Sensor system and method for a vehicle
First Claim
1. A method for determining that a windshield wiper of a vehicle should be automatically activated for removing an aqueous material from a front windshield, the method comprising:
- receiving at least one distance signal indicative of a distance between the aqueous material and the front windshield of the vehicle;
determining a relative velocity of the aqueous material using the at least one distance signal, the relative velocity being indicative of a velocity between the aqueous material and the front windshield of the vehicle; and
automatically activating a front windshield wiper prior to the aqueous material contacting the windshield in response to the distance signal being within a distance activation range and the relative velocity being within a velocity activation range.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method is provided for determining if a windshield wiper of a vehicle should be automatically activated. The system and method may include a sensor system that receives at least one distance signal indicative of a distance between an object and a front windshield of the vehicle. The sensor system may further receive a relative velocity of the object using the at least one distance signal, the relative velocity being indicative of a velocity between the object and the front windshield of the vehicle. The sensor system may determine whether a windshield wiper should be automatically activated in response to the distance signal being within a distance activation range and the relative velocity being within a velocity activation range or the relative velocity exceeding a maximum velocity threshold.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method for determining that a windshield wiper of a vehicle should be automatically activated for removing an aqueous material from a front windshield, the method comprising:
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receiving at least one distance signal indicative of a distance between the aqueous material and the front windshield of the vehicle; determining a relative velocity of the aqueous material using the at least one distance signal, the relative velocity being indicative of a velocity between the aqueous material and the front windshield of the vehicle; and automatically activating a front windshield wiper prior to the aqueous material contacting the windshield in response to the distance signal being within a distance activation range and the relative velocity being within a velocity activation range. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for determining that a windshield wiper of a vehicle should be automatically activated for removing an aqueous material from a front windshield, the method comprising:
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receiving at least one distance signal indicative of a distance between the aqueous material and the front windshield of the vehicle; receiving at least one velocity signal indicative of a relative velocity between the aqueous material and the front windshield of the vehicle; automatically activating a front windshield wiper prior to the aqueous material contacting the windshield in response to the velocity signal exceeding a maximum velocity threshold. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for determining that a windshield wiper of a vehicle should be automatically activated to remove an aqueous material from a front windshield, the system comprising:
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at least one sensor configured to receive at least one distance signal indicative of a distance between the aqueous material and the front windshield of the vehicle; and a controller in electrical communication with the at least one sensor, the controller configured to; determine a relative velocity of the aqueous material using the at least one distance signal, the relative velocity being indicative of a velocity between the aqueous material and the front windshield of the vehicle; and automatically activate a front windshield wiper prior to the aqueous material contacting the windshield in response to the distance signal being within a distance activation range and the relative velocity being within a velocity activation range. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification