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SOCIETY OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS, INC.

Two Pennsylvania Plaza, New York, N. Y. 10001

Windshield Wiper System Design

by Computer Graphics

Eugene E. King and Larry L Saathoff

Engineering Center, Chevrolet Motor Div., General Motors Corp.

SOCIETY OF A U T O M O T I V E ENGINEERS

International Automotive Engineering Congress

Detroit, Mich. 690194
January 13-17, 1969
 Downloaded from SAE International by University of New South Wales, Tuesday, September 18, 2018
Windshield Wiper System Design
by Computer Graphics
Eugene E. King and Larry L. Saathoff
Engineering Center, Chevrolet Motor Div., General Motors Corp.
N AN EFFORT to shorten lead time and to investigate the
possibilities of the Computer Graphics Design System (here-
inafter referred to as CGDS) as a design tool, the Chevrolet
Engineering Center has undertaken the task of programming
complete windshields and wiper systems, less linkage, on
the General Motors Research Laboratories D AC-I system.
The purpose of this paper is to document that effort and to
show that CGDS is a design tool with great potential in the
industrial design field.
The initial part (Section I) of this report will cover the
conclusions reached as a result of this program. Included,
will be the advantages of this relatively new approach to
design. Following the conclusions, a brief history and back-
ground of DAC-I will be given in Section II because the
DAC-I system is foreign to many readers.
The complete process of windshield and windshield wiper
system design will be covered in this paper. It is intended
that the treatment will be informative for even those with
no windshield wiper design experience. Sections I and II
will primarily be of interest to the reader who wants to obtain
a general knowledge of computerized graphic design pro-
cedures. The last five sections of this paper each treat a
specific segment of windshield wiper design for those who
have a special interest in this design area.
The special interest sections will cover: the actual sur-
facing of the windshield (Section III), the eye range contour
ABSTRACT
The Chevrolet Engineering Center has developed a Com-
puter Graphics Design System (CGDS) having extensive in-
dustrial design capabilities. This paper describes how the
system is used for designing windshields and windshield wiper
systems by using automatic drafting machine techniques
combined with a graphics computer approach. As applied
to this paper, the system's capabilities include windshield
690194
development (Section IV), the eye range area calculation
(Section V), wiper pattern development (Section VI), and the
calculation of the actual area wiped, to check MVSS com-
pliance (Section VII). The CGDS approach does basically
with software programming, what the draftsman does with
triangles and compasses; this paper will compare the two
methods.
SECTION I - ADVANTAGES OF CGDS
The final product of the complete procedure of CGDS
wiper design is a punched paper tape which, when "played"
on an automatic drafting machine, will draw the complete
flat pattern and/or any body position or auxiliary view of
the entire wiper system. As of this writing, the program is
being expanded for further checking of the design in the
body position.
The CGDS procedure parallels the manual drafting methods
almost completely and, because of this approach, has the in-
herent advantage of being familiar to designers and engineers.
Other obvious advantages of the CGDS are its speed and a c -
curacy. The speed is achieved in two ways: by use of the
computer, and through the interactive capabilities of the sys-
tem. Because of the computer's speed, more system design
proposals can be tested than with the manual approach. This
should help to ensure a better product. Since the computer's
surfacing, eye range contour development, eye range area
calculation, wiper pattern development, and calculation of
the actual area wiped. By comparing CGDS to manual draft-
ing methods, the results indicate that the CGDS approach
is a commercially practical concept of design that has many
substantial economic advantages over conventional drafting
methods.
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speed is also available when processing in batch mode, the
second advantage of an interactive system is of vast im-
portance. This interactive feature eliminates the turn-around
time that the batch mode process has built-in. If the designer
makes an error or is not satisfied with a design, it can be
changed on-line immediately without waiting until a com-
puter run is complete, as would be the case in the usual batch-
mode operation. Although the CGDS approach shows a def-
inite and substantial time saving over the manual method,
quantitative values of this saving will not be covered in this
paper.
The accuracy of the computer stands out primarily in two
places. When determining the tangent angles to the eye
ellipse, the designer on the board uses a protractor, which for
a flat angle, does not give a precise point. The CGDS gives
an accurate mathematical point. In area calculation, the
planimeter method may be grossly inaccurate;, with the com-
puter, area calculations are mathematically accurate.
Another decided advantage of CGDS is the ease with
which it lends itself to change of design or concept. Man-
ually, a change may require a complete re-work on a new
layout. The CGDS program can be entered at the appropriate
point and only that portion of the design which follows will
change. A final advantage is gained from the fact that the
computer tape has several additional uses. Using the wind-
shield as an example, it is possible to use the tape as back-
ground information for designing the defroster. The tape
can also be used for analysis by the safety group. As in-
dicated by the windshield wiper design application, CGDS
has great potential as a design tool of the future. By making
a judicious selection of the type of job to be accomplished,
it will be possible to use both the Computer Graphics Design
System and the designer to their full capacities and potentials.
SECTION II - DAC-I HISTORY
In the late 1950's the General Motors Research Laboratories
(GMR) began a study of the potential role of computers in
the graphical phases of design. Prototype hardware and soft-
ware components were developed to investigate the problems
of processing graphical data. The resultant computer unit,
known as DAC-I, is the parent and the basic component of
the CGDS system described in this paper.
The DAC-I system was first made public at The 1964 Fall
Joint Computer Conference in San Francisco. DAC is an
acronym for Design Augmented by Computers. Initially the
goal of the DAC project was the development of a combina-
tion of computer hardware and software which would permit
"conversational" man-machine graphical communication,
a maximum programming flexibility, and ease of use. The
DAC-I hardware complex consists of an IBM 7094 digital
computer and an IBM 7960 special image processing system.
The 7094 computer has an extra large 64K core memory
unit, half of which is available for multiprogrammed use on
DAC-I problems. In addition, the computer has extended
storage facilities of two 55 million character 1301 disk files.
The 7960 special image processing system was developed
and built by IBM's Data Systems Division to specifications
provided by GMR. It has two main units:
1. One unit is a graphic console which provides for a dy-
namic two-way communication between the designer and
the computer (Fig. 1). The console is equipped with:
(a) A cathode ray tube (CRT) display screen.
(b) An electric position-indicating pencil, used by the
designer to respond to the computer by pointing to an area of
interest on the display.
(c) Thirty-six program control keys and program status
lights. The designer at the console can monitor the status
lights and control the program execution with the keys. By
means of an overlay structure (software programming), these
same 36 keys and lights can be altered internally to perform
different functions.
(d) Two data entry devices. One entry device is an
alpha-numeric keyboard for "typing" messages into the com-
puter. The other device is a card reader with which the de-
signer enters data and "sign on" identification.
2. An image processor used for the input and output of
graphical data (Fig. 2).
(a) Input Operation - A sliding drawer allows the de-
signer to enter key lines drawn on 20 x 20 in. paper or vel-
lum. A camera translates the image to 35 mm film which is
developed in 30 sec. A GM developed computer program
then controls the positioning of a CRT beam optically focused
on the 35 mm image. A photomultiplier response back to
the computer indicates if the beam is on clear or opaque
portions of the image. The optical scanner searches for
opaque lines on a clear background.
(b) Output Operation - A second high-resolution CRT
is used as a recorder for exposing frames on either of two
35 mm film transports. The film is automatically developed
and ready for viewing on a 20 x 20 in. screen within 30 sec.
after exposure. Drawings from both film trains can be pro-
Fig. 1 - DAC-I graphic console: (1) power controls and in-
dicates, (2) 17 in. crt screen and conducting glass, (3) pro-
gram function switches and indicators, (4) position pencil,
(5) alpha-number keyboard, (6) card reader
 Downloaded from SAE International by University of New South Wales, Tuesday, September 18, 2018
jected simultaneously on the screen, allowing the designer
to make an optical comparison. A film buffer allows up to
20 images to be exposed before processing begins.
The computer instructions (software) which operate the
computer complex, give DAC-I its unique design capabilities.
Among the advanced software techniques incorporated in the
DAC-I system are four major departures from conventional
programming techniques:
1. Multi-programming Monitor - This unit allows the
computer to be working concurrently on two different prob-
lems. One-half of the computer's 64K memory contains
the normal engineering or research job being processed by
a batch processing monitor. In the other half, 32K, resides
the DAC-I problems and data being worked on by the de-
signer at the on-line console. For every hour at the console,
the designer requires only about eight minutes of computer
time. This multi-programming technique permits the full
utilization of the computer by the program.
2. New Compiler Language, NOMAD - Ninety percent of
the DAC-I software system is written in fast, flexible com-
piler called NOMAD, a revision and extension of the Uni-
versity of Michigan's MAD system (Michigan Algorithm
Decoder).
3. Program Storage Allocation Control - This facility
permits the computer program to make "at the moment"
decisions on efficient allocation of core memory, to meet
the changing data and program demands of the problem being
solved.
4. Disk-Oriented System for Storage and Retrieval of
Programs. - This system allows access within a fraction of a
second to millions of words of program and data. System is
so arranged as to permit continued growth of support pro-
grams with no change to control programs.
The system programming also includes a myriad of sub-
routines which are the designer's tools at the console. These
Fig. 2 - Image processor unit: (1) operator's control panel
(2) rear-projection screen (3) paper input drawer (4) operating
desk
routines mathematically accomplish within the computer
most of the operation the designer does on the board. Ex-
amples of this type of capability are: rotation, mirroring,
offsetting, curve fitting, etc.
In addition to this mass of system software programming,
there is a vast amount of application programming. Ap-
plication programming consists of those programs (written
by the CGDS users division people) which are designed to
perform a specific function or to produce a desired result.
SECTION III - WINDSHIELD SURFACING
Because the intent of this paper is to report Chevrolet
Engineering Center (CEC) involvement in windshield and
windshield wiper system design, this section on windshield
surfacing shall be minimized. The reason for this mini-
mization is that in a normal design environment, the surface
of the windshield along with its daylight opening lines (DLO)
are provided by the General Motors Styling Staff and the
Fisher Body Division.
To the reader who is interested in knowing how the wind-
shield surface is developed on a computer graphics system,
it is suggested that he refer to an SAE paper by Eric Norton
(1*). The Norton paper compares the manual to the com-
puter graphics methods of designing windshields.
It should be noted that, because extensive windshield sur-
face data is required to design the wiper system, two basic
methods for obtaining this surface are available. The first
method is primarily manual. Fisher Body supplies a drawing
with the surface of the windshield and the DLO's in the three
body positions. Because a flat pattern of the glass and the
DLO's are required to design a wiper system, the drafting
department, by manual drafting techniques, "unwraps" the
glass and draws the flat pattern. If the wiper system is to be
designed manually, drafting can proceed from this point.
If, however, the wiper system is to be designed by CGDS, the
numeric information representing the lines of the surface
and the DLO must be obtained and input to trie computer.
Digitizing is the process used for acquiring this numeric
information. This process utilizes an automatic digitizing-
drafting table which converts line information into a punched
paper tape containing points representing the given lines in
three dimensions. This tape is converted into punched cards,
one point per card, and input to the computer. From this
stage, the wiper design can proceed, using the graphic tech-
nique to be explained.
The second method of obtaining the required windshield
surface data is strictly a computer graphics method. Assume
that the surface and the DLO's have been generated by Styl-
ing Staff at the graphics console and stored in the computer.
If the wiper design is to be done manually, a designer at
the console can call up the stored information, arrange the
views in positions he wants, including flat pattern, and re-
quest a drawing tape. This tape, when drawn using the same
'Numbers in parentheses designate References at end of
paper.
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digitizing-drafting table, gives the starting point for manual on the console CRT. All packages of the following type used
design. To design the wiper system graphically requires only in this report are console displays.
the calling up of the information and proceeding on-line,
CHEVROLET EYE RANGE
using the computer..
CONTOUR PROGRAM

