Intermittent windshield wiper and headlight control

• US 5,170,097 A
• Filed: 03/20/1991
• Issued: 12/08/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vincent Montemurro
• Original Assignee: Vincent Montemurro
• Inventors: Montemurro, Vincent
• Primary Examiner(s): LaRoche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, SON T
• Application Number:
  US07/672,572
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 315/82, 315/83, 307/10.8, 307/10 LS, 307/10.1, 318/443
• US Class Current: 315/83
• 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 2300/312 Adverse weather

Abstract

An automatic driving lights circuit for a vehicle electrical system in response to the operation of a windshield wiper motor. The driving lights circuit operates independently of the headlights switch to turn on and off the driving lights each time the wiper motor is turned on and off. Additionally, the circuir continually operates the driving lights when the wiper is operating intermittently.

Claims

1. In combination with an automobile electrical system including a source of voltage, an ignition switch, a headlight dimmer switch, a wiper motor, and at least one pair of head lights having a low beam circuit comprising:

a timer means and a wiper switch means energized by a source of voltage to operate said wiper motor, said timer means and said wiper switch means having multiple operating levels to operate said wiper motor including fast, slow and intermittent, a means to continually energize said low beam headlight circuit through the multiple operating levels between said headlight and said timer means, and wherein said means to continually energize said low beam headlight circuit includes means to store and supply energy when needed and means to prevent energy surges to the headlight circuit.

2. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said means to store and supply energy when needed is a capacitor means, and said means to prevent energy surges to the headlight circuit is a resistor means.

3. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said means to continually energize said low beam headlight circuit is connected to the low beam headlight circuit to operate said circuit independently of said dimmer switch.

4. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said means to continually energize said low beam headlight circuit is connected to a taillight circuit to energize the taillight circuit with the headlight circuit.

5. The combination as in claim 1 wherein said means to continually energize said low beam headlight circuit is connected to the low beam headlight circuit to operate said circuit independently of said dimmer switch.

6. The combination as in claim 5 wherein said means to continually energize said low beam headlight circuit is connected to a taillight circuit to energize the taillight circuit with the headlight circuit.