Apparatus and method for controlling a windshield wiping system
First Claim
1. An apparatus for controlling a vehicular windshield wiping system including a motor and at least one windshield wiper, the apparatus including a sensor mounted to the windshield for monitoring a portion of the windshield wiped by the wiper during each wipe cycle, the sensor generating a signal having a value which varies as a coating collects on the monitored portion, the wiping system being activated when the sensor value crosses a switch-on threshold such that the at least one wiper leaves a resting position and wipes the windshield, passing over the monitored portion of the windshield at least once during each wipe cycle, the apparatus further comprising:
- detecting means for determining when the at least one wiper passes over the monitored portion of the windshield for the last time during a first wipe cycle; and
means for controlling the windshield wiping system based on the sensor value generated only after determining when the wiper passes over the monitored portion of the windshield for the last time during the first wipe cycle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for controlling a windshield wiping system, including a motor and windshield wipers, by detecting when a wiper passes over the portion of the windshield monitored by an optoelectronic sensor for the last time during a complete wipe cycle. In addition to the sensor, the apparatus includes a switch arrangement for activating the windshield wiping system and a circuit for processing the sensor output. The apparatus also includes a switching contact device associated with the motor for detecting the resting position of the windshield wipers.
376 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling a vehicular windshield wiping system including a motor and at least one windshield wiper, the apparatus including a sensor mounted to the windshield for monitoring a portion of the windshield wiped by the wiper during each wipe cycle, the sensor generating a signal having a value which varies as a coating collects on the monitored portion, the wiping system being activated when the sensor value crosses a switch-on threshold such that the at least one wiper leaves a resting position and wipes the windshield, passing over the monitored portion of the windshield at least once during each wipe cycle, the apparatus further comprising:
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detecting means for determining when the at least one wiper passes over the monitored portion of the windshield for the last time during a first wipe cycle; and means for controlling the windshield wiping system based on the sensor value generated only after determining when the wiper passes over the monitored portion of the windshield for the last time during the first wipe cycle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An apparatus for controlling a vehicular windshield wiping system including a motor and at least one windshield wiper, the apparatus including a sensor mounted to the windshield for monitoring a portion of the windshield wiped by the wiper during each wipe cycle, the sensor generating a signal having a value which varies as a coating collects on the monitored portion, the wiping system being activated when the sensor value crosses a switch-on threshold such that the at least one wiper leaves a resting position and wipes the windshield, passing over the monitored portion of the windshield at least once during each wipe cycle, the apparatus further comprising:
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detecting means for determining when the at least one wiper passes over the monitored portion of the windshield for the last time during a first wipe cycle; switch contact means for detecting a resting position of the wiper and generating a resting position signal, and wherein the means for detecting includes means for determining the operating time of the first wipe cycle based on the resting position signal; and means for controlling the windshield wiping system based on the sensor value generated after determining when the wiper passes over the monitored portion of the windshield for the last time during the first wipe cycle. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for controlling a vehicular windshield wiping system including a motor and at least one windshield wiper, the apparatus including a sensor mounted to the windshield for monitoring a portion of the windshield wiped by the wiper during each wipe cycle, the sensor generating a signal having a value which varies as a coating collects on the monitored portion, the wiping system being activated when the sensor value crosses a switch-on threshold such that the at least one wiper leaves a resting position and wipes the windshield, passing over the monitored portion of the windshield at least once during each wipe cycle, the apparatus further comprising:
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detecting means for determining when the at least one wiper passes over the monitored portion of the windshield for the last time during a first wipe cycle; time delay means for delaying initiation of an additional wipe cycle after the one wiper passes over the monitored portion of the windshield for the last time during the first wipe cycle; and means for controlling the windshield wiping system based on the sensor value generated after determining when the wiper passes over the monitored portion of the windshield for the last time during the first wipe cycle.
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12. An apparatus for controlling a vehicular windshield wiping system including a motor and at least one windshield wiper, the apparatus including a sensor mounted to the windshield for monitoring a portion of the windshield wiped by the wiper during each wipe cycle, the sensor generating a signal having a value which varies as a coating collects on the monitored portion, the wiping system being activated when the sensor value crosses a switch-on threshold such that the at least one wiper leaves a resting position and wipes the windshield, passing over the monitored portion of the windshield at least once during each wipe cycle, the apparatus further comprising:
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detecting means for determining when the at least one wiper passes over the monitored portion of the windshield for the last time during a first wipe cycle; an activation switch for activating the wiping system and triggering an initial wiping cycle, and means for determining an initial threshold value after the at least one windshield wiper passes over the monitored portion for the last time during the initial wiping cycle; and means for controlling the windshield wiping system based on the sensor value generated after determining when the wiper passes over the monitored portion of the windshield for the last time during the first wipe cycle. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method for controlling a vehicular windshield wiping system including a motor and at least one windshield wiper, the method comprising the steps of:
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monitoring a portion of the windshield wiped by the wiper during a wipe cycle; generating a signal having a value which varies as a coating collects on the monitored portion of the windshield; activating the motor when the signal value crosses a switch-on threshold, such that the wiper leaves a resting position and wipes the windshield, passing over the monitored portion of the windshield at least once during the wipe cycle; determining when the wiper passes over the monitored portion of the windshield for the last time during the wipe cycle; and controlling the windshield wiping system based on the signal value generated only after determining when the wiper passes over the monitored portion of the windshield for the last time during the wipe cycle. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A method for controlling a vehicular windshield wiping system including a motor and at least one windshield wiper, the method comprising:
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monitoring a portion of the windshield wiped by the wiper during a wipe cycle; generating a signal having a value which varies as a coating collects on the monitored portion of the windshield; activating the motor when the signal value crosses a switch-on threshold, such that the wiper leaves a resting position and wipes the windshield, passing over the monitored portion of the windshield at least once during the wipe cycle; determining when the wiper passes over the monitored portion of the windshield for the last time during the wipe cycle; modifying the switch-on threshold based on the signal value generated after the wiper passes over the monitored portion of the windshield for the last time during the first wipe cycle detecting the resting position of the wiper; generating a resting position signal; determining the operating time of the first wipe cycle based on the resting position signal; and controlling the windshield wiping system based on the signal value generated after determining when the wiper passes over the monitored portion of the windshield for the last time during the wipe cycle.
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Specification