Apparatus and a method for controlling a windshield wiper
First Claim
1. An apparatus for controlling a wiper comprising:
- detecting means for detecting an amount of rain;
first comparator means for comparing the detected amount of rain with a first predetermined amount of drops of water and for determining if the detected amount of rain is equal to or greater than the first predetermined amount of drops of water, wherein when said first comparator means determines that the detected amount of rain is equal to or greater than the first predetermined amount of drops of water, said first comparator means outputs a first output signal, said first output signal having a first logic level;
actuator means for actuating the wiper in accordance with receipt of the first output signal so that when said actuation means receives the first output signal, said actuator means produces an actuating output signal and starts to move the wiper at a first wiping speed from an initial position of the wiper;
second comparator means for comparing the detected amount of rain with a second predetermined amount of drops of water and for determining if the detected amount of rain is equal to or greater than the second predetermined amount of drops of water, wherein when said second comparator means determines that the detected amount of rain is equal to or greater than the second predetermined amount of drops of water, said second comparator means produces a second output signal;
memory means for memorizing an output signal from said second comparator means and for reproducing said memorized output signal; and
changing means for producing a change output signal and for changing a wiping speed of the wiper at a time when the wiper starts to move from an initial position thereof in accordance with the memorized output signal reproduced from the memory means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and a method for controlling a wiper which smoothly starts to move the wipers at different wiping speeds from an initial position thereof in accordance with a detected amount of rain. The apparatus includes a sensor, a first comparator, an actuator, a second comparator, a memory and a changing device.
The sensor detects the amount of rain. The memory memorizes the second actuating signal outputted from the second comparator and the memory outputs the memorized signal. The changing device for changing the wiping speed of the wiper at the time when the wiper starts to move from the initial position in accordance with a memorized second actuating signal outputted from the memory at the time when the wiper starts to move from the initial position, the changing device changes a low wiping speed of the wiper to a high wiping speed or a high wiping speed of the wiper to a low wiping speed.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling a wiper comprising:
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detecting means for detecting an amount of rain; first comparator means for comparing the detected amount of rain with a first predetermined amount of drops of water and for determining if the detected amount of rain is equal to or greater than the first predetermined amount of drops of water, wherein when said first comparator means determines that the detected amount of rain is equal to or greater than the first predetermined amount of drops of water, said first comparator means outputs a first output signal, said first output signal having a first logic level; actuator means for actuating the wiper in accordance with receipt of the first output signal so that when said actuation means receives the first output signal, said actuator means produces an actuating output signal and starts to move the wiper at a first wiping speed from an initial position of the wiper; second comparator means for comparing the detected amount of rain with a second predetermined amount of drops of water and for determining if the detected amount of rain is equal to or greater than the second predetermined amount of drops of water, wherein when said second comparator means determines that the detected amount of rain is equal to or greater than the second predetermined amount of drops of water, said second comparator means produces a second output signal; memory means for memorizing an output signal from said second comparator means and for reproducing said memorized output signal; and changing means for producing a change output signal and for changing a wiping speed of the wiper at a time when the wiper starts to move from an initial position thereof in accordance with the memorized output signal reproduced from the memory means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for controlling a wiper comprising:
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detecting means for detecting an amount of rain positioned thereon, the wiper moving across said detecting means, the wiper moving from and returning to an initial position, said detecting means being located in the vicinity of an apex of movement of the wiper; first comparator means for comparing the detected amount of rain positioned on said detecting means, after the wiper move across said detecting means, with a first predetermined amount of drops of water and for determining if the detected amount of rain is equal to or greater than the first predetermined amount of drops of water, said first comparator means producing a first output signal whereby when said first comparator means determines the detected amount of rain is equal to or greater than the first predetermined amount of drops of water, the first output signal has a first logic level, and when the first comparator means determines the detected amount of rain is less than the first predetermined amount of drops of water, the first output signal has a second logic level; actuator means, connected to said first comparator means, for producing a first actuating output signal and starting to move the wiper at a first wiping speed from an initial position of the wiper when the first actuating output signal has the first logic level; second comparator means for comparing the detected amount of rain positioned on said detecting means, after the wiper moves across said detecting means with a second predetermined amount of drops of water, and for determining if the detected amount of rain is equal to or greater than the second predetermined amount of drops of water, whereby said second comparator means produces a second output signal which has the first logic level when said second comparator means determines the detected amount of rain is equal to or greater than the second predetermined amount of drops of water, and when said second comparator means determines the detected amount of rain is less than the second predetermined amount of drops of water, said second comparator means produces the second output signal which has the second logic level; memory means for memorizing said second output signal and for reproducing said memorized second output signal; and changing means for producing a change output signal and for changing the wiping speed of the wiper at a time when the wiper starts to move from the initial position thereof in accordance with the memorized second output signal reproduced from the memory means.
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15. An apparatus for controlling wiper comprising:
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detecting means for detecting an amount of rain; first comparator means for comparing the detected amount of rain positioned on said detecting means with a first predetermined amount of drops of water, and for determining if the detected amount of rain is equal to or greater than the first predetermined amount of drops of water, so that when said first comparator means determines the detected amount of rain is equal to or greater than the first predetermined amount of drops of water, said first comparator means produces a first output signal, the first output signal having a first logic level; actuator means, connected to said first comparator means for starting to move the wiper at a first wiping speed from an initial position of the wiper in accordance with receipt of the first output signal produced by said first comparator means, so that when said actuator means receives the first output signal, said actuator means produces an actuating output signal and actuates the wiper at a first wiping speed starting from the initial position of the wiper; means for detecting the position of the wiper and for producing a position signal when the wiper is positioned at the initial position; second comparator means for comparing the detected amount of rain positioned on said detecting means with a second predetermined amount of drops of water, and for determining if the detected amount of rain is equal to or greater than the second predetermined amount of drops of water, so that when said second comparator means determines the detected amount of rain is equal to or greater than the second predetermined amount of drops of water, said second comparator means produces a second output signal, the second output signal having the first logic level; memory means for memorizing the second output signal and for reproducing said memorized second output signal; and changing means for producing a change output signal and for changing the wiping speed of the wiper at a time when the wiper starts to move from the initial position thereof in accordance with the memorized second output signal reproduced by the memory means. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A method for controlling a wiper comprising:
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detecting an amount of rain; comparing the detected amount of rain with a first predetermined amount of drops of water; producing a first output signal when the detected amount of rain is equal to or greater than the first predetermined amount of drops of water; producing an actuating signal and starting to move the wiper at a first wiping speed from an initial position of the wiper in accordance with receipt of the first output signal; comparing the detected amount of rain with a second predetermined amount of drops of water; producing a second output signal when the detected amount of rain is equal to or greater than the second predetermined amount of drops of water; memorizing the second output signal; reproducing the memorized second output signal; and producing a change output signal and changing the wiping speed of the wiper at a time when the wiper starts to move from the initial position thereof in accordance with the reproduced second output signal. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification