TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a controller for a vehicle component. In particular, but not exclusively, aspects of the invention relate to a controller, a window wiper controller and a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Vehicle window wipers for wiping, for example, front, rear and side windows of a vehicle, are often controlled by a controller such as a lever stalk attached to the steering column of the vehicle. A driver of the vehicle can selectively choose the operating mode of the window wipers by moving the lever stalk between predefined positions. The operating mode of the window wipers usually includes an "off" mode, wherein the window wipers are docked and do not move, an "intermittent" mode, wherein the window wipers move from and to their docked position with a pause each time they are docked, and a "constant" mode where the window wipers move from and to their docked position substantially without pause. The predefined positions are usually determined by detents into which the lever stalk is moved. Commonly the positions are arranged so that the lever stalk is moved from the off position through the intermittent position to reach the constant position, thus resulting in an intuitive increase in wiper speed as the stalk is moved from the off position.

Some lever stalk controllers further offer a "flick" wipe mode in which the wipers perform a single wipe across the window and return to the docked position. The flick wipe may be provided by moving the lever stalk from the off position in a direction opposite or perpendicular to the intermittent position. Unlike the other operating modes, the flick wipe is not initiated by moving the stalk into a detent. Instead, the flick wipe is normally initiated by moving the stalk out of the current detent position and into a momentary or unlatched position from which the stalk, upon release, returns to the previous detent position. Flick wipes are often required by drivers to remove, for example, unexpected splashes on the window. It is generally accepted that if intermittent mode is selected then splashes on the window are expected and the driver will wait until the next wipe for such splashes to be removed. However, the length of the intermittent mode pause can itself be controlled and as such can be increased to a period of time whereby it is unpleasant for the driver to wait until the next wipe for the splash to be removed. This may result in the driver taking action to move the lever stalk from the intermittent position into the constant position, to achieve a flick wipe, before moving the lever stalk back to the intermittent position. This is inconvenient for the driver and can sometimes result in the wipers wiping more than once, as desired, which might bother the driver. Alternatively, the driver can choose to move the lever stalk through the off position to the flick wipe position and subsequently back to the intermittent position. However, this can result in the driver forgetting to move the stalk back to the original position thus potentially allowing an unwanted build-up of dirt to accumulate on the window that would have been removed by the intermittent wiping.

It is against this background that the invention has been devised. Other aims and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description, claims and drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aspects and embodiments of the invention are defined in the appended claims. According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a controller for a vehicle component, the controller comprising:

a mode selector for selecting one of a set of primary operating modes of the vehicle component;

a control unit arranged to control the operation of the vehicle component in dependence on the selected operating mode;

a detector arranged to detect the presence of a user input to the mode selector; a timer arranged to begin timing a period when the detected user input is within a qualification input range, and to continue timing the period while the detected user input remains within the qualification input range,

wherein the control unit is arranged to control the operation of the vehicle component according to a secondary operating mode when the period reaches a qualification threshold, wherein the detector comprises a force detector arranged to detect the presence of a force applied by a user to the mode selector. In an embodiment the secondary operating mode of the component is, or is equivalent to, one of the set of primary operating modes of the component.

In an embodiment the force detector is arranged to detect the presence of a force, applied by the user to the mode selector, between an upper limit and a lower limit of the qualification input range. The mode selector may be movable between two or more positions through application of force by a user, wherein an upper limit of the qualification input range is a force less than the force required to move from one of the two or more positions to another of the two or more positions. In an embodiment, the force detector comprises a pressure sensing resistor and/or comprises a potentiometer.

The control unit may be arranged to continue to control the operation of the vehicle component according to the secondary operating mode while the user input remains within the qualification input range.

In an embodiment the vehicle component comprises a window wiper. In an embodiment the mode selector is a lever stalk positionable on or near a steering column of a host vehicle.

In an embodiment the mode selector is movable between more than two positions each corresponding to one of more than two of the primary operating modes of the vehicle component, wherein the detector is arranged to detect the presence of a user input to the mode selector when the mode selector is in each of the more than two positions. In an alternative embodiment the mode selector is movable between more than two positions each corresponding to one of more than two of the primary operating modes of the vehicle component, wherein the detector is arranged to detect the presence of a user input to the mode selector when the mode selector is in one of the more than two positions.

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a vehicle comprising:

a component having a set of primary operating modes and a secondary operating mode; and

a controller comprising the features of the controller as defined above,

wherein the controller is arranged to control the operation of the vehicle component.

In an embodiment the secondary operating mode of the component is, or is equivalent to, one of the set of primary operating modes of the component.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a window wiper controller comprising:

a mode selector positionable in two or more positions each corresponding to a mode of operation of a window wiper;

a control unit arranged to control the operation of the window wiper in dependence on the position of the mode selector, wherein the mode selector is movable between the positions and the control unit is arranged to operate the window wiper when the mode selector is between two of two or more positions. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a window wiper controller comprising:

a mode selector positionable in two or more positions each corresponding to a mode of operation of a window wiper;

a control unit arranged to control the operation of the window wiper in dependence on the position of the mode selector;

a detector arranged to detect the proximity of an operator to the mode selector; a timer arranged to begin timing a period when the detected proximity falls below a predefined threshold and to continue timing the period while the detected proximity remains below the threshold,

wherein the control unit is arranged to operate the window wiper when the period reaches a qualification threshold.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a controller comprising:

a mode selector positionable in two or more positions each corresponding to a mode of operation of a controllable component;

a control unit arranged to control the operation of the controllable component in dependence on the position of the mode selector;

a detector arranged to detect the proximity of an operator to the mode selector; a timer arranged to begin timing a period when the detected proximity falls below a predefined threshold and to continue timing the period while the detected proximity remains below the threshold,

wherein the control unit is arranged to operate the controllable component when the period reaches a qualification threshold.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a controller comprising:

a mode selector positionable in two or more positions each corresponding to a mode of operation of a first controllable component;

a control unit arranged to control the operation of the first controllable component in dependence on the position of the mode selector;

a detector arranged to detect the proximity of an operator to the mode selector; a timer arranged to begin timing a period when the detected proximity falls below a predefined threshold and to continue timing the period while the detected proximity remains below the threshold,

wherein the control unit is arranged to control the operation of a second controllable component when the period reaches a qualification threshold.

In an embodiment the detector comprises a proximity sensor.

The term window is used herein to reference any window or windscreen on a vehicle. For example the term may reference a front window, side window, rear window, and so on, of the vehicle.

Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and/or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and/or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and/or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and/or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows a window wiper controller and detent arrangement according to the prior art; Figure 2 shows a cross-section through A-A of the detent arrangement of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 schematically shows a window wiper controller according to an aspect of the invention; Figure 4 shows a cross-section through A-A of the detent arrangement of Figure 3; Figure 5 shows example plots of the position a window wiper controller according to an embodiment of the invention over time;

Figure 6 schematically shows a window wiper controller according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 schematically shows a circuit for a window wiper controller according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8 shows an example plot of the force exerted on a window wiper controller according to an embodiment of the invention over time; and

Figure 9 shows a side view of a driver in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Window wiper controllers such as that shown in Figure 1 are typically used to control the operation of window wipers of a vehicle. The window wiper controller 10 features a lever stalk 12 attached to a point of pivot 14 located on the steering column (not shown) of the vehicle. A driver 100 of the vehicle can move the lever stalk 12 about its pivot 14 into predefined positions 16 determined by detents 18 in a guide 20. Each position is associated with a mode of operation of the window wipers. Typically the modes of operation include 'off, selected by an off position 16a, 'intermittent', selected by an intermittent position 16b, and 'constant', selected by a constant position, 16c. A flick wipe position 22 is provided to initiate a flick wipe, or at least one instance of a constant wipe. The flick wipe position does not have a detent and accordingly release of the lever stalk 12, when in the flick wipe position, returns to the off position.

Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view through the detent guide of Figure 1 , taken through the line A-A as shown in Figure 1 . The guide 20 is shown to have detents 18 divided by ridges 24 over which a shaft 26 of the lever stalk 12 can pass. When positioned in a detent, a sensor, or equivalent, detects the presence of the shaft 26 and passes a signal to a control unit (not shown), which operates the window wipers. The flick wipe position 22 is shown to be positioned on part of a ridge 24'. The shaft is biased toward the guide so that, as described above, release of the lever stalk when in the flick wipe position 22 results in the shaft returning to the off position 16a by moving off the ridge 24'. Figures 3 to 9 show embodiments according to aspects of the present invention. Figure 3 shows a lever stalk 52 and detent guide 50 for selecting a mode of operation of window wipers of a vehicle. However, the lever stalk may be used to control other features, as discussed below. The stalk 52 can be moved into predefined positions determined by the detent guide (see Figure 4) to select the mode of operation of the wipers. The positions comprise an off position 56a, an intermittent position 56b and a constant position 56c. The off position is used to select an off mode, which docks the window wipers so they do not move. The intermittent position is used to select an intermittent mode, which is used to move the window wipers from and to their docked position with a pause each time they are docked. The constant position is used to select a constant mode, which is used to move the window wipers from and to their docked position without pause. A flick wipe position 62 is also provided by the detent guide. The flick wipe position is used to initiate at least one instance of a constant wipe, or similar, so that if the lever stalk remains in the flick wipe position the wiper will operate similar or equivalent to its operation under the constant mode. The positions are arranged so that the lever stalk is moved from the off position 56a through the intermittent position 56b to reach the constant position 56c. The flick wipe position 62 is provided, from the off position 56a, in the opposite direction to the intermittent position 56b. This is so that the driver can initiate one or more flick wipes from the off position without having to change the mode of operation of the window wipers.

Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view through the detent guide 50 of Figure 3, which provides positions for the lever stalk controller to be moved into. A shaft 66 of the lever stalk is movable over ridges 64 provided between at least some of the positions 56a, 56b, 56c. The shaft 66 is biased toward the detent guide so that the shaft is retained between the ridges 64 in one of the positions as selected by a driver moving the lever stalk. The flick wipe position 62 is provided on a part ridge 64' so that release of the lever stalk from the flick wipe position results in the lever stalk returning to the off position 56a. Sensors 58 are provided at each position to detect the presence of the shaft 66 of the lever stalk. The flick wipe position sensor 58' is provided on the part ridge 64'. In alternative arrangements, a potentiometer is used to determine the position of the lever stalk.

In an example embodiment, at least one further flick wipe position 62' is provided on the off, constant, or both sides of the intermittent position 56b. A flick wipe position sensor 58" is provided at the at least one further flick wipe positions 62' to detect the presence of the shaft 66 of the lever stalk in the at least one further flick wipe position 62'. In some embodiments, the potentiometer is used to determine the position of the lever stalk in the at least one further flick wipe position. The further flick wipe position is particularly advantageous to drivers who want to initiate a flick wipe from the intermittent position 56b. This may be the case when, for example, it is raining lightly so the driver has the wipers operating intermittently. The pause of the intermittent wipe can be adjusted using controls outside the scope of this invention. However, in conditions where the rain is light, it is common for the driver to extend the pause time as much as possible. The pause may thus be two or more seconds. Once set, the driver is content that the light rain is being cleared. However, from time to time, the driver's window may be splashed by other vehicles driving through nearby puddles, for example. In the absence of the further flick wipe positions 62', the driver is then faced with having to wait for the next intermittent wipe, change to constant mode, or pass through off to reach the flick wipe position 62. In any case, there is inconvenience for the driver. In the presence of at least one of the further flick wipe positions 62', the driver is able to initiate a flick wipe from the intermittent position 56b without having to move into the off or constant positions 56a, 56c. Furthermore, release of the lever stalk from the further flick wipe position 62'causes the shaft 66 of the lever stalk to return to the intermittent position 56b thus limiting the burden on the driver to reselect the mode the window wipers were in prior to the initiation of the flick wipe.

In example embodiments, the further flick wipe as previously described is initiated following determination that the driver wishes to initiate the further flick wipe. This is performed by monitoring in part the position of the lever stalk over time. A controller monitors the input from the further flick wipe sensor to determine the presence of the lever stalk over the sensor region. On receiving an input from the sensor indicative of the lever stalk being over the sensor, a timer begins. When the timer reaches a qualification threshold, or a qualification period has elapsed, the controller initiates a flick wipe. The qualification period is preferably in the range of 50 to 200ms. Other periods may be useful. The qualification period should not be too short that a flick wipe is initiated as the driver is moving the lever stalk from the intermittent position to the off or constant positions, and should not be too long that the driver does not feel they get an immediate response as desired by the flick wipe. Figures 5 shows some example plots of the lever stalk position 70 over time. Each plot begins with the lever stalk at the zero position, equivalent in this example to the intermittent position I. The sensor region S is illustrative of the region between the intermittent position I and the off or constant position O/C that is occupied by the further flick wipe sensor. Figure 5a) shows the lever stalk being moved from the intermittent position I to the sensor region S. As the lever stalk enters the sensor region, the timer begins. As shown by the lever stalk position 70a, the lever stalk remains in the sensor region for the duration of the qualification period Q and thus a flick wipe is initiated.

Figure 5b) shows the lever stalk entering the sensor region S and the timer beginning. However, the lever stalk is moved out of the sensor region before the qualification period Q elapses, as demonstrated by the lever stalk position 70b, which also shows the lever stalk being moved to the off or constant position. In this example, the flick wipe is not initiated because the driver was not wishing to initiate a flick wipe but was instead moving the lever stalk to the off or constant position.

Figure 5c) shows the lever stalk position 70c where the lever stalk is moved away from the intermittent position I but does not enter the sensor region S. This situation might occur due to noise on the lever stalk or the lever stalk position moving slightly over time due to wear. As the lever stalk position 70c does not enter the sensor region C, the timer is not started.

Figure 5d) shows the lever stalk position 70d where the lever stalk is moved into and out of the sensor region before the qualification time Q has elapsed. The position reached by the lever stalk is outside of the sensor region but not as far as the off or constant positions. The position may be the top of the ridge 64 meaning that release of the lever stalk from this position 70d will result in the lever stalk moving back to the intermittent position or on to the off or constant positions.

Figure 5e) shows the lever stalk position 70e as entering the sensor region S and leaving the sensor region S toward the intermittent position I before the qualification period Q has elapsed. This scenario is likely to result from the driver accidently touching the lever stalk and does not elicit initiation of the wiper.

Figure 5f) shows the lever stalk position 70f as entering the sensor region S and leaving, as in Figure 5e), before re-entering the sensor region. The timer begins on when the lever stalk first enters the sensor region and stops when the lever stalks leaves the first region. The period of time elapsed Q1 is insufficient to trigger the initiation of a flick wipe. However, on re-entry to the sensor region, the timer begins again and a period of time Q2 elapses so that the qualification period is reached and a flick wipe is initiated. Figure 5f) also illustrates how the timer stops when the lever stalk leaves the sensor region. Figures 5b), 5d) and 5e) can be drawn in this way but remain as shown to demonstrate that the qualification period is not reached. The area defined, on the plots of Figure 5, by the sensor region S and the qualification period Q may be termed the qualification zone. The position of the lever stalk may vary within the qualification zone without effect on reaching the qualification period. This is advantageous because it is unlikely that the driver will be able to hold the lever stalk still for the duration of the qualification period Q. The size of the sensor region may vary so that it extends from near to the intermittent position up or near to the off or constant position. This has the advantage that the driver has a wider region to move the lever stalk into in order to initiate a flick wipe.

In an example embodiment, shown in Figure 6, the further flick wipe is initiated by applying a force to a force sensitive sensor positioned at one or both of the top or bottom of the lever stalk 52. The window wiper modes are selected by moving the lever stalk into one of the mode positions 56a, 56b, 56c as described in relation to Figure 3. The flick wipe position 62 may be provided as per Figure 3 but may alternatively be provided as per the further flick wipe using the force sensitive sensor. Similarly, where embodiments use a potentiometer to determine the position of the lever stalk, a biased lever stalk results in the potentiometer effectively measuring force applied to the lever stalk.

In an example embodiment, the force sensitive sensor is a pressure sensing resistor 80, which changes resistance in dependence on the force applied to it. Figure 7 shows an example circuit for determining that the pressure sensing resistor 80 is being touched. The pressure sensing resistor is connected between ground and a pull-up resistor 82, which is in turn connected to a Vcc supply, for example +5V. An output 84 is taken between the pull-up resistor 82 and the pressure sensing resistor 80 and passed to a microcontroller 86. The pull-up resistor value is matched to provide a voltage readable by the processor and may, for example, be in the range 1 k-5kQ. When the driver presses the pressure sensing resistor 80, the voltage at the output changes and the microcontroller accordingly determines that the pressure sensing resistor 80 has been pressed. A force between a minimum and maximum level is required for the microcontroller to determine that the pressure sensing resistor has been pressed.

