Moisture sensitive automatic windshield wiper and headlight control device

• US 5,027,001 A
• Filed: 08/29/1989
• Issued: 06/25/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 08/29/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William F. Torbert
• Original Assignee: William F. Torbert
• Inventors: Torbert, William F.
• Primary Examiner(s): DeBoer, Todd E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffery A.
• Application Number:
  US07/399,979
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 15/250.12, 15/250.13, 15/250.14, 15/250.17, 318/444, 318/DIG. 2, 315/77, 315/82, 315/83, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.8
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/143 combined with another condition, e.g. using vehicle recognition from camera images or activation of wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/052 Switching delay, i.e. the beam is not switched or changed instantaneously upon occurrence of a condition change
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2300/312 Adverse weather
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0822 characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0825 Capacitive rain sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0859 Other types of detection of rain, e.g. by measuring friction or rain drop impact
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0874 characterized by the position of the sensor on the windshield
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 318/02 Windshield wiper controls

Abstract

The invention is directed to an automatic system for activating vehicle headlights upon the actuation of a windshield wiper. The windshield wipers automatically begin a wiping cycle when moisture is sensed on a windshield. In the preferred embodiment, a moisture sensing device is strategically placed in the left-hand side of the windshield, at the end of a wiper blade track. When the windshield is no longer wet, the wiping cycle will stop and the headlights will remain on for a short period of time thereafter before turning off.

Claims

1. An automatic moisture sensitive control system for a vehicle having a windshield wiper control system and a headlight control system, said moisture sensitive control system comprising;

a moisture sensing unit, said moisture sensing unit having a first narrow moisture sensing band and a second narrow moisture sensing band;

said first narrow moisture sensing band of said moisture sensing unit having notches along an upper edge to channel water running down the windshield when said vehicle is not in motion;

an automatic control circuit for controlling said moisture sensing unit and activating said windshield wiper control system and the said headlight control system to begin operation, said control circuit including a first stage circuitry, wherein said first stage circuitry sends control signals to the windshield wiper control system to automatically activate the said vehicle headlight control system.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said moisture sensitive control system is located in an upper left-hand corner of the windshield.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said moisture sensitive control system comprises a protective urethane seal.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said automatic control circuit comprises two bi-stable multi-vibrators.

5. The invention of claim 1 wherein said first and second narrow moisture sensing bands are made of super thin, highly abrasion resistant, self-adhesive aluminum-tin alloy film.

6. A method for controlling an automatic moisture sensitive control system, including a windshield wiper control system and a headlight control system, comprising the steps of:

sensing moisture on a vehicle windshield by a moisture sensing unit;

automatically activating a windshield wiper control system controlled by a signal generated from an automatic control circuit upon sensing moisture on the vehicle windshield;

automatically activating a headlight control system upon detecting activated windshield wiper control system;

automatically disabling said windshield wiper control system and said headlight control system when moisture is no longer sensed on said windshield by said moisture sensitive unit;

automatically disabling said automatic control circuit when an operator of said vehicle chooses to manually place windshield wipers in a high speed mode, thereby preventing over-heating of a windshield wiper motor.