System for controlling a windscreen/rear screen wiper

• US 6,121,738 A
• Filed: 06/10/1999
• Issued: 09/19/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Meier, Hans, Riehl, Guenther, Burkart, Manfred, Blitzke, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): Masih, Karen
• Application Number:
  US09/147,965
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 318/280, 318/DIG. 2, 318/443, 318/444, 318/483, 318/445, 318/461, 15/250.17, 307/9.1, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 318/280
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0818 including control systems responsive to external conditions, e.g. by detection of moisture, dirt or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/583 including wiping devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 318/02 Windshield wiper controls

Abstract

Proposed is a control device (50) for a windshield wiper that serves in actuating a further window wiper. The control device (50), having an inventive embodiment, includes a control (18), whose signal output (20) provides first control signals (42) for actuating the windshield wiper, preferably a front windshield wiper (26) of a motor vehicle, and whose further signal output (22) provides further control signals (42) for actuating a further windshield wiper, preferably a rear window wiper (30).

Claims

1. A control device for a front windshield wiper of a motor vehicle comprising:

a control unit having at least one signal output providing first control signals to actuate the front windshield wiper, a further signal output for providing further control signals which differ from the first control signals, to actuate a rear window wiper of the motor vehicle, and at least a first signal input, said control unit being responsive to signals at said at least one signal input to individually provide said first and further control signals to independently control said front and rear wind shield wipers;

a further signal input for said control unit for receiving further input signals that are a measure of the vehicle speed be actuated; and

said control unit is responsive to said further input signal to influence the further control signals for the rear windshield wiper.

2. The control device for a windshield wiper according to claim 1, further including an operator element connected to said first signal input and with which the driver of the motor vehicle can turn the control unit of the window wipers on and off, and select one of a continuous and an intermittent wiping operation.

3. The control device for a windshield wiper according to claim 2, further comprising a rain sensor that is connected to said first signal input of the control unit, and whose measurement signals are a measure of the moisture on the front windshield in the wiping region of the front windshield wiper.

4. The control device for a windshield wiper according to claim 3, wherein the control unit further includes means that effect a default setting of the wiping frequency for the further control signals based on the vehicle-specific shape of the rear window of the vehicle and the vehicle rear.

5. The control device for a windshield wiper according to claim 4, wherein the further control signals clock the drive of the rear window wiper as a function of the setting of the operator element, and at least one of the moisture on the front windshield, the vehicle speed, and the default setting.