The microcontroller regularly samples the output 84. This may be, for example, every 10ms. When the output is indicative of the pressure sensing resistor 80 having been pressed, a counter, or timer, begins counting. Similarly to Figure 5, a qualification period is used to determine that the driver intended to initiate a flick wipe. For example, if the qualification period is 200ms then the counter must reach 20 consecutive counts of the output indicating that the pressure sensing resistor is being pressed. Figure 8 illustrates an equivalent plot to Figure 5a for the pressure sensing resistor. The plot illustrates force applied to the lever stalk versus time. A threshold force T is provided where the lever stalk will be consequently moved to one of the off or constant positions. A qualification force Q _F is provided between a minimum and maximum force value required to indicate that the pressure sensing resistor has been pressed. A force applied 88 to the pressure sensing resistor is shown to reach the minimum force value for the qualification force Q _F and thus begin a counter. The applied force 88 remains within the upper and lower limits of the qualification force Q _F for the duration of the qualification period, which is for example equal to 20 counts. As a result, the microcontroller initiates a flick wipe. The example plots provided in Figures 5a) to 5f) may be applied similarly to the pressure sensing resistor example. As per Figure 5f), if the applied force goes outside the limits, the count is cleared and counting only restarts when the force is within the qualification force Q _F .

Figure 9 shows a side view of a driver 100 in a vehicle 102 comprising a window wiper 104 and a window wiper controller 150 according to any of the aforementioned examples. The driver is able to operate the window wiper controller via a lever stalk 152, which passes a signal to a controller or microcontroller 186. The controller operates the window wiper 104 in dependence on the driver input to the lever stalk as hereinbefore described.

The invention may be defined by way of the following numbered paragraphs:

1 . A controller for a vehicle component, the controller comprising:

a mode selector for selecting one of a set of primary operating modes of the vehicle component;

a control unit arranged to control the operation of the vehicle component in dependence on the selected operating mode;

a detector arranged to detect the presence of a user input to the mode selector; a timer arranged to begin timing a period when the detected user input is within a qualification input range, and to continue timing the period while the detected user input remains within the qualification input range,

wherein the control unit is arranged to control the operation of the vehicle component according to a secondary operating mode when the period reaches a qualification threshold, wherein the detector comprises a force detector arranged to detect the presence of a force applied by a user to the mode selector. 2. A controller as defined in paragraph 1 for a vehicle component, wherein the secondary operating mode of the component is, or is equivalent to, one of the set of primary operating modes of the component. 3. A controller as defined in paragraph 1 , wherein the force detector is arranged to detect the presence of a force, applied by the user to the mode selector, between an upper limit and a lower limit of the qualification input range.

4. A controller as defined in paragraph 1 , wherein the mode selector is movable between two or more positions through application of force by a user, and wherein an upper limit of the qualification input range is a force less than the force required to move from one of the two or more positions to another of the two or more positions.

5. A controller as defined in paragraph 1 wherein the force detector comprises a pressure sensing resistor.

6. A controller as defined in paragraph 1 wherein the force detector comprises a potentiometer.

7. A controller as defined in in paragraph 1 for a vehicle component wherein the control unit is arranged to continue to control the operation of the vehicle component according to the secondary operating mode while the user input remains within the qualification input range.

8. A controller as defined in in paragraph 1 for a vehicle component wherein the vehicle component comprises a window wiper. 9. A controller as defined in in paragraph 1 wherein the mode selector is a lever stalk positionable on or near a steering column of a host vehicle.

10. A controller as defined in in paragraph 1 for a vehicle component, wherein the mode selector is movable between more than two positions each corresponding to one of more than two of the primary operating modes of the vehicle component, wherein the detector is arranged to detect the presence of a user input to the mode selector when the mode selector is in each of the more than two positions.

1 1 . A controller as defined in in paragraph 1 for a vehicle component, wherein the mode selector is movable between more than two positions each corresponding to one of more than two of the primary operating modes of the vehicle component, wherein the detector is arranged to detect the presence of a user input to the mode selector when the mode selector is in one of the more than two positions.

12. A vehicle comprising:

a component having a set of primary operating modes and a secondary operating mode; and

a controller comprising the features of the controller as defined in any one of paragraphs 1 to 1 1 ,

wherein the controller is arranged to control the operation of the vehicle component.

13. A vehicle as defined in paragraph 12, wherein the secondary operating mode of the component is, or is equivalent to, one of the set of primary operating modes of the component.