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Process and system for controlling a windshield wiper, particulary for a motor vehicle

  • US 5,581,240 A
  • Filed: 05/12/1995
  • Issued: 12/03/1996
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1994
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling a windshield wiper, including a windshield wiper on a motor vehicle, comprising the steps ofplacing a rain sensor on a windshield in a region of the windshield to be wiped by a wiper, the sensor outputting a sensor signal as a function of an amount of moisture on the windshield;

  • detecting the sensor signal periodically during a succession of measurement cycles to provide a succession of detected sensor signals;

    summing the sensor signals detected in each of the succession of measurement cycles, a sum of the detected sensor signals indicating a degree of moisture;

    upon reaching a degree of moisture in a measurement cycle equal or greater than a reference degree of moisture, producing a triggering signal for controlling the windshield wiper;

    upon occurrence of a degree of moisture below the reference degree of moisture within a measurement cycle which includes a present degree of moisture, establishing an initial degree of moisture equal to a fraction of the present degree of moisture;

    summing the initial degree of moisture to the degree of moisture of a subsequent measurement cycle to obtain a summation of moisture degrees; and

    comparing the resulting summation of degree of moisture with the reference degree of moisture for producing a wiper triggering signal.

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