SECTION IV - EYE RANGE CONTOUR Select type of Vehicle

Passenger car - std. angles
The eye range contour is the location on the windshield Truck - std angles
surface of the area generated by rays tangent to the eye Passenger car - non std.
ellipses in body position in both the side and plan views. Truck - non std.
The eye ellipse contours were developed by the method re- 6.5 seat track
ported in a paper by James F. Meldrum (2). The angles of 6.0 seat track
the rays are determined by the SAE Recommended Practice, 5.5 seat track
"Passenger Car Windshield Wiper Systems," SAE J903a(3). 5.0 seat track
Further information is also contained in SAE Recommended 4.5 seat track
Practice, "Passenger Car Driver's Eye Range," SAE J941 (4). 4.0 seat track
The manual method of obtaining the eye range contour 95 percentile
requires several known parameters on the part of the de- 99 percentile
signer. These requirements include: DONE RESET
1. Windshield surface.
Choice of input parameters can be selected from this
2. Seat track.
list by touching the proper line with the voltage pencil. All
3. Percentile.
choices are activated by this method.
4 . H-point location.
Standard passenger car angles have been established by
5. Angles of tangency.
SAE J903a. If the "Passenger car - std. angles" option shown
The first step in plotting the manual eye range is to locate
above is selected, the portion of the program which locates
the H-point. The H-point is the hip point on the seating
the tangent points is omitted because these standards are
manikin. The H-point location is based on the center line
stored internally.
of steering wheel and the applicable formula in SAE J941.
After finding this set-up point, the template, which represents If any truck option or the nonstandard passenger car option
the percentile and seat track of the particular design, is is selected, the program will jump to that portion of the
located on the point and the ellipses are drawn in the side program which will calculate the points of tangency to the
and plan body views. These templates are a direct result eye ellipses. It might be stated at this time that all ellipses
of information taken from Ref. 2. for the six seat positions and for the 95 and 99 percentile are
stored internally. These ellipses were digitized and stored
Using standard angles established in SAE J903a, lines are
by the method already described.
drawn tangent to the ellipses in body position. These lines
Assuming a nonstandard condition, the program will stop
are extended until they intersect the windshield surface in
to allow the designer to input the angles that h e desires.
both views. Because these lines also intersect elements (sec-
These angles are input by using both the voltage pencil and
tions) of the windshield, it is possible to project them into
the alphanumeric keyboard. Tangent points to the eye ellipses
the flat pattern view and establish three eye range contour
will be generated at these input angles, and displays will
areas: Primary (area C), Secondary (area B), and Tertiary
appear on the screen showing the side view of the ellipse
(area A).
with its tangent points (Fig. 3), and the plan view with its
When the CGDS approach is used to develop the eye range
tangent points (Fig. 4).
contour, the same input information is required. The pro-
All drawings included in this paper were generated at the
gram has two major parts: the location of the tangents and
the movement of the ellipses into the body position. Because
the program must be flexible and it is dynamic, the operator
must have the ability to input and change as the program is
executing. This capability is accomplished by the use of
what is called a main choice package which is displayed

Fig. 3 - S. V. ellipse with tangent points Fig. 4 - P. V.^ellipses with tangent points
 Downloaded from SAE International by University of New South Wales, Tuesday, September 18, 2018

graphics console using the machine-tape option. These tapes
were "played" on an automatic drafting machine to produce
the scaled drawings shown in this paper. All individual points
plotted on the drawings have been exaggerated for illustra-
tion purposes.
Following the location of the tangent points, the program
asks the designer for the location of the H-point in body
position. This location is entered with the voltage pencil.
The program proceeds and then automatically stops to allow
the designer to check the distance from the H-point to the
actual eye level. This dimension is a function of the seat-
back angle and is a variable.
Because all the 36 eye ellipses (95 and 99 percentile) are
stored at a point of 0, 0 in the computer, the next step is
to move the ellipses from this point to the position required
by the input H-point. Figs. 5 and 6 show the original lo-
cation and the movement to the H-point of the S.V. and P.V.
ellipses respectively.
Now that tangencies have been established and the ellipses
have been moved to body position, the program generates
the eye range areas. This procedure is identical to the man-
ual method. The surface is input and rays are projected
from the input tangent points of the ellipses which intersect
the elements of the surface in the side and plan views. Figs.
7-9 are output from the graphic console. They are the same
type of drawings that a draftsman would produce.
Fig. 7 depicts the side view of the windshield surface
with its ellipse in body position and rays intersecting the
glass surface. Fig. 8 shows the same thing with respect to
the plan view. Fig. 9 is the eye range contour in a flat pat-
tern and is not as automatic as the preceding two and must
be built by the man at the console. Fig. 9 is generated from
information which is supplied by the procedure explained
in the next section.
SECTION V - EYE RANGE AREA CALCULATION
After the eye range contour lines are established manually
in the flat pattern, the normal drafting procedure is quite
basic. The draftsman merely runs a planimeter around the
perimeter of the area. This mechanical device gives the
area of the enclosure. To offset possible human error, the
normal practice is to repeat this procedure three times and
average the results. This method is used to determine the
three eye range contour areas.
Graphically, the method is considerably more subtle. The
flat pattern of the eye range was shown in Fig. 9. To acquire
the information to produce this drawing, the program goes

