System for controlling a vehicle window and the like
First Claim
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1. A control system for a motor vehicle having a windshield, comprising:
- first means mounted on the inner surface of said windshield at one end of a section thereof for emitting a beam of radiation into said windshield at an angle in the range between the critical angles of said windshield with respect to air and water to a normal to the windshield inner surface so that the beam totally internally reflects off the outer surface of the windshield in the absence of water on the windshield outer surface and partially reflects off said outer surface in the presence of water on the windshield outer surface;
second means mounted on the windshield inner surface at the other end of said section for detecting and converting said reflected beam into a first signal;
third means for comparing said first signal with a reference value to generate a second signal indicative of the presence of said water sufficient to warrant that a window of said vehicle be closed; and
fourth means, responsive to said second signal, for closing said window.
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Abstract
For use in a motor vehicle having a windshield, a control system comprises a raindrop sensor which emits a beam of radiation into a section of the windshield from the inner surface thereof at such an angle of incidence that the beam reflects off the outer surface and detects the reflected beam to convert it into a first signal. The first signal is compared with a reference value to generate a second signal. A motor control circuit is responsive to the second signal for closing a window of the vehicle.
244 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A control system for a motor vehicle having a windshield, comprising:
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first means mounted on the inner surface of said windshield at one end of a section thereof for emitting a beam of radiation into said windshield at an angle in the range between the critical angles of said windshield with respect to air and water to a normal to the windshield inner surface so that the beam totally internally reflects off the outer surface of the windshield in the absence of water on the windshield outer surface and partially reflects off said outer surface in the presence of water on the windshield outer surface; second means mounted on the windshield inner surface at the other end of said section for detecting and converting said reflected beam into a first signal; third means for comparing said first signal with a reference value to generate a second signal indicative of the presence of said water sufficient to warrant that a window of said vehicle be closed; and fourth means, responsive to said second signal, for closing said window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A control system for a motor vehicle having a windshield and a motor driven window, comprising:
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a reversible motor for driving said window in closing and opening directions; manually operated switching means having first and second circuit conditions; a control circuit having a first input terminal responsive to said first circuit condition and to a window closing signal applied thereto for driving said motor in a window closing direction and a second input terminal responsive to said second circuit condition for driving said motor in a window opening direction; energy emitting means mounted on the inner surface of said windshield at one end of a section of the windshield for emitting a beam of radiation into said windshield at an angle in the range between the critical angles of said windshield with respect to air and water to a normal to the windshield inner surface so that the beam totally internally reflects off the outer surface of the windshield in the absence of water on the windshield outer surface and partially reflects off said outer surface in the presence of water on the windshield outer surface; means for modulating the intensity of said radiation at a predetermined frequency; energy receiving means, mounted on said inner surface at the other end of said section, for receiving the reflected beam to generate a first signal; filter means, tuned to said predetermined frequency, for passing said first siganl therethrough; and means for detecting when said first signal reaches a reference level to apply a second signal as said window closing signal to the first input terminal of said control circuit. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A control system for a motor vehicle having a windshield with a motor-driven wiper for wiping said windshield and a motor-driven window, comprising:
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a raindrop sensor mounted on the inner surface of said windshield within the wiping area of said wiper, the sensor including means for emitting a beam of radiation into a section of said windshield at an angle in the range between the critical angles of said windshield with respect to air and water to a normal to the windshield inner surface so that the beam totally internally reflects off the outer surface of the windshield in the absence of water on the windshield outer surface and partially reflects off said outer surface in the presence of water on the windshield outer surface, and means for receiving said beam to generate a first signal; a reversible motor for driving said window in opposite directions; a comparator for generating a second signal when said first signal reaches a predetermined value; a window control unit including manually operated switching means having first and second circuit conditions, means for energizing said motor in a direction to close said window in response to said first circuit condition and said second signal and energizing said motor in a direction to open said window in response to said second circuit condition, and means responsive to said window being fully closed for disabling said motor energizing means; and a wiper control unit responsive to said second signal for operating said wiper. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification