Method and apparatus for operating a rain sensor of a motor vehicle

• US 20030036859A1
• Filed: 08/06/2002
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Baitz, Andreas, Muller, Werner Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/213,937
• Publication Number:
  US 20030036859A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/45
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0818 including control systems responsive to external conditions, e.g. by detection of moisture, dirt or the like

Abstract

A method and apparatus for operating a rain sensor of a motor vehicle that is connected to an onboard wiring system, the rain sensor being supplied with current in cyclic intervals via a control device connected to the onboard wiring system.

Claims

1. A method for operating a rain sensor of a motor vehicle connected to the onboard wiring system comprising supplying a rain sensor with current in cyclic intervals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the cyclic current supply of the rain sensor is periodically time-modulated by a control circuit coordinated with a control device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the current supply of the rain sensor is controlled by at least one device-controlling subassembly via a data bus connected to a control device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the time interval in which the rain sensor is supplied with current is less than the time interval in which the rain sensor is not supplied with current.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said control device periodically switches the current supply on and off by means of a control circuit.

5. A device for operating a rain sensor of a motor vehicle comprising:

an onboard wiring system coupled to the rain sensor;

a control device coupled to said onboard wiring system; and

a switch controlled by said control device that switches a current supply to the rain sensor on and off.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein said switch and said control circuit are designed as semiconductor elements and form said control device as an integrated circuit.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein said control device is connected to at least one device-controlling subassembly for operating an electric motor via the data bus.