Rain sensor
First Claim
1. A windshield wiping assembly for use in a vehicle for selectively supplying power from a constantly available power source to a wiper means (14) for removing moisture from a window when moisture has collected, said assembly comprising;
- a window (12), wiper means (14) for removing moisture from said window (12), said assembly characterized by a wiping control circuit (16) including generating means (20,
120) for generating an electromagnetic field over a range of frequencies, passive circuit (18) means supported by said window (12) and having an initial self-resonant frequency in said range of frequencies and being responsive to moisture on said window (12) for shifting the resonant frequency away from said initial self-resonant frequency in proportion to the amount of moisture, detecting means (28,
128) for detecting coupling between said generating means (20,
120) and said passive circuit means (18) for producing a proportinal signal indicative of the degree of movement of the resonant frequency due to moisture away from said self-resonant frequency, and control means (30,
130) for actuating said wiper means (14) when said proportional signal exceeds a predetermined magnitude.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A rain sensor for selectively supplying power from a constantly available power source to a wiper means (14) to remove moisture from a vehicle window (12) when moisture has collected. A passive circuit (18) is supported on the window (12) and has an initial self-resonant frequency to sense moisture. A generating means (20,120) creates an electromagnetic field having a range of frequencies wherein the initial self-resonant frequency is within the range of frequencies. An moisture collects about the passive circuit (18), the resonant frequency of the passive circuit (18) shifts away from the initial self-resonant frequency, indicative of less coupling with the generating means (20,20). A detector (28,128) detects the coupling between the passive circuit (18) and the generating means (20,120) to actuate the wiper means (14) by a control means (30,130) when a predetermined decoupling magnitude is exceeded.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A windshield wiping assembly for use in a vehicle for selectively supplying power from a constantly available power source to a wiper means (14) for removing moisture from a window when moisture has collected, said assembly comprising;
- a window (12), wiper means (14) for removing moisture from said window (12), said assembly characterized by a wiping control circuit (16) including generating means (20,
120) for generating an electromagnetic field over a range of frequencies, passive circuit (18) means supported by said window (12) and having an initial self-resonant frequency in said range of frequencies and being responsive to moisture on said window (12) for shifting the resonant frequency away from said initial self-resonant frequency in proportion to the amount of moisture, detecting means (28,
128) for detecting coupling between said generating means (20,
120) and said passive circuit means (18) for producing a proportinal signal indicative of the degree of movement of the resonant frequency due to moisture away from said self-resonant frequency, and control means (30,
130) for actuating said wiper means (14) when said proportional signal exceeds a predetermined magnitude. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
- a window (12), wiper means (14) for removing moisture from said window (12), said assembly characterized by a wiping control circuit (16) including generating means (20,
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28. A control circuit for selectively supplying power from a constantly available pwoer source to an actuating means when moisture is detected, said control circuit comprising;
- a generating means for generating an electromagnetic field at a predetermined frequency, passive circuit means for support in spaced relationship to said generating means and having an initial self-resonant frequency equal to said predetermined frequency and being responsive to moisture adjacent thereto for shifting the resonant frequency away from said initial self-resonant resonant frequency in proportional to the amount of moisture, detecting means for detecting the magnitude of coupling between said generating means and said passive circuit means for producing a proportional signal indicative of the degree of shift of the resonant frequency due to moisture away from said initial self-resonant frequency, and control means for providing a signal to the actuating means when said proportional signal exceeds a predetermined magnitude.
- View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. A window assembly for use with a control circuit for generating an electromagnetic field and for indicating the amount of coupling between a passive circuit and the control circuit to actuate a moisture removal means, said assembly comprising;
- a window upon which moisture accumulates for support in an automative vehicle, a passive circuit means supported by said window having an initial self-resonant frequency and being responsive to moisture for shifting the resonant frequency away from the initial self-resonant frequency whereby the control circuit will detect the amount of coupling.
- View Dependent Claims (33, 34)
Specification