Process and system for controlling a windshield wiper, particulary for a motor vehicle
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A process and a system for controlling a windshield wiper, in particular on a motor vehicle, in which a rain sensor is located on the glass to be wiped and within the region of the windshield wiper. The sensor outputs a sensor signal as a function of the amount of moisture. The signal is detected periodically and, when a reference degree of moisture is reached during a measurement cycle, the system produces a triggering signal and the windshield wiper is activated. The wiping process takes place even when the windshield wiper is wetted with moisture only to a slight but nevertheless disturbing extent. In the process, when a degree of moisture below a reference degree of moisture is present at the end of the measurement cycle, this degree of moisture is included additively to the degree of moisture of a further measurement cycle. Thereupon, the degree of moisture of the further measurement cycle is compared with the reference degree of moisture.
47 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a windshield wiper, including a windshield wiper on a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of
placing 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for controlling a windshield wiper, including a windshield wiper on a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of:
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placing a rain sensor on a windshield 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; and wherein, upon an occurrence of a degree of moisture below the reference degree of moisture at the end of a measurement cycle, producing a triggering signal upon the presence of the degree of moisture within a given interval of time. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A system for operating a windshield wiper, including a windshield wiper on a motor vehicle, comprising:
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a sensor of intensity of rain located on a windshield in a region of the windshield to be wiped by the wiper, the sensor outputting a sensor signal as a function of an amount of moisture on the windshield; a computer, and an analog/digital converter connecting said sensor to said computer; and wherein said computer is operative in accordance with a program providing a process comprising the steps of; 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 degrees of moisture with the reference degree of moisture. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification