METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE MELTING OF SNOW AND ICE FROM VEHICLE EXTERIORS
First Claim
1. An apparatus for melting snow on a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
- a precipitation sensor;
an ambient temperature sensor;
a surface temperature sensor;
a heater; and
a programmable controller to activate the heater, the programmable controller comprising;
a memory unit to store a cut off surface temperature, and a set of program modules, anda processor to execute the set of program modules, wherein the set of program modules comprises;
an input module, executed by the processor, configured to;
receive information regarding an ambient temperature outside the vehicle via the ambient temperature sensor,receive information regarding one of presence and absence of precipitation outside the vehicle, via the precipitation sensor, andreceive information regarding a surface temperature on an exterior portion of the vehicle via the surface temperature sensor; and
a heater control module, executed by the processor, configured to;
deactivate the heater based on the surface temperature being greater than the cut off surface temperature, andactivate the heater based on;
the ambient temperature being lower than a freezing point of water, andprecipitation outside the vehicle being present, thereby melting snow and/or ice on the vehicle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for melting snow and/or ice on a vehicle comprises a precipitation sensor, a surface temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, a heater, and a programmable controller. The programmable controller comprises a memory unit to store a cut off surface temperature Tc, and a set of program modules. The programmable controller further comprises a processor to execute the set of program modules. A heater control module, executed by the processor, is configured to deactivate a heater based on a surface temperature being greater than the cut off surface temperature. Further, heater control module is configured to activate the heater based on an ambient temperature being lower than freezing point of water and precipitation being present outside the vehicle, thereby melting snow and/or ice on the vehicle. The snow melts off because of heat generated by the heater upon activation.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. An apparatus for melting snow on a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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a precipitation sensor; an ambient temperature sensor; a surface temperature sensor; a heater; and a programmable controller to activate the heater, the programmable controller comprising; a memory unit to store a cut off surface temperature, and a set of program modules, and a processor to execute the set of program modules, wherein the set of program modules comprises; an input module, executed by the processor, configured to; receive information regarding an ambient temperature outside the vehicle via the ambient temperature sensor, receive information regarding one of presence and absence of precipitation outside the vehicle, via the precipitation sensor, and receive information regarding a surface temperature on an exterior portion of the vehicle via the surface temperature sensor; and a heater control module, executed by the processor, configured to; deactivate the heater based on the surface temperature being greater than the cut off surface temperature, and activate the heater based on; the ambient temperature being lower than a freezing point of water, and precipitation outside the vehicle being present, thereby melting snow and/or ice on the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of melting snow off of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
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storing in a memory unit, a cut off surface temperature, and a set of program modules; receiving, by a processor executing an input module, information regarding an ambient temperature outside the vehicle, from a ambient temperature sensor; receiving, by the processor executing the input module, information regarding one of presence and absence of precipitation outside the vehicle, from the precipitation sensor; receiving, by the processor executing the input module, information regarding a surface temperature on an exterior portion of the vehicle, from the surface temperature sensor; deactivating, by the processor executing a heater control module, the heater based on the surface temperature being greater than the cut off surface temperature; and activating the heater, by the processor executing the heater control module, based on; the ambient temperature being lower than a freezing point of water, and precipitation outside the vehicle being present, thereby melting the snow from the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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Specification