Wiper control mechanism

• US 10,150,449 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2013
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dangler, John R., Kidd, Thomas D.
• Primary Examiner(s): McAllister, Steven B
• Assistant Examiner(s): Probst, Samantha
• Application Number:
  US14/040,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20140149003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,900 Days
• Field of Search: 454 75
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00785 by the detection of humidity or frost
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00821 the components being ventilating, air admitting or air distributing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0822 characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0866 including a temperature sensor heating devices for windshield B60H
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0896 including control systems responsive to a vehicle driving condition, e.g. speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/66 for cleaning vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0236 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/84 Heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows, mirrors or vehicle windshields
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/86 the heating conductors being embedded in the transparent or reflecting material H05B3/845 takes precedence

Abstract

A method to reduce refreezing of meltable snow includes configuring a wiper arm to wipe the meltable snow from an ambient-facing surface of a window positioned on a vehicle. The method also includes configuring a sensor coupled to the wiper arm to gather and transmit a parameter on the vehicle and environment. The method also includes configuring a processor to receive the parameter, determine refreezability of the meltable snow based on the parameter, and define an action to be performed by the wiper arm.

Claims

1. A method to reduce refreezing of meltable snow deposited on an ambient-facing surface of a window positioned on a vehicle, wherein at least one wiper arm is configured to wipe the meltable snow off the ambient-facing surface of the window, and wherein at least one sensor is coupled to the at least one wiper arm, the at least one sensor configured to gather and transmit at least one parameter, the method comprising:

receiving the at least one parameter;

predicting a melting of the meltable snow and refreezability of the meltable snow based on the at least one parameter and a user-defined temperature threshold; and

performing an action to be performed by the at least one wiper arm based upon the predicting.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the defined action comprises engaging the at least one wiper arm to wipe the meltable snow off the window.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter is selected from the group comprising actual window temperature, predicted window temperature, recent driving history, window moisture sensor feedback, vehicle external temperature, vehicle internal temperature, vehicle type, vehicle internal color, vehicle external color, solar radiation intensity at the vehicle, vehicle orientation, snow precipitation type, snow precipitation intensity, wind speed, ambient temperature and parking location history.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter is gathered based on an input from a camera installed on the vehicle.

5. A method to reduce refreezing of meltable snow deposited on an ambient-facing surface of a window positioned on a vehicle, wherein at least one wiper arm is configured to wipe the meltable snow off the ambient-facing surface of the window, and wherein at least one sensor is coupled to the at least one wiper arm, the at least one sensor configured to gather and transmit at least one parameter, the method comprising:

receiving the at least one parameter;

predicting a melting of the meltable snow and refreezability of the meltable snow, and a wiping frequency of the at least one wiper arm based on the at least one parameter and a user-defined temperature threshold; and

enabling actuation of the at least one wiper arm to wipe the meltable snow off the windshield at the wiping frequency based upon the predicting.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the wiping frequency may range from one wiper cycle per minute for thirty minutes to three wiper cycles per minute for thirty minutes.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the wiping frequency is one wiper cycle per five minutes for one hour to three wiper cycles per five minutes for one hour.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the at least one parameter is selected from the group comprising actual window temperature, predicted window temperature, recent driving history, window moisture sensor feedback, vehicle external temperature, vehicle internal temperature, vehicle type, vehicle internal color, vehicle external color, solar radiation intensity at the vehicle, vehicle orientation, snow precipitation type, snow precipitation intensity, wind speed, ambient temperature and parking area history.

9. The method according to claim 5, wherein the at least one parameter is gathered based on an input from a camera installed on the vehicle.

10. The method according to claim 5 further comprising configuring a timer to determine a time period between two successive actuations of the at least one wiper arm.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the timer determines the time period between the two successive actuations of the at least one wiper arm within a selected time-out period of the timer.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the time period determined by the timer is based on the at least one parameter.

13. The method according to claim 10 further comprising an actuator actuable by a user of the vehicle to request termination of any one of the two successive actuations.