Windshield wiper control apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for automatically controlling the operation of a motor for a windshield wiper of a vehicle responsive to the intensity of rain striking said vehicle comprising:
- a rain sensor carried on the exterior of said said vehicle;
(i) a housing;
(ii) a plurality of infrared emitters carried on one side of said housing;
(iii) a plurality of infrared sensors carried by said housing and being spaced from said infrared emitters;
(iv) said housing being positioned for allowing rain to pass between said emitters and sensors;
means for supplying a signal of a predetermined frequency to said plurality of infrared emitters causing said emitters to generate infrared signals of a predetermined frequency;
a plurality of control circuit means for energizing said motor at different speeds upon being activated;
means electrically connected to said sensors for measuring the frequency of said infrared signals received by said infrared sensors and activating one of said control circuit means depending on the intensity of the rain passing between said infrared emitters and infrared sensors for controlling the speed of operation of said wipers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control circuit for a windshield wiper motor which utilizes a plurality of infrared emitters that emit a chain of infrared pulses towards a plurality of infrared sensors. When rain passes between the infrared emitters and the infrared sensors, it will interrupt the flow of pulses therebetween. A control circuit senses the missed pulses and selectively energizes a low-speed, mid-speed and high-speed winding associated with the wiper motor for varying the speed of the windshield wipers. The device automatically controls the operation of the windshield wipers of a vehicle.
33 Citations
8 Claims
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1. An apparatus for automatically controlling the operation of a motor for a windshield wiper of a vehicle responsive to the intensity of rain striking said vehicle comprising:
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a rain sensor carried on the exterior of said said vehicle; (i) a housing; (ii) a plurality of infrared emitters carried on one side of said housing; (iii) a plurality of infrared sensors carried by said housing and being spaced from said infrared emitters; (iv) said housing being positioned for allowing rain to pass between said emitters and sensors; means for supplying a signal of a predetermined frequency to said plurality of infrared emitters causing said emitters to generate infrared signals of a predetermined frequency; a plurality of control circuit means for energizing said motor at different speeds upon being activated; means electrically connected to said sensors for measuring the frequency of said infrared signals received by said infrared sensors and activating one of said control circuit means depending on the intensity of the rain passing between said infrared emitters and infrared sensors for controlling the speed of operation of said wipers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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Specification