Automatic wiper-controlled vehicle headlamps
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for controlling the operation of headlamps in conjunction with the operation of windshield wipers comprising the steps of:
- detecting whether the windshield wipers are in an on condition;
detecting whether the headlamps are in an on condition;
determining if the headlamps were turned off within a predetermined period of time; and
turning on the headlamps if the windshield wipers are on and the headlamps have not been turned off within the predetermined period of time.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for automatically controlling headlamps in response to windshield wiper controls is provided. A microcontroller senses the voltage levels of signals from a windshield wiper switch and a headlamp switch. If the microcontroller senses that the vehicle operator has turned on the windshield wiper switch, the microcontroller turns on the headlamps of a vehicle unless the windshield wipers are in intermittent mode or the operator of the vehicle has turned off the headlamps within a predetermined period of time.
21 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A method for controlling the operation of headlamps in conjunction with the operation of windshield wipers comprising the steps of:
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detecting whether the windshield wipers are in an on condition; detecting whether the headlamps are in an on condition; determining if the headlamps were turned off within a predetermined period of time; and turning on the headlamps if the windshield wipers are on and the headlamps have not been turned off within the predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method for controlling the operation of headlamps in conjunction with the operation of windshield wipers comprising the steps of:
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detecting a voltage level of a signal from a windshield wiper switch means, wherein a detected voltage of substantially zero indicates that said windshield wiper switch means is off, and a detected voltage not substantially zero indicates that said windshield wiper switch means is on; detecting a voltage level of a second signal from a headlamp switch means, wherein a detected voltage of substantially zero indicates that the headlamp switch means is off, and a detected voltage not substantially zero indicates that said headlamp switch means if on; determining the amount of time that the headlamp switch means has been off if the detected headlamp switch means is off; and turning on the headlamps if the windshield wiper switch means is on, the headlamp switch means is off, and the amount of time that the headlamp switch means has been off is greater than a predetermined amount of time. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A method for controlling the operation of headlamps in conjunction with the operation of windshield wipers comprising the steps of:
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detecting whether a windshield wiper switch means is in one of an on and off condition; detecting whether the windshield wiper switch means is in an intermittent operation mode condition; detecting whether a headlamp switch means is in one of an on and off condition; and turning on the headlamps if the windshield wiper switch means is in an on condition, the windshield wiper switch means is not in the intermittent operation mode condition, and the headlamp switch means is in the off condition. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A method for controlling operation of headlamps in conjunction with operation of windshield wipers comprising the steps of:
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detecting a voltage level of a signal output from a windshield wiper switch means, wherein a detected voltage of substantially zero indicates that said windshield wiper switch means is off, a detected voltage not substantially zero indicates that said wiper switch means is on, and a detected voltage of the signal of greater than zero volts and less than a threshold voltage indicates that the windshield wiper switch means is in an intermittent operation mode; detecting a voltage level of a second signal output from a headlamp switch means, wherein a detected voltage of substantially zero indicates that the headlamp switch means is off, and a detected voltage not substantially zero indicates that said headlamp switch means is on; and turning on the headlamps if the windshield wiper switch means is on and not in the intermittent operation mode, and the headlamp switch means is off. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method for controlling the operation of headlamps in conjunction with the operation of windshield wipers comprising the steps of:
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detecting whether a windshield wiper switch means is in an on condition; detecting whether the headlamps are in an on condition; determining if an operator has turned the headlamps off within a predetermined period of time, if the headlamps are in an off condition; and turning on the headlamps if the windshield wiper switch means in the on condition and the headlamps have not been turned off within the predetermined period of time. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method for controlling the operation of headlamps in conjunction with the operation of windshield wipers comprising the steps of:
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detecting whether a windshield wiper switch means is in an on condition; detecting whether the windshield wiper switch means is in an intermittent operation mode condition; detecting whether the headlamps are in one of an on and off condition; and turning on the headlamps if the windshield wiper switch means is in an on condition, the windshield wiper switch means is not in the intermittent operation mode condition, and the headlamps are in an off condition. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification