Wiper control mechanism

• US 10,479,322 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2016
• Issued: 11/19/2019
• 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 A
• Application Number:
  US15/170,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20160272155A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 454 75, 180 538, 2392841
• 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

An arrangement to reduce refreezing of meltable snow includes a wiper arm configured to wipe the meltable snow from an ambient-facing surface of a window positioned on a vehicle. The arrangement also includes a sensor coupled to the wiper arm that is configured to gather and transmit a parameter on the vehicle and environment. The arrangement also includes a processor that is configured to receiving the parameter, determining refreezability of the meltable snow based on the parameter, and defining an action to be performed by the wiper arm.

Claims

1. A system to prevent melting of refreezable-meltable snow deposited on an ambient-facing surface of a window positioned on a vehicle, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensors configured to collect a plurality of parameters; and

at least one processor configured to;

predict the melting of the refreezable-meltable snow based on the plurality of parameters; and

actuate a blower to cool the window to a temperature based on the prediction of the melting of the refreezable-meltable snow that prevents the melting of the refreezable-meltable snow.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of parameters is selected from the group comprising actual window temperature, climate control settings of the vehicle, window moisture sensor feedback, vehicle external temperature, vehicle internal temperature, solar radiation intensity at the vehicle, vehicle orientation, snow precipitation type, snow precipitation intensity, wind speed, and ambient temperature.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of parameters is gathered based on an input from a camera installed on the vehicle.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the predicting is based on an input from a camera installed on the vehicle.

5. The system according to claim 1 further comprising an actuator actuable by a user of the vehicle to request termination of the blower.

6. The system according to claim 5 further comprising a timer coupled to the actuator, wherein the user configures the timer for the termination of the blower.

7. A method to prevent melting of refreezable-meltable snow deposited on an ambient-facing surface of a window positioned on a vehicle, the method comprising:

configuring a plurality of sensors to gather a plurality of parameters;

predicting, by a processor, the melting of the refreezable-meltable snow based on the plurality of parameters; and

actuating, by the processor, a blower to cool the window to a temperature based on the prediction of the melting of the refreezable-meltable snow that prevents the melting of the refreezable-meltable snow.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of parameters is selected from the group comprising actual window temperature, climate control settings of the vehicle, window moisture sensor feedback, vehicle external temperature, vehicle internal temperature, solar radiation intensity at the vehicle, vehicle orientation, snow precipitation type, snow precipitation intensity, wind speed, and ambient temperature.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the plurality of parameters is gathered based on an input from a camera installed on the vehicle.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the predicting is based on an input from a camera installed on the vehicle.

11. The method according to claim 7 further comprising an actuator actuable by a user of the vehicle to request termination of the blower.

12. The method according to claim 11 further comprising a timer coupled to the actuator, wherein the user configures the timer for the termination of the blower.