Windshield wiper de-ice function using HVAC switch position

• US 7,309,970 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Issued: 12/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Denso International America Incorporated (DENSO Corporation)
• Inventors: Gao, Jiyong
• Primary Examiner(s): Masih, Karen
• Application Number:
  US11/359,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20070194735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 318/443, 318/282, 318/286, 318/DIG.2, 318/444, 318/467, 318/466, 318/484, 152/501.7, 152/501.6, 307/10.R
• US Class Current: 318/443
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00642 Control systems or circuits; Control members or indication devices for heating, cooling or ventilating devices B60H1/3201 - B60H1/3208, B60H1/3225 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/0073 Control systems or circuits characterised by particular algorithms or computational models, e.g. fuzzy logic or dynamic models
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/048 with a heating device for the wiper parking position
• 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 1/0818 including control systems responsive to external conditions, e.g. by detection of moisture, dirt or the like

Abstract

A vehicular windshield wiping apparatus has a temperature sensor for sensing temperatures outside of the vehicle, a humidity sensor for sensing humidity outside of the vehicle, windshield wipers moved by a motor, an HVAC control module, and a wiper control module. The wiper control module activates the windshield wipers when the moisture level is at or above a threshold value and the temperature sensor senses a temperature at or below a threshold value. The wiper motor has a first wiper park position and a second wiper park position. The first wiper park position is approximately horizontal and the second wiper park position is at an angle to the first wiper park position, in a heated windshield zone. The second wiper park position allows the wipers to remain free of ice and snow when the outside temperature and moisture levels are beyond specific thresholds or a wiper stalk switch is activated.

Claims

1. A windshield wiping apparatus comprising:

a wiper motor;

at least one wiper blade connected to said wiper motor and positioned adjacent the windshield, said at least one wiper blade moved by the wiper motor to position said at least one wiper blade in a first approximately horizontal park position; and

a wiper position switch, said wiper position switch having a first switch position and a second switch position, said second switch position corresponding to a second park position of said at least one wiper blade, different from said first approximately horizontal park position corresponding to said first switch position, wherein said second park position is a wiper heating position and angled to said first park position.

2. The windshield wiping apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wiper position switch is located on a stalk protruding from a steering column.

3. The windshield wiping apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a defroster outlet, said defroster outlet directing air at said second park position.

4. The windshield wiping apparatus of claim 3, wherein said defroster outlet is in a top dash area.

5. The windshield wiping apparatus of claim 1, wherein said wiper motor stops said at least one wiper blade in a second shaft position when said wiper position switch is in said second switch position, said second shaft position different from a first shaft position of said first switch position.

6. A windshield wiping apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

an HVAC control module for receiving an outside temperature from an ambient temperature sensor;

a wiper control module for receiving a humidity level outside of the vehicle via a humidity sensor;

a wiper motor activated by the wiper control module;

an HVAC mode motor to control where heated air is directed within a vehicle cabin;

at least one wiper blade moveable from a first wiper park position to a second wiper park position by the wiper motor, wherein a degree of rotation of the wiper motor is dependent upon the temperature sensed by the ambient temperature sensor and the humidity level sensed by the humidity sensor, wherein said first wiper park position is approximately horizontal and non-heated and said second wiper park position is at an angle to said first wiper park position and within a heated zone of the windshield.

7. A method of controlling a wiper system, comprising:

verifying that an outside temperature is less than or equal to a first threshold temperature;

verifying that a moisture level is greater than or equal to a first threshold moisture level;

actuating an HVAC mode motor such that air is directed to a specific interior windshield area; and

actuating a wiper motor and positioning a windshield wiper.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising verifying that an outside temperature is greater than a second threshold temperature.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising verifying that a humidity level is less than a second threshold moisture level.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein positioning the windshield wiper further comprises angling a park position of the windshield wiper.