Apparatus and a method for controlling wiper
First Claim
1. An apparatus for controlling a wiper comprising:
- a detecting means for detecting an amount of rain positioned thereon, said detecting means outputting a detected rain signal, the detected rain signal corresponding to the detected amount of rain positioned on said detecting means after the wiper wipes out water deposited on said detecting means;
a first comparator means for comparing the detected rain signal with a first predetermined signal, the first predetermined signal corresponding to a first predetermined amount of drops of water, said first comparator means 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 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;
an actuator means for actuating the wiper in accordance with receipt of the first output signal 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;
a second comparator means for comparing the detected rain signal with a second predetermined signal, the second predetermined signal corresponding to a second predetermined amount of drops of water, said second comparator means 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 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;
a timer means for receiving the actuating output signal outputted from the actuator means, and for producing a first clock signal when the wiper returns to an initial position, the first clock signal having a first time period, said timer means receiving a change output signal, and producing a second clock signal having a second time period;
a memory means for receiving said second output signal and the first and second clock signals and for memorizing said second output signal, said memory means reproducing said memorized second output signal during the first time period after the wiper wipes out the water deposited onsaid detecting means in accordance with receipt of the first clock signal, said memory means reproducing said memorized second output signal during the second time period after the wiper wipes out the water deposited on said detecting means in accordance with receipt of the second clock signal; and
a changing means for receiving the memorized second output signal and for producing the change output signal for changing the wiping speed of the wiper at a time when the wiper returns to the initial position thereof in accordance with receipt of the memorized second output signal reproduced from the memory means.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for controlling a wiper which detects the amount of rain positioned on a rain sensor regardless of the wiping speed of wipers and which smoothly moves the wipers at different wiping speeds in accordance with the detected amount of rain. The apparatus for controlling the wiper includes the rain sensor, a first comparator, an actuator, a second comparator, a timer, a memory and a changing device. The rain sensor is located on an exterior surface of a front windshield of a vehicle and detects the amount of rain which is positioned on the rain sensor. The wiper wipes off an exterior surface of the front windshield and moves from and returns to an initial position.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling a wiper comprising:
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a detecting means for detecting an amount of rain positioned thereon, said detecting means outputting a detected rain signal, the detected rain signal corresponding to the detected amount of rain positioned on said detecting means after the wiper wipes out water deposited on said detecting means; a first comparator means for comparing the detected rain signal with a first predetermined signal, the first predetermined signal corresponding to a first predetermined amount of drops of water, said first comparator means 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 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; an actuator means for actuating the wiper in accordance with receipt of the first output signal 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; a second comparator means for comparing the detected rain signal with a second predetermined signal, the second predetermined signal corresponding to a second predetermined amount of drops of water, said second comparator means 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 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; a timer means for receiving the actuating output signal outputted from the actuator means, and for producing a first clock signal when the wiper returns to an initial position, the first clock signal having a first time period, said timer means receiving a change output signal, and producing a second clock signal having a second time period; a memory means for receiving said second output signal and the first and second clock signals and for memorizing said second output signal, said memory means reproducing said memorized second output signal during the first time period after the wiper wipes out the water deposited onsaid detecting means in accordance with receipt of the first clock signal, said memory means reproducing said memorized second output signal during the second time period after the wiper wipes out the water deposited on said detecting means in accordance with receipt of the second clock signal; and a changing means for receiving the memorized second output signal and for producing the change output signal for changing the wiping speed of the wiper at a time when the wiper returns to the initial position thereof in accordance with receipt of the memorized second output signal reproduced from the memory means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. An apparatus for controlling a wiper comprising:
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a detecting means for detecting an amount of rain positioned thereon, the wiper wiping out water deposited on 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, said detecting means outputting a detected rain signal, the detected rain signal corresponding to the detected amount of rain positioned on said detecting means after the wiper wipes out water deposited on said detecting means; a first comparator means for comparing the detected, rain signal with a first predetermined signal, the first predetermined signal corresponding to a first predetermined amount of drops of water, said first comparator means 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, the first output signal having selectively a first logic level or a second logic level, 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 the 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 the second logic level; an actuator means, connected to said first comparator means, for producing an actuating output signal and actuating the wiper at a first wiping speed from an initial position of the wiper when the first output singal has the first logic level; a second comparator means for comparing the detected rain signal with a second predetermined signal, the second predetermined signal corresponding to a second predetermined amount of drops of water, said second comparator means determining if 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, said second output signal having selectively the first logic level or the second logic level, whereby the second output signal has the first logic level 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, 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; a timer means for receiving the actuating output signal, and for producing a first clock signal when the wiper returns to the initial position, the first clock signal having a first time period, said timer means receiving a change output signal, and producing a second clock signal when the wiper returns to the initial portion, the second clock signal having a second time period; a memory means for receiving said second output signal and the first and second clock signals and for memorizing said second output signal, said memory means reproducing said memorized second output signal during the first time period after the wiper wipes out the water deposited on said detecting means in accordance with receipt of the first clock signal, said memory means reproducing said memorized second output signal during the second time period after the wiper wipes out the water deposited on said detecting means in accordance with the receipt of the second clock signal; and a changing means for receiving the memorized second output signal and for producing the change output signal for changing the wiping speed of the wiper at a time when the wiper returns to the initial position thereof in accordance with receipt of the memorized second output signal reproduced from the memory means. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus for controlling a wiper comprising:
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a detecting means for detecting an amount of rain positioned thereon, said detecting means being located on a windshield, the wiper wiping out water deposited on said detecting means, and moving from and returning to an initial position, said detecting means outputting a detected rain signal, the detected rain signal corresponding to the detected amount of rain positioned on said detecting means after the wiper wipes out water deposited on said detecting means; a first comparator means for comparing the detected rain signal with a first predetermined signal, the first predetermined signal corresponding to a first predetermined amount of drops of water, said first comparator means 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; an actuator means, said actuator means being connected to said first comparator means for actuating 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 an initial position of the wiper; a position detecting means for detecting the position of the wiper and for producing a position signal when the wiper is positioned at the initial position; a second comparator means for comparing the detected rain signal with a second predetermined signal, the second predetermined signal corresponding to a second predetermined amount of drops of water, said second comparator means 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; a timer means for receiving the actuating output signal, and for producing a first clock signal so that when the position detecting means produces the position signal, the first clock signal is produced, the first clock signal having a first time period, said timer means receiving a change output signal, and producing a second clock signal when the wiper returns to the initial portion, the second clock signal having a second time period; a memory means for receiving said second output signal and the first and second clock signals and for memorizing the second output signal, said memory means reproducing said memorized second output signal during the first time period after the wiper wipes out the water deposited on said detecting means in accordance with receipt of the first clock signal, said memory means reproducing said memorized second output signal during the second time period after the wiper wipes out the water deposited on said detecting means in accordance with receipt of the second clock signal; and a changing means for receiving the memorized second output signal and for producing the change output signal for changing the wiping speed of the wiper at a time when the position detecting means produces the position signal in accordance with receipt of the memorized second output signal reproduced by the memory means. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for controlling a wiper comprising:
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detecting an amount of rain positioned on a detecting means, said detecting means being located on a windshield, the wiper wiping out water deposited on said detecting means and moving from and returning to an initial position, said detecting means outputting a detected rain signal, the detected rain signal corresponding to the detected amount of rain positioned on said detecting means after the wiper wipes out water deposited on said detecting means; comparing the detected rain signal with a first predetermined signal, the first predetermined signal corresponding to 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 actuating the wiper at a first wiping speed in accordance with receipt of the first output signal; comparing the detected rain signal with a second predetermined signal, the second predetermined signal corresponding to 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; producing first and second clock signals when the wiper is in said initial position, the first clock signal having a first time period and the second clock signal having a second time period; memorizing the second output signal; reproducing the memorized second output signal during the first time period after the wiper wipes out the water deposited on said detecting means in accordance with receipt of the first clock signal, or during the second time period after the wiper wipes out the water deposited on said detecting means in accordance with receipt of the second clock signal; and producing a change output signal for changing the wiping speed of the wiper at a time when the wiper returns to the initial position thereof in accordance with receipt of the memorized second output signal. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification