Patent US5037189A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5037189A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cleaning apparatus for a mirror
Assignee: Aisin Corp
•
Filing: 1989-02-27
•
Granted: 1991-08-06
•
Expires: 2009-02-27
Abstract
Abstract Ultrasonic vibrators, attached to the back of a mirror, are vibrated according to an A.C. signal pattern which is selected from various A.C. signal patterns for the removal of water, frost and/or ice from the surface of the mirror. Further included is a temperature detecting device attached to the back of the mirror for inhibiting operation of the ultrasonic vibrators when the temperature of the mirror exceeds a predetermined temperature, to thus avoid thermally-induced damage to the mirror.
Inventors
- 👤 Naofumi Fujie
- 👤 Yasuo Kuwabara
- 👤 Shoji Okada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 12:19
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/0006; B; B06; B06B; B06B1/00; B06B1/02; B06B1/0207; B06B1/0223; B06B1/023; B60; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/02; B60R1/06; B60R1/0602; B06B2201/00; B06B2201/20; B06B2201/70
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A cleaning apparatus for cleaning foreign materials from a mirror comprising: ultrasonic vibrating means for vibrating the mirror; oscillating means for generating an A.C. signal and for supplying the A.C. signal to said ultrasonic vibrating means; switching means for selecting an A.C. signal pattern from a plurality of A.C. signal patterns, a first A.C. signal pattern being for effecting a vibrating mode, and a second A.C. signal pattern being for effecting a heating mode where the vibrating means oscillates with heat due to an energy consumption which is greater than an energy consumption of said first A.C. signal pattern; and controlling means for turning on and off the oscillating means based on a selected A.C. signal pattern.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A cleaning apparatus for cleaning foreign materials from a mirror comprising: ultrasonic vibrating means for vibrating the mirror; oscillating means for generating an A.C. signal and for supplying the A.C. signal to said ultrasonic vibrating means; switching means for selecting an A.C. signal pattern from a plurality of A.C. signal patterns, a first A.C. signal pattern being for effecting a vibrating mode, and a second A.C. signal pattern being for effecting a heating mode where the vibrating means oscillates with heat due to an energy consumption which is greater than an energy consumption of said first A.C. signal pattern; and controlling means for turning on and off the oscillating means based on a selected A.C. signal pattern.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
94 words
A cleaning apparatus for cleaning foreign materials from a mirror comprising: ultrasonic vibrating means for vibrating the mirror; oscillating means for generating an A.C. signal and for supplying the A.C. signal to the ultrasonic vibrating means; controlling means for turning on and off the oscillating means based on a predetermined A.C. signal pattern; temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of the mirror; and inhibiting means for inhibiting an oscillation of the mirror on the basis of the A.C. signal from said oscillating means when the temperature of the mirror exceeds a predetermined temperature.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
94 words
A cleaning apparatus for cleaning foreign materials from a mirror comprising: ultrasonic vibrating means for vibrating the mirror; oscillating means for generating an A.C. signal and for supplying the A.C. signal to the ultrasonic vibrating means; controlling means for turning on and off the oscillating means based on a predetermined A.C. signal pattern; temperature detecting means for detecting a temperature of the mirror; and inhibiting means for inhibiting an oscillation of the mirror on the basis of the A.C. signal from said oscillating means when the temperature of the mirror exceeds a predetermined temperature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A cleaning apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said ultrasonic vibrating means is comprised of a plurality of piezoelectric elements arranged in a matrix in engagement with a rear surface of said mirror.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A cleaning apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said controlling means includes a pulse pattern generating circuit having selecting means for providing different pulse patterns depending on environmental conditions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A cleaning apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said temperature detecting means is a thermistor disposed in contact with said mirror within said matrix.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3453049A
Cited
US4277672A
Cited
US4445063A
Cited
US4550988A
Cited
US4833373A
Cited
JPH01190561A
Cited
US4864100A
Cited
JPH01306347A
Cited
US4929072A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-08-05 | 1995-02-04 | 1995-08-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-05 | 1999-02-04 | 1999-08-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-05 | 2003-02-04 | 2003-08-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |