Anti-freezing system, anti-froster for windshield and rear window of motor vehicles

• US 6,150,639 A
• Filed: 03/30/1999
• Issued: 11/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jing Qing Tang, Ying Chao Ruan
• Original Assignee: Jing Qing Tang, Ying Chao Ruan
• Inventors: Tang, Jing Qing, Ruan, Ying Chao
• Primary Examiner(s): PASCHALL, MARK H
• Application Number:
  US09/281,655
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 219/202, 219/203, 219/494, 219/497, 219/501, 219/505, 219/518, 219/519, 219/522, 219/507, 340/601, 340/581, 340/583, 340/580
• US Class Current: 219/502
• 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 1/0833 Optical rain sensor
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0866 including a temperature sensor heating devices for windshield B60H

Abstract

An automatic, dynamic window anti freezing system for the windshield and the rear window of a motor vehicles parked in cold weather, connected to a battery, comprises a temperature range control-switch unit, an optic frost-monitor, and a sweeping time (frequency)- control to drive a wiper system to work for preventing frost accumulating on the window glass. The temperature unit sets up a certain working range to turn on the system, covering the real freezing stage of the windows. The sweeping time control sets up predetermined sweeping timely manner for the wipers to sweep. The monitor emits light signals to monitor the frost accumulating on the window glass, and actuates the sweeping control to drive wipers to sweep it off when detecting it. The energy consumption is generally exceptional low due to that working is effectively controlled and easily done. Thus a related window is substantially able to avoid freezing on.

The present invention has a subsystem consisted of the monitor and the sweeping control for automatically wiping fog and rain during driving. It is realized by using an appropriate switch to separate it from the temperature unit.

Claims

1. An optically monitored and freezing-temperature handled anti freezing system for preventing frost from accumulating on a window of a parked motor vehicle having a battery and a wiper system of a predetermined number of appropriate wiper units, said system having an optically monitored sub-system for wiping fog and rain, comprising:

an optic window monitor for monitoring certain substances accumulating on the glass of said window to produce an output signal when detecting said substances, having a monitoring head and a related monitor circuits, said substances including snow, frost, fag, and rain,

a temperature range control switch unit for providing an electrically short way passing through it when the temperatures sensed by said temperature unit fall into a certain range between a predetermined higher temperature limit and a predetermined lower temperature limit, corresponding to the freezing temperature range of said window, within said freezing range freezing may occur on said window glass,

a sweeping time control for providing predetermined sweeping timely manner signals, handling means responsive to said sweeping manner signals for operating said wipers, connecting means for sending said output signal from said monitor to actuate said sweeping time control,

switch means for either connecting said monitor to said temperature range unit for realizing said anti freezing system, or connecting said monitor to said battery for realizing said sub-window system, comprising a combination electric switch of said both connecting ways,

source-switch means for connecting said temperature unit to said battery.

2. The optically monitored and freezing temperature handled anti-freezing system of claim 1 wherein said monitoring head comprises

an emitter unit properly positioned in the inside(or outside) vicinity of said window for transmitting predetermined electromagnetic wave signals towards a required region of said window glass to produce reflected signals and refracted signals of penetrating said glass from said region,

a sensor unit having a predetermined number of optic sensors properly positioned in said inside (or outside) vicinity respectively for receiving said reflected signals or positioned in the outside (or inside) vicinity of said window for receiving said refracted signals in appropriate way to effectively sense their changes caused by said substances accumulating on said window glass to produce corresponding photo-electric signals,

mounting means for properly positioning both said emitter unit and said sensors in said vicinities respectively so as to make said emitter target said region properly and make said sensor unit effectively receive said signals from said region.

3. The optically monitored and freezing temperature handled anti-freezing system of claim 1 wherein said monitor circuits includes

signal handling for making said emitter unit transmit said predetermined signals,

signal processing for processing said corresponding photo-electric signals from said sensor unit to produce said output signal of said monitor,

a timer for setting maximum working time to turn off said circuits.

4. The optically monitored and freezing temperature handled anti-freezing system of claim 1 wherein said temperature range control switch unit includes

a switching-on part being electrically open when its sensed temperature is higher than said higher temperature limit, and turning to be electrically closed when its sensed temperature drops below said higher limit, and

a switching-off part being electrically closed when its sensed temperature is higher than said lower temperature limit, and turning to be open when its sensed temperature drops below said lower limit, wherein

said two parts may be related to each other in series or not.

5. The optically monitored and freezing temperature handled anti-freezing system of claim 1 includes

an electric switch, or

a relay switch having a power switch part and a triggering part for handling said said power switch part, with said triggering part connected to said switching-off part and with said power switch part connected to said switching-on part respectively.