Wiper control mechanism

• US 9,421,946 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2012
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dangler, John R, Kidd, Thomas D
• Primary Examiner(s): GRAHAM, GARY K
• Application Number:
  US13/688,040
• Publication Number:
  US 20140148085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,364 Days
• Field of Search: 152/500.01, 152/501.2, 152/501.7, 318/DIG.2, 318/444, 318/443, 318/282, 318/286, 318/466, 318/483
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00785 by the detection of humidity or frost
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00821 the components being ventilating, air admitting or air distributing devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0822 characterized by the arrangement or type of detection means
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0866 including a temperature sensor heating devices for windshield B60H
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/0896 including control systems responsive to a vehicle driving condition, e.g. speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/66 for cleaning vehicle exterior
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0236 for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/84 Heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows, mirrors or vehicle windshields
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/86 the heating conductors being embedded in the transparent or reflecting material H05B3/845 takes precedence

Abstract

An arrangement to reduce refreezing of meltable snow includes a wiper arm configured to wipe the meltable snow from an ambient-facing surface of a window positioned on a vehicle. The arrangement also includes a sensor coupled to the wiper arm that is configured to gather and transmit a parameter on the vehicle and environment. The arrangement also includes a processor that is configured to receiving the parameter, determining refreezability of the meltable snow based on the parameter, and defining an action to be performed by the wiper arm.

Claims

1. An arrangement to reduce refreezing of meltable snow deposited on an ambient-facing surface of a window positioned on a vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

at least one wiper arm configured to wipe the meltable snow off the ambient-facing surface of the window;

at least one sensor coupled to the at least one wiper arm, the at least one sensor configured to gather and transmit at least one parameter; and

at least one processor configured to;

receiving the at least one parameter;

predicting a melting of the meltable snow and refreezability of the meltable snow based on the at least one parameter and one or more climate control settings in the vehicle; and

defining an action to be performed by the at least one wiper arm based upon the predicting.

2. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the action defined by the at least one processor is engagement of the at least one wiper arm to wipe the meltable snow off the window.

3. The arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter is selected from the group comprising actual window temperature, predicted window temperature, recent driving history, window moisture sensor feedback, vehicle external temperature, vehicle internal temperature, vehicle type, vehicle internal color, vehicle external color, solar radiation intensity at the vehicle, vehicle orientation, snow precipitation type, snow precipitation intensity, wind speed, ambient temperature and parking location history.

4. The wiping assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one parameter is gathered based on an input from a camera installed on the vehicle.

5. A wiping assembly to reduce refreezing of meltable snow deposited on an ambient-facing surface of a window positioned on a vehicle, the wiping assembly comprising:

at least one wiper arm configured to wipe the meltable snow off the ambient-facing surface of the window;

at least one sensor coupled to the at least one wiper arm, the at least one sensor configured to gather and transmit at least one parameter; and

at least one processor configured to;

receiving the at least one parameter;

predicting a melting of the meltable snow and refreezability of the meltable snow based on the at least one parameter and one or more climate control settings in the vehicle; and

defining an action to be performed by the at least one wiper arm based upon the predicting.

6. The wiping assembly according to claim 5, wherein the action defined by the at least one processor is engagement of the at least one wiper arm to wipe the meltable snow off the window.

7. The wiping assembly according to claim 5, wherein the at least one parameter is selected from the group comprising actual window temperature, predicted window temperature, recent driving history, window moisture sensor feedback, vehicle external temperature, vehicle internal temperature, vehicle type, vehicle internal color, vehicle external color, solar radiation intensity at the vehicle, vehicle orientation, snow precipitation type, snow precipitation intensity, wind speed, ambient temperature and parking area history.

8. The wiping assembly according to claim 5, wherein the at least one parameter is gathered based on an input from a camera installed on the vehicle.

9. An arrangement to reduce refreezing of meltable snow deposited on an ambient-facing surface of a window positioned on a vehicle, the arrangement comprising:

at least one wiper arm configured to wipe the meltable snow off the ambient-facing surface of the window;

at least one sensor coupled to the at least one wiper arm, the at least one sensor configured to gather and transmit at least one parameter; and

at least one processor configured to;

receiving the at least one parameter;

predicting a melting of the meltable snow and refreezablity of the meltable snow, and a wiping frequency of the at least one wiper arm based on the at least one parameter and one or more climate control settings in the vehicle; and

enabling actuation of the at least one wiper arm to wipe the meltable snow off the windshield at the wiping frequency based upon the predicting.

10. The arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the wiping frequency may range from one wiper cycle per minute for thirty minutes to three wiper cycle per minute for thirty minutes.

11. The arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the wiping frequency is one wiper cycle per five minutes for one hour to three wiper cycle per five minutes for one hour.

12. The arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the at least one parameter is selected from the group comprising actual window temperature, predicted window temperature, recent driving history, window moisture sensor feedback, vehicle external temperature, vehicle internal temperature, vehicle type, vehicle internal color, vehicle external color, solar radiation intensity at the vehicle, vehicle orientation, snow precipitation type, snow precipitation intensity, wind speed, ambient temperature and parking area history.

13. The arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the at least one parameter is gathered based on an input from a camera installed on the vehicle.

14. The arrangement according to claim 9 further comprising a timer configured to determine a time period between two successive actuations of the at least one wiper arm.

15. The arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the timer determines the time period between the two successive actuations of the at least one wiper arm within a selected time-out period of the timer.

16. The arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the time period determined by the timer is based on the at least one parameter.

17. The arrangement according to claim 14 further comprising an actuator actuable by a user of the vehicle to request termination of any one of the two successive actuations.