in the program step  48  that the respective wiper module  12 , 13  has received vehicle-specific information via the first data communication line  32 , in a program step  51  the respective wiper module  12 ,  13  is configured as master module  46  or respectively slave module  37  in accordance with the information stored in the data set  40 . In a program step  52 , thereafter the enquiry takes place as to whether the respective wiper module  12 ,  13  is configured as master module  36 . If this is not the case, a feedback takes place to the program step  48 . If, on the other hand, this is the case, the corresponding programming to the master module  36  in the EEPROM is stored in program step  53  and the data communication begins via the first data communication line  32 . 
     In  FIG. 6  a modified program sequence is illustrated, as is used in a wiper system  10   a  in accordance with  FIG. 2 . Provision is made here that only the master module  36  is connected via the first data communication line  32  with the vehicle control unit  28 , whereas the slave module  37  only communicates via the second data communication line  34  with the master module  36 , but otherwise has no connection with the vehicle control unit  28  via the first data communication line  32 . 
     In the modified program sequence, the program steps  41   a  to  47   a  correspond to the program steps  41  to  47  of  FIG. 5 . Alternatively, instead of the program step  48 , a program step  55  follows the program step  46   a , in which an enquiry is made as to the path on which a vehicle-specific notification was received. If this took place via the first data communication line  28 , then in a program step  56  the corresponding wiper module  12 ,  13  is recognized as master module  36 , this state is stored in the EEPROM and the communication between the respective wiper module  12 , 13  and the vehicle control unit  28  via the first data communication line  28  is started. 
     If, on the other hand, the information was received via the second data communication line  34 , then in a program step  57  this is verified once again, and on a verification, in a program step  58 , the respective wiper module  12 ,  13  is identified as slave module  37 . The corresponding information is stored in the EEPROM and the communication via the first data communication line  32  is deactivated, so that a communication between the master module  36  and the slave module  37  is now made possible only via the second data communication line  34 . Alternatively, a feedback into the program step  55  follows the program step  57 . 
     In a further variant embodiment of the invention, which is not illustrated, provision is made that the data set  40  does not contain any information as to whether the respective wiper module  12 ,  13  is situated on the left-hand side or right-hand side in the direction of travel. This case occurs when the wiper module  12 ,  13  can be installed both on the right-hand and also on the left-hand side of the vehicle. In this case, a differentiation between master module  36  and slave module  37  is carried out via both data communication lines  32  and  34 . Here, however, only the master module  36  is connected via the first data communication line  32  with the vehicle control unit  28  and receives via it the vehicle-specific information. Based on this information, the wiper module  12 ,  13  can be identified as master module  36 , whereupon the programming of the second wiper module  12 ,  13  as slave module  37  takes place only via the second data communication line  34 . 
     The programming methods described so far for the wiper system  10 ,  10   a  can be altered or respectively modified in various ways. For example, it is also conceivable to provide both wiper modules  12 ,  13  with a factory setting as master module  36  or to connect actively both activations (to the master module  36  or slave module  37 ) in the data set  40 . 
     LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 
     
         
           10 ,  10   a  wiper system 
           12 ,  13  wiper module 
           14 ,  15  windscreen wiper 
           16 ,  16   a  steering wheel 
           18  reversing motor 
           19  gear 
           20  control 
           22 ,  23  mount 
           24  plus terminal 
           25  ground connection 
           28  vehicle control unit 
           29  wiper switch 
           30  interface 
           32  first data communication line 
           34  second data communication line 
           36  master module 
           37  slave module 
           38  program sequence data set 
           39  characteristic data set 
           40  data set 
           41 ; 41   a  to 
           47 ;  47   a  program step 
           48 - 58  program step