< — * ■
)
-—-
Fig. 7 - S. V. glass surface and ellipse

s~ ~>
<^_J

Fig. 5 - S. V. ellipse, zero position and H-point position

Fig. 8 - P. V. glass surface and ellipses

- | | | I J 1 | 1 ffi-
Fig. 6 - P. V. ellipses, zero position and H-point position Fig. 9 - Eye range area in glass flat pattern
 Downloaded from SAE International by University of New South Wales, Tuesday, September 18, 2018

through several steps. In the process of acquiring this in-
formation, the area of the eye range contour is also calcu-
lated.
Using the side view of the surface and the side view el-
lipse, rays are generated from the tangent points to intersect
the surface. The plan view is treated in the same manner.
The lines that intersect the surface also intersect the surface
element lines, forming the eye range contour. Visual checks
along the way indicate to the designer whether or not the
data being processed is correct. For example, a visual check
may be made after the generation of the rays, to make a
judgment decision. A similar check may be made after the
generation of the area, to make an accuracy decision.
The method used to calculate the area after the designer,
is satisfied with its correctness is a basic computer method.
The computer locates four corner points and a point ap-
proximately in the center of the area. From this center point
lines radiate to the perimeter. The spacing of these lines is
determined by a set chordal deviation on the perimeter lines.
These lines from the center point to the perimeter form
many small triangles. The area of these triangles is cal-
culated and then summed. This sum is the area of the eye
range contour.
Output of this area calculation takes the form of a display
for each of the three eye range areas. Figs. 10-12 show this
output. This display shows the rays that generated the area,
specific eye range area, square inches of the area, the perim-
eter, and other bookkeeping information. The bookkeeping
information is needed to generate the eye range in flat pat-
tern (Fig. 9).

FLATTEN LNS =11 1 X XX THRII LN XX SECTION VI - WIPER PATTERN DEVELOPMENT

BODY LN S = LN XXX THRU Lr XXX
AREA = )(XX.)J(X
NONARTICULATED, NONDEPRESSED, LEFT-HAND AND
PER = XX .XX!
RIGHT-HAND WIPER PATTERN - The manual method of
generating this wiper pattern is identical, in almost every

tr
aspect, to the CGDS method. Since the similarity is so pro-
J nounced , no explanation of the manual method will be given.
If some point of difference does exist, it will be clarified
when the need arises.
The initial difference between the manual and the CGDS
is that the DAC-I computer must be told where to store the
lines and drawings it will be generating. After completing
this bookkeeping operation, the program moves to the first-
choice package.

Fig. 10 - Area C (primary) eye range contour

FLATTEN LNS = LN XXX THRU LN XXX

BODY INS = LN XXX THRU LN XXX
AREA = XXX.XXX FLATTEN LNS = I f (XT 4RU IN XXX
PER = XX.XXX
\
BODY LNS = LN >XX THR1 LN XX X
AREA = XXX.XXX
\
PER = XXXXX ' V
\ V
s \ " "1•
N
\ '
,*
( s \ -/.
/
\ V\
\ / / \ \
V- \
V i \
\ \
\ \
\
^

Fig. 11 - Area B (secondary) eye range contour Fig. 12 - Area A (tertiary) eye range contour
 Downloaded from SAE International by University of New South Wales, Tuesday, September 18, 2018

CHEVROLET WINDSHIELD WIPER The next required parameter, whether manual or CGDS,
DESIGN PROGRAM is the blade arc radius. Historically, this radius usually takes
one of two forms: tangent to a 1.00 in. offset to the upper
Data Acquisition
DLO, or a value selected by the designer from his experience.
SELECT WIPER MECHANISM^
Because CGDS parallels the manual, this option is included
1. Non articulated LH & RH
in another choice package as follows:
2. Articulated LH - Non RH
Check Total & Wiped Area MAX. BLADE ARC RADIUS
DONE RESET
Max. Arc Tangent to 1.0 DLO Offset
The "Data Acquisition" option, shown above, allows the Input Max. Arc Radius
designer to input the DLO and eye range contour lines that DONE RESET
he wishes to use for this particular design. Because what
Option one above causes the program to find the min-
follows is an explanation of nonarticulated left-hand and
imum distance from the transmission axis point to the upper
right-hand, assume that the No. 1 option was selected. The
DLO offset. This distance is the arc radius. By using the
following choice package will be displayed on the graphics
transmission axis point as center, an arc is described tangent
console screen:
to this point. The second option merely uses the transmission
Brand New Job axis point as the center and. strikes an arc equal to the input
Continue or Revise L. H. radius.
Continue or Revise R. H. For checking' purposes, a display of progress to this point
DONE RESET is now given. This display includes all background informa-
tion, the transmission axis point, and the maximum blade
When the "Brand New Job" option shown above, is selected,
arc radius. Also included is the legend: MAX. ARC Radius =
the program zeroes several internal elements. With this
XXX.
option, the program will always start with the left hand.
Continuing the program allows the designer to make his
The other two options, aside from their obvious use, are re-
judgment decisions as to the correctness of the design to
quired, because jobs may be interrupted and picked up hours
this point. Another choice package aids this judgment
or days later.
(Fig. 14).
Assuming a new job has been selected, the display on the
screen will show all data selected from Data Acquisition. REVISE
If the designer is satisfied with his background information,
1. Trans. Axis Point
continued operation will display the next choice package
2. Max. Arc Radius
(Fig. 13).
3. Arc OK - Continue
DEFINE TRANS. AXIS PT. DONE RESET
1. DLO offset Ag£in, assuming things to be as desired, the program con-
2. Distance outboard »; tinues. If something must be changed, the change can be
DONE RESET made at this time and the program will repeat itself up to
this point.
A selection made from this choice package enables the
The next required input is the end-of-blade arc clearance
designer to locate the point on the windshield wiper trans-
"to side DLO. This step will establish the outboard cutoff
mission where the arm is connected. The two inputs made
point of the sweep. The clearance is measured along the
by the voltage pencil locate the point X distance below the
arc exactly as it is done manually, to make allowance for
DLO line and Y distance outboard from the center line of
possible manufacturing installation error. By installing the
the vehicle. This same information is required when de- *
signing manually.
IS ARC RADIUS OK
MAX. ARC RADIUS = XXX
- SELECTED DATA

Fig. 13 - Starting selected information Fig. 14 - L. H. radius and axis point locations
 Downloaded from SAE International by University of New South Wales, Tuesday, September 18, 2018
arm one notch off at the transmission, the wipe pattern can
be altered 3-4 degs. This clearance is entered with the
voltage pencil and alphanumeric keyboard.
The next required input is the blade length. This input
is also accomplished with the voltage pencil and keyboard.
To check the last two input items, a display is now generated.
This display shows everything created to date. It will in-
clude: the background, the transmission axis point, the max-
imum blade arc radius, the point showing the end of blade
arc to side DLO (outboard toe point), and finally, using the
toe point as center, and arc of blade length (Fig. 15).
While the above display is shown, the designer is asked
to select a point on this blade length arc that he wishes to
use as the lower point of the blade. After the point is se-
lected, the angle of the blade in the outer wiper position has
been established. To verify the blade angle, another display
is generated showing the blade in the outboard wipe position
(Fig. 16).
To allow for judgment decisions, the choice package
again is displayed to give an opportunity to change any of
the parameters just entered. If any change is selected, the
program will automatically rerun that portion of the problem.
REVISE OUTBOARD-BLADE
Toe Point to Side DLO
Blade Length
Lower Blade Point
or
Blade OK - Continue
DONE RESET
DEFINE PT.—LWR BLADE PT.
Fig. 15 - Pattern development to blade length arc
DEFINE PT.—LWR. BLADE PT.
Fig. 16 - Blade in L. H. outboard wipe position
In view of the fact that this is a nondepressed system, the
start-wipe and park positions are identical. To establish
the inboard position of the left-hand blade, the program next
requests the clearance between the toe point and the lower
DLO start-wipe position. This parameter is entered with
the voltage pencil and keyboard. Now that the inboard blade
position has been established, the next display can show the
entire left-hand wipe pattern. The only information beyond
the normal pattern which is displayed is the correction arc
for the start-wipe blade angle. This is an arc created by
using the toe-point to lower DLO clearance point as a center,
and swinging an arc of blade length, outboard (Fig. 17).
This correction arc gives the designer the option of selecting
a new clearance between the heel point and the lower DLO.
If this is done, the whole pattern is re-done. The next choice
package allows for the creation of the wiper arm.
CREATE CENTER LINE OF ARM
Yes - Offset - End of Arm to Blade=
No - Lines not required.
DONE RESET
If "Yes", shown above, is selected and the offset dimen-
sion is input, a display showing the complete pattern, in-
cluding arms, will be displayed (Fig. 18). If "No" is se-
lected , the program falls into the following choice package.
The program will also fall into the same choice package
START WIPE ANGLE OK
WIPE AN6LE = XXXX
i BLADE TO AXIS PT. = XXX
Fig. 17 - Complete L. H. wipe pattern
L.H. WIPE ANGLE = XXXX
MAX. ARC RADIUS = XXX
BLADE LENGTH = XXX
Fig. 18 - Complete L. H. pattern design, including arm
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after displaying the above picture when "Yes" has been se-
lected. This is done to give the designer one last chance to
accept or reject the pattern as designed.
CONTINUE OR REVISE L. H.
1. Trans. Axis Point
2. Blade Length
3. Max. Arc Radius
4. Offset to Side DLO
5. Lower Blade Point - Outboard
6. Offset to DLO - Start Wipe
7. Start Wipe Blade Angle
or
8. Develop RH pattern
9. Terminate
DONE
Even at this late date, the designer can change any of his
input design parameters and redesign the complete pattern.
With the left-hand wipe pattern complete, the program
proceeds to the right-hand pattern. Since the latest pattern
is always stored in the computer, the first choice establishes
where the designer wants to start.
Brand New Job
Revise Old R, H. Pattern
DONE
From this point, the development of the right-hand wipe
pattern is similar to that of the left-hand wipe pattern. The
first input parameters are identical.
DEFINE R. H. TRANS. AXIS PT.
DLO Offset
Distance Outboard
DONE
When the transmission point has been established, the
next requirement is to define the maximum blade arc radius.
DEFINE MAX. BLADE ARC RADIUS
1. Equal L. H. offset from upper DLO
2. Equal L. H. Radius
3. Input Max. Radius
DONE
Any of the above selections will cause an arc to be gen-
erated equal to the appropriate radius above, with the center
of transmission as the center for the arc. The program will
request the designer to input the R. H. pattern overlap of
the L. H. pattern at the widow's peak. This is the inboard
limiting point for the R. H. and terminates the above gen-
erated arc at this point.
To verify the design to this point, the following display is
presented. This display shows the DLO, the eye range contour
lines, the left-hand wipe pattern, and the portion of the
right-hand pattern which has been generated (Fig. 19).
Since the designer may not be completely satisfied with
the design at this point, he now has the option to change any
of the given input parameters for the right side pattern.
REVISE
Trans. Axis Point
Max. Arc Radius
Pattern overlap
or
Continue - Job OK
DONE RESET
Selection of any of the first three above options by use of
the voltage pencil, will return the program to that point and
a new design will be started from there. If the final option
is selected, the present design is continued. Continuing with
the present design, the next requested input is the amount
of clearance between the toe point and the lower DLO in the
start-wipe position. This information will tie down the out-
RESET board end of the right hand wipe pattern and, like the over-
lap at the widow's peak, is input with the voltage pencil and
the alphanumeric keyboard. With the end points of the wipe
established, the next required input is the angles. The fol-
lowing choice package will give the computer enough data
to define the outer angle:
DEFINE CENTERLINE OF BLADE - START WIPE
1. Input centerline blade to axis
point (offset)
RESET 2. Centerline blade to axis point = L. H.
3. Select Heel point from Display
DONE RESET
Option one, above, will establish a line through the toe
point the given distance from the axis point. Option two
equates the offset to the left-hand offset. The third option
will generate an arc of blade length radius with the toe point
as center. The designer will then be given a display from
RESET which h e can select a point on this arc to be his heel point.
Incidentally, the right-hand blade length will be the same
as the left-hand blade length (Fig. 20).
Now that the inboard end point and the angle have been
established, the wiper can be swept to this inboard point to
complete the pattern. Having completed this step, a display
is generated showing-the entire wipe pattern along with other
information, including wiper arm (Fig. 21).
RESET At this point, the designer is again given one last chance
MAX. ARC RADIUS = XXX
Fig. 19 - R. H. radius and axis point location
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10

to approve or reject his final design by means of the following CHEVROLET WINDSHIELD WIPER
choice package. DESIGN PROGRAM
Data Acquisition
REVISE SELECT WIPER MECHANISM
1. Transmission Axis 1. Nonarticulated L. H. & R. H.
2. Max. Blade Arc Radius 2. Articulated L. H. - Non R. H.
3. Overlap at Widow's Peak Check Total & Wiped Area
4. Centerline of Blade - Start Wipe DONE RESET
5. Offset to DLO - Start Wipe
6. R. H. Pattern OK - Continue After selecting the number two option, the following
7. Terminate choice package will be displayed so that the designer can
DONE RESET select the type of job h e will be processing.

ARTICULATED LEFT HAND, NONARTICULATED RIGHT-
HAND WITH DEPRESSED PARK - Much like the nonarticulated
wiper system, this system also closely parallels the manual
method of design. Deviations from the manual method will
be explained as they occur. The CGDS method will again
be explained in its entirety.
The starting point for this system is the same choice-
package as was used in the nonarticulated wiper system.
MADE ANGLE OK
WIPE ANGLE =XXXX
( BLADE TO AXIS PT. = XXX
TYPE OF JOB
New Job
Continue or Revise L. H.
Continue or Revise R. H.
DONE RESET
Selection of option one above causes the program to zero
several internal elements. Options two and three are r e -
quired in case a job is interrupted while in progress. Assuming
a new job, the program always starts with the left-hand pat-
tern and creates a display of the selected information from
data acquisition (Fig. 22).
After modifing or accepting the input data, another dis-
play similar to Fig. 22 will appear. This display differs
from Fig. 22 in that it includes a one inch offset to the DLO
and a request to define a point for the lower blade point in
the outboard position. The designer actually selects this
point from the screen with the voltage pencil (Fig. 23).

SELECTED DATA

Fig. 20 - Outboard angle selection display

WIPE ANGLE = XXXXLH. XXXXR.H.

MAX. BLADE ARC RADIUS = XXXXLH. XXXXR.H. Fig. 22 - Starting selected information
( BLADE TO AXIS PT. - XXXXLH. XXXXR.H.
BLADE LENGTH = XXX

DEFINE PT.—LWR BLADE PT.

Fig. 21 - Complete wipe pattern L. H. and R. H. Fig. 23 - L. H'. lower blade point selected
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11

The next requested information is the blade length. The The pivot block is the mechanical component connecting
"voltage pencil and the keyboard enter this parameter. Using the center point of the blade with the wiper arm and the
the selected lower blade point as the center, an arc of blade articulating link. Fig. 26 shows the pivot block and the c o -
length is described (Fig. 24). From Fig. 24, the designer ordinate system used to define the horizontal and vertical
selects a point on the arc to be the upper blade point, thus offsets.
designing the centerline of the blade in the outboard wipe The next choice package, identical to the nonarticulated
position. To assess the correctness of this location, a dis- package, requests the location of the transmission axis point.
play shows the input background and the centerline of the
DEFINE TRANSMISSION AXIS POINT
blade in the outboard position. It also shows points at the
ends and center of the blade (Fig. 25). DLO Offset
The following is another choice package that enables the Distance Outboard
designer to make his next judgment decision: DONE RESET
A display now generates the background data, the center-
REVISE OUTBOARD BLADE
line of the blade in outboard position, the arm and drag points
1. Lower Blade Point in outboard position, and the transmission axis point. An
2. Blade Length opportunity is also given to revise the transmission axis point
3. Upper Blade Point if desired (Fig. 27).
4. Blade OK - Continue Continuing the execution of the program, the blade to
DONE RESET DLO offset in the park position must now be input by means
of the voltage pencil and keyboard. Because this is a de-
The selection of any of the first three options will return
pressed park system, the offset below the DLO is considered
the program to the point chosen. Design development will
positive. To check all inputs to date, a display is now pre-
then restart from the point selected. Selection of option
sented. This display shows all background information that
four advances the computer processing to the next choice
was generated to date. The data include the offset to the
package.
DLO in park position with the pivot block and the center-
DEFINE PIVOT BLOCK POINTS RELATIVE TO line of blade in the park position. The closest point on the
BLADE CENTERLINE blade is equal to the DLO offset. In addition to the above
information, a correction arc is displayed at the toe end of
1. Arm Point - Horizontal Offset
the blade, using the end of the arm in park position at cen-
2. Arm Point - Vertical Offset
ter, to allow for blade angle correction. The display also
3. Drag Point - Horizontal Offset
shows the complete arc generated by the arm point from the
4. Drag Point - Vertical Offset outboard wipe through the park position (Fig. 28).
DONE. RESET

