Wiper motor and delay control with windshield washer pump

• US 5,789,886 A
• Filed: 03/07/1996
• Issued: 08/04/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seymour Ivice
• Original Assignee: Seymour Ivice
• Inventors: Ivice, Seymour
• Primary Examiner(s): Martin, David S.
• Application Number:
  US08/610,799
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 318/DIG. 2, 318/280-300, 318/443-444, 318/445-447, 318/461-487, 15/250.1, 15/250.01, 15/250.02
• US Class Current: 318/444
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0807 using electronic control means, e.g. tubes, semiconductors B60S1/0818, B60S1/0896 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/482 combined with the operation of windscreen wipers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 318/02 Windshield wiper controls

Abstract

A wiper motor and window washer control system for controlling the wiper motor and window washer pump of a window cleaning system. The wiper motor and window washer control system includes an electronic circuit for controlling the application of window washing fluid by the window washer pump and for controlling the operation of window wipers driven by the wiper motor. The electronic circuit relies on a power metal-oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) for controlling the current applied to the window washer pump. A wash circuit controls the duration of the application of wash fluid according to an R-C network. A wiper control circuit controls the window wipers during the application of the window washer fluid and during operation of the window wipers during normal and intermittent operation. A wiper/wash circuit generates a signal used by the wiper control circuit during application of the window washer fluid.

Claims

1. A single board electronic control circuit for controlling a wiper motor and a washer pump in response to a wiper switch and a washer switch, said control circuit comprising:

an operator adjustable intermittence controller having a first position and at least one second position;

a wiper timer circuit for substantially continuously energizing the wiper motor when enabled and the intermittence controller is in the first position and for intermittently energizing the wiper motor when enabled and the intermittence controller is in a second position, said wiper timer circuit comprising an integrated circuit having a trigger input, the integrated circuit, upon enablement, for energizing the wiper motor when the voltage at the trigger input is less than a predetermined voltage and for not energizing the wiper motor when the voltage at the trigger input is equal to or greater than the predetermined voltage;

a wiper control circuit responsive to the wiper switch for enabling the wiper timer to energize the wiper motor in accordance with the position of the intermittence controller;

a washer control circuit responsive to the washer switch for enabling the washer pump;

the intermittence controller comprises means for alternatingly applying to the trigger input, voltages above and below the predetermined voltage when the intermittence controller is in the second position; and

apparatus responsive to the washer switch for enabling the wiper timer to substantially continuously energize the wiper motor and for inhibiting the intermittent energizing of the wiper motor by the wiper timer circuit when the intermittence controller is in the second position, said apparatus for inhibiting the intermittent energizing of the wiper motor comprising means for substantially continuously holding the trigger input to a voltage less than the predetermined voltage.

2. A single board electronic control circuit in accordance with claim 1 wherein the wiper timer includes a feedback arrangement responsive to the position of the intermittence controller for controlling an intermittence rate at which the wiper timer energizes the wiper motor and the apparatus responsive to the washer switch for enabling the wiper timer comprises means for inhibiting the operation of the feedback arrangement so that the wiper timer circuit substantially continuously energizes the wiper motor regardless of the position of the intermittence controller.

3. A single board electronic control circuit in accordance with claim 2 wherein the washer control circuit comprises a second timer for enabling the washer pump for a first predetermined period of time.

4. A single board electronic control circuit in accordance with claim 3 wherein the washer control circuit comprises a third timer for enabling the wiper timer for a second predetermined period of time after the operator controls the washer switch, the second predetermined period of time being greater than the first predetermined period of time.

5. A single board electronic control circuit in accordance with claim 4 comprising a semiconductor driver on the single circuit board for substantially directly energizing the washer pump.

6. A single board electronic control circuit in accordance with claim 5 wherein the semiconductor driver is a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor.