Control for a moisture sensor
First Claim
1. A moisture sensing control for use with a window to detect and indicate the presence of moisture on a surface of said window, said control comprising:
- first moisture sensing means for sensing the presence of moisture on said window, said first moisture sensing means including means for producing a first moisture signal that is a function of the moisture and means for processing said first moisture signal to provide a first indication when moisture is present;
second moisture sensing means for sensing the presence of moisture on said window, said second moisture sensing means including means for producing a second moisture signal that is a function of the moisture and means for processing said second moisture signal to produce a second indication when moisture is present; and
inhibiting means for inhibiting one of said first and second moisture sensing means from processing a moisture signal when the other one of said first and second moisture sensing means is producing its associated moisture signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control for a moisture sensing assembly, adapted for mounting on the inner surface of a vehicle window or windshield to control vehicle accessories such as windshield wipers, maximizes the window area being sensed in relationship to the size of the assembly and provides immunity to interference from environmental influences. In the preferred embodiment, moisture on the outer window surface is detected by first and second moisture sensors each including infrared energy radiating diodes and radiant energy detectors which detect and process radiant energy to produce a moisture signal that is a function of the moisture on the window. A synchronizing circuit intermittently actuates the radiating diode for the two sensors individually and alternatingly at equally-spaced intervals. The synchronizing circuit also inhibits the radiant energy detectors from processing the radiant energy signal except when the corresponding radiating diodes are emitting energy in order to prevent interference from the other radiating diodes and environmental influences. The synchronizing circuit includes a pair of oscillators which include capacitors and coupling devices that coordinate the discharging of the capacitors in a manner which provides equal intervals between alternating output pulses from the oscillators.
-
Citations
35 Claims
-
1. A moisture sensing control for use with a window to detect and indicate the presence of moisture on a surface of said window, said control comprising:
-
first moisture sensing means for sensing the presence of moisture on said window, said first moisture sensing means including means for producing a first moisture signal that is a function of the moisture and means for processing said first moisture signal to provide a first indication when moisture is present; second moisture sensing means for sensing the presence of moisture on said window, said second moisture sensing means including means for producing a second moisture signal that is a function of the moisture and means for processing said second moisture signal to produce a second indication when moisture is present; and inhibiting means for inhibiting one of said first and second moisture sensing means from processing a moisture signal when the other one of said first and second moisture sensing means is producing its associated moisture signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A moisture sensing control for use with a window to detect and indicate the presence of moisture on a surface of said window, said control comprising:
-
first moisture sensing means responsive to the presence of moisture on said window for producing a first moisture signal, said first moisture sensing means including first emitter means for emitting radiant energy toward the window and first detector means for detecting and processing the radiant energy from said first emitter means; second moisture sensing means responsive to the presence of moisture on said window for producing a second moisture signal, said second moisture sensing means including second emitter means for emitting radiant energy toward the window and second detector means for detecting and processing the radiant energy from said second emitter means; and circuit means for controlling said first and second moisture sensing means and for producing an output signal that is a function of moisture on said window, said circuit means including actuating means for intermittently actuating said first and second emitter means in a manner that said first and second emitter means individually emit said radiant energy; said circuit means further including inhibiting means for inhibiting the operation of said first detector means when said actuating means is actuating said second emitter means and for inhibiting the operation of said second detector means when said actuating means is actuating said first emitter means. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A moisture sensing control for use with a window to detect and indicate the presence of moisture on a surface of said window, said control comprising:
-
emitter means for intermittently emitting a signal in a manner that said signal is modified in response to moisture on said window; circuit means for periodically actuating said emitter means to emit said signal for a predetermined duration of time; detecting means for detecting and processing said signal to produce a moisture signal that is a function of said signal; and inhibiting means responsive to said circuit means for inhibiting said detecting means from detecting and processing said signal except during said duration when said emitter means is actuated by said circuit means to emit said signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. A moisture sensing control for use with a window to detect and indicate the presence of moisture on a surface of said window, said control comprising:
-
first emitter means for intermittently emitting a first signal in a manner that first signal is modified in response to the presence of on said window; first detecting means for detecting and processing said first signal and to produce a first moisture signal that is a function of said first signal; first inhibiting means responsive to said first emitter means for inhibiting said first detecting means from processing said first signal except when said first emitter means is emitting said first signal; second emitter means for emitting a second signal in a manner that said second signal is modified in response to the presence of moisture on said window; second detecting means for detecting and processing said second signal and to produce a second moisture signal that is a function of said second signal; second inhibiting means responsive to said second emitter means for inhibiting said second detecting means from processing said second signal except when said second emitter means is emitting said second signal; circuit means responsive to said first and second moisture signals for producing an output signal; and synchronizing means for causing said first and second emitter means to alternately and individually emit said first and second signals. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A moisture sensing control for use with a window to detect and indicate the presence of moisture on a surface of said window, said control comprising:
-
first emitter means for emitting a first signal in a manner that said first signal is modified in response to the presence of moisture on said window; second emitter means for emitting a second signal in a manner that said second signal is modified in response to the presence of moisture on said window; means responsive to said first and second signals for indicating the presence of moisture; synchronizing means for alternately causing said first and second emitter means to emit a signal, said synchronizing means including first oscillator means for intermittently causing one of said first and second emitter means to emit a signal and having a first capacitor, means for charging said first capacitor, first sensing means for sensing the charge on said first capacitor and first discharging means responsive to said first sensing means for discharging said first capacitor when the charge thereon increases to a first predetermined level; second oscillator means for intermittently causing the other of said first and second emitter means to emit a signal and having a second capacitor, means for charging said second capacitor, second sensing means for sensing the charge on said second capacitor and second discharging means responsive to said second sensing means for discharging said second capacitor when the charge thereon increases to a second predetermined level; first coupling means responsive to said first discharging means for partially discharging said second capacitor; and second coupling means responsive to said second discharging means for partially discharging said first capacitor. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
-
Specification