HORIZONTAL + -O-
{ OF BLADE
DEFINE PT. UPP. BLADE PT. ARTICULATING LINK ATTACHING POINT
ATTACHING POINT

ARM ATTACHING POINT

VERTICAL

Fig. 26 - Pivot block and coordinate system

Fig. 24 - L. H. upper blade point selection

Fig. 25 - L. H. centerline of blade, outboard wipe Fig. 27 - L. H. transmission axis point input
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At this time, an opportunity is afforded the designer to
change his park position. If it is not correct, he merely de-
fines a point on the correction arc as his new offset and the
design is recalculated. If it is correct the program continues.
The program next requests the drag pin offset from trans-
mission axis in order to locate the articulating link tie down
point. Again, to check correctness another display is gen-
erated. Everything to date is shown including the arc gen-
erated by using the transmission axis point as center and a
radius equal to the drag pin offset. With this information
the program can calculate the drag pin point (Fig. 29).
The end points of the drag pin arc are connected and a
perpendicular bisector is established internally to determine
if the drag pin offset arc is intersected. If the arc is inter-
sected, the drag pin point has been located. If there is no
intersection a new offset must be entered. A choice package
gives this capability.
REVISE DRAG PIN OFFSET
Yes
No
DONE RESET
If a change in the offset is required, it is possible to inter-
rogate the program as to the amount of change required.
When satisfied with the drag pin offset, the next phase
will cause the program to increment, in 10 deg steps, the
blade through its complete articulated travel. As this iter-
ation is taking place the program is also checking the dis-
Fig. 28 - L. H. blade in park position
IS DRAG PIN PT. ON ARC
Fig. 29 - Drag pin, point location
12
tance between the heel point and the centerline of the arm,
to determine if this distance ever becomes less than the
horizontal offset of the arm point on the pivot block. This
check is included because experience has shown that, if this
condition occurs, trouble might be imminent. If the checked
dimension ever becomes less than what it should be, a display
of the blade centerline in park position, outboard position,
and current calculated position, is shown. Included also, is
the centerline of the arm in current calculated position
(Fig. 30).
The label on this display informs the designer that the
end of blade is less than the horizontal offset from the center-
line of the arm. It also tells htai how many degrees from
the park position the failure has occurred and what the di-
mension is. The next choice package gives the designer the
option to continue or revise the input.
Continue - Articulated Calculation
Revise input and recalculate
DONE RESET
Assuming that the pattern is acceptable or, revised to be
acceptable, Fig. 31 shows the complete left-hand wiper
pattern from park position to outboard wipe position. Besides
all information established to date, the display also shows
the location of the toe, heel, center poii#'of the blade arcs,
END OF BLADE IS LESS THAN XXX
FROM t OF ARM AT XXX DEGREES FROM PARK POS.
ACTUAL DISTANCE = XXX ^ ^ \ "
Fig. 30 - Articulated pattern to check failure, park position
TOTAL LH. WIPER PATTERN
Fig. 31 - Complete L. H. wipe pattern, park to outboard
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13

and the path generated by the articulated link. The designer The development of the nonarticulated right hand pattern
can again accept or reject the design by exercising an option to accompany the left-hand pattern just produced, is very
from the following choice package: similar to the development of the right-hand pattern in the
first part of this section. The first choice must designate
REVISE
the type of job.
1. Outboard Blade Position Brand New Job
2. Pivot Block Points Revise Old R. H. Pattern
3r Transmission Axis Point DONE RESET
4. Park Blade Position
The transmission axis point is the next parameter required.
5. Drag Pin Offset
This location is entered with the voltage pencil.
CONTINUE
6. Determine Start Wipe Position DEFINE R. H. TRANSMISSION AXIS POINT

If any change is required, the program will return to the DLO Offset
point selected and re-compute. If no change is required, Distance Outboard
the program and the designer must calculate the start-wipe DONE RESET
position. The end of the blade (heel) to lower DLO start- Following the established procedure, the next input is
Afipe position must be input with the voltage pencil and key- the maximum arc blade radius.
board.
The input start-wipe position is also checked to determine DEFINE MAXIMUM ARC BLADE RADIUS
if the distance between the heel point and the center line 1. Equal L. H. from Upper DLO
of the arm is less than the horizontal offset of the arm point 2. Input Maximum Radius
on the pivot block. If the check fails, a display is given DONE RESET
(Fig. 32).
The widow's peak overlap of the right-hand pattern over
Accompanying this display is the choice:
the left-hand pattern is input with the voltage pencil and
Revise Wiper Pattern keyboard. To verify the right hand wipe pattern up to this
Continue Job point, a display is presented. This display depicts the DLO,
DONE REVISE the DLO offset, the eye range contours, the left hand trans-
mission axis point, the toe and heel paths of the left hand,
After the acceptance of the start-wipe position, a display and the center line of the blade in park. The display also
is generated. The display shows the complete left hand wipe shows the start-wipe and outboard position for the left hand,
pattern with the addition of the centerline of the blade and the transmission axis point for the right hand, and the right
the arm in the start-wipe position. The label also gives the hand maximum arc radius cutoff at the widow's peak overlap
wipe angle and the park angle (Fig. 33). The last chance point (Fig. 34).
to make a change is provided by the following final choice
If the designer is dissatisfied with the design after ob-
package for left-hand wipe pattern.
serving this display, he may alter it with the following choice
CONTINUE WHICH STEP package:
REVISE
Revise L. H. Pattern
Develop R. H. Pattern 1. Transmission Axis Point
~ TERMINATE 2. Maximum Arc Radius
DONE RESET 3. Pattern Overlap
Continue - Job OK~
END OF BLADE IS LESS THAN .XX DONE RESET
FROM { ARM AT THE CALC. START WIPE POS.
ACTUAL DISTANCE = .XXX WIPE AN6LE = XXX DEGREES
PARK ANGLE = XXX DEGREES

