US5266873A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatically controlled cleaning device, notably for a motor vehicle windscreen
Assignee: Swatch Group Management Services AG
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Filing: 1992-05-08
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Granted: 1993-11-30
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Expires: 2012-05-08
Abstract
Abstract An automatically controlled cleaning device is adapted to remove foreign bodies such as water from the surface of a window, such as a car window, which has an inside surface and an outside surface. This device has cleaning element which define at least one predetermined area on the outside surface of this window, driving circuit for the cleaning element which operate in response to a control signal, detection element capable of supplying a detection signal representative of the presence of foreign bodies on the outside surface of the window and control device capable of supplying a control signal in response to the detection signal wherein the detection element comprise a transducer able to emit at least one incident ultrasonic signal propagating within the thickness of the window and able to receive a reflected ultrasonic signal representative of the presence of the foreign bodies to analyse the detection signal and where the transducer is fixed by a first face against the inside surface of the window.
Inventors
- 👤 Marcel Arditi
- 👤 Louis Becet
- 👤 Benjamin Ittah
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 04:48
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S1/00; B60S1/02; B60S1/04; B60S1/06; B60S1/08; B60S1/0818; B60S1/0822; B60S1/0855; B60R; B60R1/00; B60R1/12; B60R2001/1223; B60S1/0874; B60S1/0885; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S318/00; Y10S318/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
An automatically controlled cleaning device for removing foreign bodies from the surface of a window, the window having an inside surface and an outside surface, and said device comprising cleaning means which defines at least one cleaning area on the outside surface of the window, driving means for driving the cleaning means, detection means for supplying a detection signal representative of the presence of foreign bodies on the outside surface of the window, and control means for supplying a control signal to the driving means in response to the detection signal, wherein the detection means comprises a single transducer, means for causing said transducer to emit at least one incident ultrasonic signal propagating across the thickness of the window, and means for measuring and discriminating the amplitude of an ultrasonic signal reflected back to said single transducer to determine the presence of said foreign bodies on a portion of the outside surface of the window opposite to said single transducer and to provide the detection signal in response to said determination, and wherein said single transducer is fixed with a fist face against the inside surface of the window.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
An automatically controlled cleaning device for removing foreign bodies from the surface of a window, the window having an inside surface and an outside surface, and said device comprising cleaning means which defines at least one cleaning area on the outside surface of the window, driving means for driving the cleaning means, detection means for supplying a detection signal representative of the presence of foreign bodies on the outside surface of the window, and control means for supplying a control signal to the driving means in response to the detection signal, wherein the detection means comprises a single transducer, means for causing said transducer to emit at least one incident ultrasonic signal propagating across the thickness of the window, and means for measuring and discriminating the amplitude of an ultrasonic signal reflected back to said single transducer to determine the presence of said foreign bodies on a portion of the outside surface of the window opposite to said single transducer and to provide the detection signal in response to said determination, and wherein said single transducer is fixed with a fist face against the inside surface of the window.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An automatically controlled cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the transducer is arranged in the cleaning area of the window.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An automatically controlled cleaning device according to claim 2, wherein the transducer is associated by a second face, opposite the first face, with damping means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An automatically controlled cleaning device according to claim 3, wherein the damping means comprises metal particles embedded in an organic bonding material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An automatically controlled cleaning device according to claim 4, wherein the size of the particles is 20 to 50 times smaller than the wavelength of the ultrasonic signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
An automatically controlled cleaning device according to claim 5, wherein the duration of the incident ultrasonic signal is less than 1 microsecond.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
An automatically controlled cleaning device according to claim 6, wherein the reflected ultrasonic signals are measured for a period lasting less than 10 microseconds and with a delay of between 2 and 50 microseconds from the time of transmission of the incident ultrasonic signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An automatically controlled cleaning device according to claim 7, wherein the transducer is fixed to the window by means of an adhesive film.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
An automatically controlled cleaning device according to claim 7, wherein the transducer and the damping means are housed in a housing presenting the configuration of the section of a tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
An automatically controlled cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the transducer is fixed to the window by means of an adhesive film.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
An automatically controlled cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the transducer is associated by a second face, opposite the first face, with damping means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
An automatically controlled cleaning device according to claim 11, wherein the damping means comprises metal particles embedded in an organic bonding material
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
An automatically controlled cleaning device according to claim 12, wherein the size of the particles is 20 to 50 times smaller than the wavelength of the ultrasonic signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
An automatically controlled cleaning device according to claim 13, wherein the duration of the incident ultrasonic signal is less than 1 microsecond.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
44 words
An automatically controlled cleaning device according to claim 14, wherein the reflected ultrasonic signals are measured for a period lasting less than 10 microseconds and with a delay of between 2 and 50 microseconds from the time of transmission of the incident ultrasonic signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
An automatically controlled cleaning device according to claim 12, wherein the transducer and the damping means are housed in a housing presenting the configuration of the section of a tube.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
An automatically controlled cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the duration of the incident ultrasonic signal is less than 1 microsecond.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
An automatically controlled cleaning device according to claim 17, wherein the reflected ultrasonic signals are measured for a period lasting less than 10 microseconds and with a delay of between 2 and 50 microseconds from the time of transmission of the incident ultrasonic signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
An automatically controlled cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the reflected ultrasonic signals are measured for a period lasting less than 10 microseconds and with a delay of between 2 and 50 microseconds from the time of transmission of the incident ultrasonic signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
An automatically controlled cleaning device according to claim 1, wherein the window is a windscreen, on the inside surface of which a base of a rear-view mirror mounting is bonded, and wherein the transducer is housed in the base of the rear-view mirror mounting.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-11-29 | 1997-05-31 | 1997-11-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-11-29 | 2001-05-31 | 2001-11-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-11-29 | 2005-05-31 | 2005-11-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |