Front/rear wiper algorithm

• US 7,919,942 B2
• Filed: 09/06/2007
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: FCA US LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Original Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC (Stellantis NV)
• Inventors: Farina, Stacie N., Donoughe, Michael F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro; Bentsu
• Assistant Examiner(s): Paul; Antony M
• Application Number:
  US11/850,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20090066285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 318/280, 318/443, 318/445, 318/DIG.2, 318/400.01, 318/400.02, 318/268, 318/286, 318/700, 318/721, 318/779, 318/799, 318/807, 152/500.6, 152/500.7, 307/9.1
• 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 1/0896 including control systems responsive to a vehicle driving condition, e.g. speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/583 including wiping devices

Abstract

A wiper system for a vehicle includes a first wiper assembly, a second wiper assembly spaced apart from the first wiper assembly, and a controller in communication with at least one of the first wiper assembly and the second wiper assembly. The controller controls at least one of the first wiper assembly and the second wiper assembly based on at least one of an aerodynamic characteristic of the vehicle and a soiling characteristic of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A wiper system for a vehicle comprising:

a first wiper assembly;

a second wiper assembly spaced apart from said first wiper assembly; and

a controller in communication with said first wiper assembly and said second wiper assembly and controlling said first wiper assembly and said second wiper assembly based on a user input indicative of the speed and frequency of one of the first wiper assembly and the second wiper assembly, the overall shape and profile of the vehicle, an amount of precipitation experienced by the vehicle, and a soiling characteristic of the vehicle determined based on testing the particular vehicle model in various environmental conditions.

2. The wiper system according to claim 1, further comprising a manual override function operable to control said first wiper assembly and said second wiper assembly independent of said controller.

3. The wiper system according to claim 1, wherein said user input is received by a user interface disposed on a stalk of a steering column of the vehicle.

4. The wiper system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one precipitation sensor in communication with said controller and providing said amount of precipitation experienced by the vehicle to said controller.

5. The wiper system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one precipitation sensor includes two precipitation sensors with one sensor disposed on a front windshield of the vehicle and the other sensor disposed on a rear windshield of the vehicle.

6. The wiper system according to claim 1, further comprising a manual override function operable to control said front wiper assembly or said rear wiper assembly independent of said controller.

7. The vehicle according to claim 6, further comprising a user interface disposed on a stalk of a steering column of the vehicle, said user interface permitting a user to adjust said speed and frequency.

8. The wiper system according to claim 1, wherein said soiling characteristic is determined during said testing over various road conditions.

9. The wiper system according to claim 8, wherein observations as to the soiling of the vehicle during said testing are programmed into said controller as said soiling characteristic of the vehicle.

10. A vehicle comprising:

a front windshield;

a front wiper assembly selectively moving relative to said front windshield;

a rear windshield;

a rear wiper assembly selectively moving relative to said rear windshield; and

a controller in communication with said front wiper assembly and said rear wiper assembly and controlling said rear wiper assembly based on a speed and frequency of said front wiper assembly, a speed of the vehicle, the overall shape and profile of the vehicle, an amount of precipitation experienced by at least one of said front windshield and said second windshield, and a soiling characteristic programmed into said controller, said soiling characteristic including effects of various combinations of environmental conditions and road conditions on said front windshield and said rear windshield observed when testing the particular vehicle model.

11. The vehicle according to claim 10, further comprising at least one precipitation sensor in communication with said controller and providing said amount of precipitation to said controller information.

12. The vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said at least one precipitation sensor includes two precipitation sensors with one sensor disposed on said front windshield of the vehicle and the other sensor disposed on said rear windshield of the vehicle.