Fig. 32 - Articulated pattern to check failure, start wipe Fig. 33 - Complete L. H. wipe pattern including start wipe
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14

Because this is a depressed park system, it is required that SECTION VII - CALCULATION OF
the offset of the center line of the blade to the lower DLO ACTUAL WIPED AREA
in park position be input. Also required is the offset of the
centerline of the blade to transmission axis point. These With the completion of the wiper pattern, whether it be
entries are made with the voltage pencil and keyboard. Again articulated or not, the next requirement is the calculation of
the right blade length is equal to the left hand blade length. the actual area wiped by the pattern just designed. This
The next choice package will establish the start wipe point area check is the main objective of the whole CGDS system;
on the right side. it is here that compliance with Motor Vehicle Safety Stan-
dards (MVSS) is established. The MVSS requires that set
1. Set R. H. Park Angle = L. H. percentages of the three eye range total areas be wiped.
2. Input Dimension End of Blade Section VII describes how to calculate the total eye range
to DLO Start-Wipe contour area, the wiped area, and the percent of the total
DONE RESET area that the wiped area represents. The MVSS requires that
The above option completes all requirements for the 80% of the tertiary area, 94% of the secondary area, and 99%
right-hand wipe pattern and the final display will show the of the primary area be wiped.
completed picture. Labels will also enable the designer to The manual method of determining wiped area is quite
make left-hand to right-hand comparisons. These labels basic. Three passes over the proper lines with the planimeter
give L. H. and R. H. wipe angles and L. H. and R. H. park are averaged to determine the actual wiped area. The per-
angles (Fig. 35). centage is calculated by comparing the wiped area figure
The following final choice package allows for the a c - with the planimeter average of the eye range contour area.
ceptance or rejection of the design even at this late stage of The CGDS approach begins with the choice package which
development. is the starting point for both wiper systems described in this
paper. At this time the "Check Total & Wiped Area" option
REVISE is selected. The next package allows for the determination
1. Transmission Axis Point of the area to be calculated.
2. Maximum Blade Arc Radius
DETERMINE TOTAL AND WIPED
3. Overlap at Widow's Peak
AREA FOR
4. Centerline Blade to DLO -
Park Position (Select One)
5. Centerline Blade to Axis Point Primary
6. Blade to DLO - Start Wipe Secondary
7. R. H. Pattern OK - Continue Tertiary
8. Terminate or
DONE RESET Area Calculation Complete
DONE RESET
At any time during the design of any system it is possible
to generate a punched paper tape which, when played on an With the selection of any of the first three options above,
automatic drafting machine, can draw any of the displays a display is generated which will show: the one inch DLO
that have been mentioned. In fact, all drawings in this paper offset, if required, the proper eye range contour area which
were generated by this method and scaled down to fit this was selected, and the wiper lines which apply to the selected
paper. area.

MAX. ARC RADIUS = XXX WIPE ANGLE = XXXXLH. XXXXK.H.

PARK ANGLE = XXXX L.H. XXXX R.H.

Fig. 34 - R. H. transmission axis point and maximum arc

blade radius Fig. 35 - Complete pattern for L. H. Articulated and R. H.
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15

-TERTIARY AREA-A -TERTIARY AREA-A-

SELECT LINES TOTAL AREA
CLOCKWISE DIRECTION ONLY

Fig. 38 - Selected wiped area lines

TERTIARY AREA-A

Fig. 36 - Area calculation required lines TOTAL AREA = XXX.XXX

WIPED AREA = XXXXXX
PER CENT WIPED = XX.XX
-TERTIARY AREA-A REOD. PER CENT WIPED = 80

Fig. 39 - Completed area information

Fig. 37 - Selected total area lines
The label accompanying this display tells the designer
what area he has selected. It also asks that h e select, in a
clockwise direction, the lines required to determine the
total area (Fig. 36).
Another display is now generated to assure the designer
that the lines selected to make up the area are correct (Fig.
37). The following choice package allows for the continuation
of the program or an opportunity to select new lines.
SELECTED TOTAL AREA LINES
Yes
No
DONE
The program will now internally calculate the total area,
store this information, and then return to the display shown
in Fig. 36. The label will be the only thing changed. At
this t i m e , the program will request selected lines for the
wiped area.
The next display and choice package helps determine
the correctness of the lines selected for the wiped area (Fig.
38)
' SELECTED LINES OK
Yes
No
DONE
The program will now compute and generate a final dis-
P l a y- rhe generated display will depict the lines which
show the total area and the wiped area. The total area is
d r a w n i n d a s h e d l i n e s t h e w i e d a r e a is d r a w n i n
: P solid lines,
The
accompanying label gives the following information:
«M.A
Total Area
Wiped Area
Percent Wiped =
Required Percent Wiped =
From this information, compliance can be determined.
At this point, the program returns to the area selection choice
RESET
package to calculate the next area (Fig. 39).
REFERENCES
1. Eric Norton, "Design of Production Windshields With
Computer Graphics." Paper 690193 presented at SAE Auto-
motive Engineering Congress, Detroit, January 1969.
2. James F. Meldrum, "Automobile Driver Eye Position."
SAE Transactions, Vol. 74 (1966), paper 650464.
3. SAE Recommended Practice, "Passenger Car Windshield
Wiper Systems," SAE J903a.
4. SAE Recommended Practice, "Passenger Car Driver's
RESET Eye Range," SAE J941.

This paper is subject to revision. Statements and opinions been edited by SAE for uniform styling and format. Discussion will be printed
advanced in papers or discussion are the author's and are with the paper if it is published in SAE Transactions. For permission to publish
his responsibility, not the Society's; however, the paper has this paper in full or in part, contact the SAE Publications Division and the
authors.
Society of Automotive Engineers, Inc. 16 page booklet. Printed in U, S. A.