US3786330A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic windshield wiping apparatus by using microwaves for vehicles
Assignee: Denso Corp
•
Filing: 1972-04-28
•
Granted: 1974-01-15
•
Expires: 1992-04-28
Abstract
Abstract An automatic windshield wiping apparatus for vehicles which comprises a raindrops detecting device comprising a microwave oscillator, a wave guide adapted for irradiating microwaves generated by the microwave oscillator on the windshield of a vehicle and means responsive to change in microwaves reflected from or transmitted through the windshield due to raindrops thereon to detect the raindrops thereby changing its output signal; and a switching circuit adapted to drive a driving motor for a wiper of the windshield responsive to the change of the output signal from the raindrops detecting device.
Inventors
- 👤 G Inoue
- 👤 M Huang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:22
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S1/00; B60S1/02; B60S1/04; B60S1/06; B60S1/08; B60S1/0818; B60S1/0822; B60S1/0859; B60S1/0855; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S318/00; Y10S318/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
An automatic windshield wiping apparatus for vehicles comprising: a raindrops detecting device adapted to be located near the windshield of a vehicle, said raindrops detecting device comprising: a microwave oscillator for generating output microwaves, a waveguide having two ends operatively connected at one end to receive the output microwaves from said microwave oscillator and having the other end adapted to be disposed opposingly to one surface of said windshield so as to irradiate said output microwaves generated from said microwave oscillator on said one surface of said windshield, and first means associated with said oscillator and said waveguide for receiving a part of said microwaves irradiated on said one surface of said windshield and for producing an output signal responsive to the received microwaves, a switching circuit connected in circuit with said raindrops detecting device and including a reference signal source means for providing a reference signal and a differential amplifier for comparing the output signal produced by said first means with said reference signal and producing a further output signal when said output signal from the first means is substantially different from said reference signal, and second means connected in circuit with said switching circuit for driving a wiper on said windshield responsive to the further output signal produced by said differential amplifier.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
An automatic windshield wiping apparatus for vehicles comprising: a raindrops detecting device adapted to be located near the windshield of a vehicle, said raindrops detecting device comprising: a microwave oscillator for generating output microwaves, a waveguide having two ends operatively connected at one end to receive the output microwaves from said microwave oscillator and having the other end adapted to be disposed opposingly to one surface of said windshield so as to irradiate said output microwaves generated from said microwave oscillator on said one surface of said windshield, and first means associated with said oscillator and said waveguide for receiving a part of said microwaves irradiated on said one surface of said windshield and for producing an output signal responsive to the received microwaves, a switching circuit connected in circuit with said raindrops detecting device and including a reference signal source means for providing a reference signal and a differential amplifier for comparing the output signal produced by said first means with said reference signal and producing a further output signal when said output signal from the first means is substantially different from said reference signal, and second means connected in circuit with said switching circuit for driving a wiper on said windshield responsive to the further output signal produced by said differential amplifier.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the other end of said waveguide is adapted to be disposed opposite to one surface of said windshield and said first means comprises a detector mounted at a predetermined position along the length of said waveguide for receiving microwaves reflected back from said windshield.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
76 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the other end of said waveguide is adapted to be disposed opposite to said one surface of said windshield, and further comprising a second waveguide adapted to be disposed opposite to the other opposite surface of said windshield and in alignment with said first-mentioned waveguide; and wherein said first means comprises a detector mounted at a predetermined position of said second waveguide for receiving microwaves transmitted through said windshield.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said waveguide includes: tuning stub means mounted at a predetermined position along the length of said waveguide, and horn antenna means operatively connected to said other end of the waveguide for directing said output microwaves onto said one surface of the windshield.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1052250A
Cited
US2407215A
Cited
US2463297A
Cited
US2477347A
Cited
FR1102199A
Cited
US2999982A
Cited
GB897956A
Cited
US3025463A
Cited
GB1030834A
Cited
US3649898A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-14 | 1977-07-16 | 1978-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-14 | 1981-07-16 | 1982-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-14 | 1985-07-16 | 1986-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |