Bi-directional motor control incorporating a defroster element

• US 5,920,165 A
• Filed: 04/09/1998
• Issued: 07/06/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lear Automotive Dearborn, Incorporated (Lear Corporation)
• Original Assignee: UT Automotive Dearborn, Inc.
• Inventors: Mane, H. Winston
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Application Number:
  US09/058,068
• Time in Patent Office: 453 Days
• Field of Search: 318/256, 318/280, 318/281, 318/282, 318/287, 318/291, 318/293, 318/443, 318/444, 15/250.05, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 318/293
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/0602 comprising means for cleaning or deicing
• 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 1/586 including defroster or demisting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0236 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/035 Electrical circuits used in resistive heating apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/84 Heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows, mirrors or vehicle windshields

Abstract

A unique electrical control for a defroster has a resistive electrical filament strip and a bi-directional motor having a H-bridge drive. The defroster filament may be simultaneously operated to warm a window or mirror and function as a power or current dissipating resistance to prevent a short circuit within the H-bridge drive.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a power source;

a bi-directional motor for moving a vehicle component, and having a pair of terminals across said motor; and

at least one resistive element attached to a planar surface of the vehicle and electrically connected to said power source;

said resistive element electrically connected to said motor for receiving current from said power source and selectively providing electrical resistance to both warm said planar surface and to drive said motor.

2. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said planar surface is a rear window, and said resistive element consists of a defroster filament strip attached to the inside surface of said window.

3. A vehicle as set forth in claim 2 wherein there are two of said defroster filament strips electrically connected to opposite motor terminals.

4. A vehicle as set forth in claim 3 wherein said defroster filament strips are further electrically connected to said power source to function as pull-up resistors.

5. A vehicle as set forth in claim 2 including a micro-controller for controlling the path of said current from said power supply through said resistive element and said motor to warm said window and to drive said motor in alternating directions.

6. A vehicle as set forth in claim 5 including a pair of normally-open switches electrically connected between opposite motor terminals and ground for alternatively switching said motor in opposite in directions.

7. A vehicle as set forth in claim 6 wherein said micro-controller is electrically connected to said switches for selectively closing each of said switches.

8. A vehicle as set forth in claim 5 including a pair of MOSFETs (metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistors) electrically connected between opposite motor terminals and ground for alternatively switching said motor in opposite in directions.

9. A vehicle as set forth in claim 8 wherein said micro-controller is electrically connected to said MOSFETs for selectively powering each of said MOSFETs.

10. A vehicle as set forth in claim 5 including a pair of bi-polar transistors electrically connected between opposite motor terminals and ground for alternatively switching said motor in opposite in directions.

11. A vehicle as set forth in claim 10 wherein said micro-controller is electrically connected to said bi-polar transistors for selectively powering each of said bi-polar transistors.

12. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said planar surface is a side view mirror, and said motor being a mirror positioning motor.

13. An electrical system comprising:

a power source;

a bi-directional wiper motor having a pair of terminals across said motor; and

a pair of resistive elements, each resistive element attached to a window of a vehicle and electrically connected between either said power source and one of said motor terminals or one of said motor terminals and ground for receiving current and providing electrical resistance to both to warm said window and to drive said wiper motor.

14. An electrical system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said pair of resistive elements consists of a pair of defroster filament strips attached to the inside surface of said window.

15. An electrical system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said pair of defroster filament strips are electrically connected between opposite motor terminals and said power source to function as pull-up resistors.

16. A method for warming a window and driving a wiper motor in a vehicle having a power source, a bi-directional wiper motor, and at least one resistive element, the method comprising the steps of:

attaching the at least one resistive element to the window;

connecting the motor to the at least one resistive element; and

selectively supplying current from the power source to the at least one resistive element to warm the window and drive the wiper motor.