Windshield wiper controller and method
First Claim
1. A windshield wiper controller for regulating the operating speed of a motor powering a windshield wiper in a forward wiping motion and a return wiping motion across a vehicle windshield, the windshield wiper controller comprising:
- a wiper speed selector for selecting a wiper speed setting to control the operating speed of the motor powering the windshield wiper;
a wiper speed sensor for sensing the actual time of the windshield wiper movement relative to a stationary position on the vehicle windshield; and
a controller responsive to the windshield speed sensor for automatically generating a wiper speed increase signal to the motor when the sensed wiper time is less than a selected value, and for generating a wiper speed reduce signal to the motor when the sensed wiper time is greater than a selected value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A windshield wiper controller 10 is provided for automatically regulating the operating speed of a motor powering a windshield wiper. An automatically set or manually set wiper speed selector 36, 48 is provided for selecting a wiper speed setting to initially control the operating speed of the windshield wiper motor. A sensor 22 senses the actual speed of the windshield wiper movement relative to the windshield. Controller 32 is responsive to the sensor 22 and automatically generates a wiper speed increase signal to the selector when the sensed wiper speed is less than a selected value, and similarly generates a wiper speed reduce signal when the sensed wiper speed is greater than a selected value. The wiper speed sensor 22 may include a magnet 20 which acts as a triggering mechanism outputting a signal from the wiper sensor. A timer 44 measures the time interval between at least a substantial portion of the forward wiping motion and the return wiping motion. The windshield wiper controller 10 may also include a light controller 40 and a rear light blinker 42 for automatically activating the vehicle driving lights and rear lights to increase the visibility of the vehicle to other drivers.
36 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A windshield wiper controller for regulating the operating speed of a motor powering a windshield wiper in a forward wiping motion and a return wiping motion across a vehicle windshield, the windshield wiper controller comprising:
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a wiper speed selector for selecting a wiper speed setting to control the operating speed of the motor powering the windshield wiper; a wiper speed sensor for sensing the actual time of the windshield wiper movement relative to a stationary position on the vehicle windshield; and a controller responsive to the windshield speed sensor for automatically generating a wiper speed increase signal to the motor when the sensed wiper time is less than a selected value, and for generating a wiper speed reduce signal to the motor when the sensed wiper time is greater than a selected value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A windshield wiper controller for regulating the operating speed of a motor powering a windshield wiper in a forward wiping motion and a return wiping motion across a vehicle windshield, the windshield wiper controller comprising:
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a wiper speed selector for selecting a wiper speed setting to control the operating speed of the motor powering the windshield wiper; a wiper speed sensor for sensing the speed of the windshield wiper movement relative to a stationary position on the vehicle windshield, the wiper speed sensor including a triggering member mounted on one of the windshield or the windshield wiper, a triggered sensor mounted on the other of the windshield or windshield wiper for generating a start-time triggering signal when the triggering member moves past the triggered sensor during the forward wiping motion and a stop-time triggering signal when the triggering member moves past the triggered sensor during the return wiping motion, and a timer for sensing the time interval between successive triggering signals; and a controller responsive to the windshield speed sensor for automatically generating a wiper speed increase signal to the motor when the sensed wiper speed is less than a selected value, and for generating a wiper speed reduce signal to the motor when the sensed wiper speed is greater than a selected value. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of regulating the operating speed of a motor powering a windshield wiper in a forward wiping motion and a return wiping motion across a vehicle windshield, the method comprising:
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selecting a wiper speed setting to control the operating speed of the motor powering the windshield wiper; sensing the actual speed of the windshield wiper relative to a stationary position on the windshield; and in response to the windshield wiper sensed actual speed, automatically increasing the motor speed when the sensed wiper speed is greater than selected value, and automatically decreasing the motor speed when the sensed wiper speed is less than a selected value. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification