System and method for controlling vehicle lift gate window wiper

• US 5,519,258 A
• Filed: 11/22/1993
• Issued: 05/21/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Motor Company
• Inventors: Stroven, Jeffrey J., Alvey, Raymond S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wysocki, Jonathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Elms, Richard T.
• Application Number:
  US08/155,378
• Time in Patent Office: 911 Days
• Field of Search: 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 307/10.6, 318/443, 318/444, 318/DIG. 2, 417/326, 15/250.001, 15/250.12, 15/250.13, 15/250.16, 15/250.17, 200/61.62
• US Class Current: 307/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/08 electrically driven conjoint control of windscreen wiper motor and liquid supply of windscreen washer B60S1/482; conjoint control of windscreen wiper motor and means for cleaning parts o parts other than windscreens or front windows B60S1/56, B60S1/58, B60S1/606
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/482 combined with the operation of windscreen wipers
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/583 including wiping devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 318/02 Windshield wiper controls

Abstract

A system and method for controlling a wiper for a vehicle window on a lift gate. The control system and method include an ignition switch (12), lift gate position switch (14), window position switch (16), washer switch (18) and wiper switch (20) for generating (42) multiple input signals. The control system and method also include a microprocessor (24) for processing (44) the input signals to determine wiper operations, and an output driver (26) for generating (46) an output signal to control the wiper in response to the wiper operations determined.

Claims

1. A system for controlling a wiper for a vehicle window on a lift gate, the system comprising:

means for generating a plurality of input signals indicative of a vehicle ignition status, the wiper status, a washer status, the window position and the lift gate position;

means for processing the plurality of input signals to determine a wiper operation, the processing means including

means for deciding to cycle the wiper a first preselected number of times when the washer is inactive after being active for greater than a first preselected time period,

means for deciding to deactivate the washer after the washer has been active for greater than a second preselected time period,

means for deciding to cycle the wiper a second preselected number of times after the washer has been deactivated,

means for deciding to park the wiper out of contact with the window after cycling the wiper the first preselected number of times, and

means for deciding to park the wiper out of contact with the window after cycling the wiper the second preselected number of times; and

means for generating an output signal to control the wiper in response to the wiper operation determined.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the means for generating a plurality of input signals comprises:

a vehicle ignition switch;

a wiper switch;

a washer switch;

a window position switch; and

a lift gate position switch.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the processing means comprises:

a microprocessor; and

an input filter and buffer circuit in electrical communication with the microprocessor.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the means for generating an output signal comprises an output driver.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the microprocessor, input filter and buffer circuit, and output driver together form a generic electronic module.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the processing means comprises means for deciding to park the wiper out of contact with the window when the window is open.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the processing means further comprises means for deciding to park the wiper out of contact with the window when the lift gate is open.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the processing means further comprises:

means for deciding to cycle the wiper once when the washer is active for greater than a third preselected time period but less than the first preselected time period; and

means for deciding to park the wiper out of contact with the window after cycling the wiper once.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the processing means further comprises:

means for deciding to cycle the wiper the third preselected number of times when the washer is active for greater than a fourth preselected time period; and

means for deciding to park the wiper out of contact with the window after cycling the wiper the third preselected number of times.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the processing means further comprises:

means for deciding to park the wiper out of contact with the window when the vehicle ignition is inactive; and

means for deciding to park the wiper out of contact with the window when the wiper is inactive.

11. A method for controlling a wiper for a vehicle window on a lift gate, the method comprising:

generating a plurality of input signals indicative of a vehicle ignition status, the wiper status, a washer status, the window position and the lift gate position;

processing the plurality of input signals to determine a wiper operation, the processing including

deciding to cycle the wiper a first preselected number of times when the washer is inactive after being active for greater than a first preselected time period,

deciding to deactivate the washer after the washer has been active for greater than a second preselected time period,

deciding to cycle the wiper a second preselected number of times after the washer has been deactivated,

deciding to park the wiper out of contact with the window after cycling the wiper the first preselected number of times, and

deciding to park the wiper out of contact with the window after cycling the wiper the second preselected number of times; and

generating an output signal to control the wiper in response to the wiper operation determined.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein processing the input signals comprises deciding to park the wiper out of contact with the window when the window is open.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein processing the input signals further comprises deciding to park the wiper out of contact with the window when the lift gate is open.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the processing means further comprises:

deciding to cycle the wiper once when the washer is active for greater than a third preselected time period but less than the first preselected time period; and

deciding to park the wiper out of contact with the window after cycling the wiper once.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the processing means further comprises:

deciding to cycle the wiper the third preselected number of times when the washer is active for greater than a fourth preselected time period; and

deciding to park the wiper out of contact with the window after cycling the wiper the third preselected number of times.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein processing the input signals further comprises:

deciding to park the wiper out of contact with the window when the vehicle ignition is inactive; and

deciding to park the wiper out of contact with the window when the wiper is inactive.