Automated windshield wiper system

Claim 1

An apparatus for automated control of windshield wipers in response to moisture accumulation at the exterior surface of a windshield, said apparatus comprising: a. a pair of thin wires embedded within an interior portion between opposing exterior surfaces of the windshield and below a surface area which is subject to the cleaning action of the windshield wipers, said wires being spaced apart to a separation distance predetermined to establish a capacitance value within a range wherein the occurrance of moisture on the windshield surface between the wires yields a readily detectable capacitance increase; b. detection circuitry coupled to one end of each of the respective wires and operable to detect and register the resultant increase in capacitance upon accumulation of moisture at the exterior windshield area between the separated wires; c. drive means coupled to the windshield wipers for reciprocating the wipers over the surface area of the windshield to be cleared of moisture; d. activating circuitry coupled between the detecting circuity and drive means for activating the drive means into operation, said activating circuitry being responsive to the detected increase in capacitance between the thin wires; and e. means for momentarily disabling the activating circuitry after a predetermined number of reciprocations of the wipers to provide for a new measurement of moisture content at the windshield surface.

Claim 2

An apparatus for automated control of windshield wipers in response to moisture accumulation at the exterior surface of a windshield, said apparatus comprising: a. a pair of thin wires embedded within an interior portion between opposing exterior surfaces of the windshield and below a surface area which is subject to the cleaning action of the windshield wipers, said wires being spaced apart to a separation distance predetermined to establish a capacitance value within a range wherein the occurrance of moisture on the windshield surface between the wires yields a readily detectable capacitance increase; b. detection circuitry coupled to one end of each of the respective wires and operable to detect and register the resultant increase in capacitance upon accumulation of moisture at the exterior windshield area between the separated wires; c. drive means coupled to the windshield wipers for reciprocating the wipers over the surface area of the windshield to be cleared of moisture; d. activating circuitry coupled between the detecting circuity and drive means for activating the drive means into operation, said activating circuitry being responsive to the detected increase in capacitance between the thin wires; and e. means for momentarily disabling the activating circuitry after a predetermined number of reciprocations of the wipers to provide for a new measurement of moisture content at the windshield surface.

Claim 4

An apparatus for automated control of windshield wipers in response to moisture accumulation at the exterior surface of a windshield, said apparatus comprising: a. a pair of thin wires embedded within an interior portion between opposing exterior surfaces of the windshield and below a surface area which is subject to the cleaning action of the windshield wipers, said wires being spaced apart to a separation distance predetermined to establish a capacitance value within a range wherein the occurrance of moisture on the windshield surface between the wires yields a readily detectable capacitance increase; b. detection circuitry coupled to one end of each of the respective wires and operable to detect and register the resultant increase in capacitance upon accumulation of moisture at the exterior windshield area between the separated wires, said detection circuitry comprising an oscillator coupled to the pair of wires, a frequency to voltage converter coupled to the oscillator for changing the frequency output to a voltage output, a comparator coupled to the voltage output for comparing the voltage level with a predetermined reference voltage; c. drive means coupled to the windshield wipers for reciprocating the wipers over the surface area of the windshield to be cleared of moisture; and d. activating circuitry coupled between the detecting circuitry and drive means for activating the drive means into operation, said activating circuitry being responsive to the detected increase in capacitance between the thin wires, the activating circuitry comprising a relay coupled to (i) the comparator, (ii) the drive means and (iii) to a power source and being operable to switch on the drive means in repsonse to an activating signal from the comparator.

Claim 5

An apparatus for automated control of windshield wipers in response to moisture accumulation at the exterior surface of a windshield, said apparatus comprising: a. a pair of thin wires embedded within an interior portion between opposing exterior surfaces of the windshield and below a surface area which is subject to the cleaning action of the windshield wipers, said wires being spaced apart to a separation distance predetermined to establish a capacitance value within a range wherein the occurrance of moisture on the windshield surface between the wires yields a readily detectable capacitance increase; b. detection circuitry coupled to one end of each of the respective wires and operable to detect and register the resultant increase in capacitance upon accumulation of moisture at the exterior windshield area between the separated wires, said detection circuitry comprising an oscillator coupled to the pair of wires, a frequency to voltage converter coupled to the oscillator for changing the frequency output to a voltage output, a comparator coupled to the voltage output for comparing the voltage level with a predetermined reference voltage; c. drive means coupled to the windshield wipers for reciprocating the wipers over the surface area of the windshield to be cleared of moisture; and d. activating circuitry coupled between the detecting circuitry and drive means for activating the drive means into operation, said activating circuitry being responsive to the detected increase in capacitance between the thin wires, the activating circuitry comprising a relay coupled to (i) the comparator, (ii) the drive means and (iii) to a power source and being operable to switch on the drive means in repsonse to an activating signal from the comparator.