US5581240A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process and system for controlling a windshield wiper, particulary for a motor vehicle
Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
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Filing: 1995-05-12
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Granted: 1996-12-03
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Expires: 2015-05-12
Abstract
Abstract A process and a system for controlling a windshield wiper, in particular on a motor vehicle, in which a rain sensor is located on the glass to be wiped and within the region of the windshield wiper. The sensor outputs a sensor signal as a function of the amount of moisture. The signal is detected periodically and, when a reference degree of moisture is reached during a measurement cycle, the system produces a triggering signal and the windshield wiper is activated. The wiping process takes place even when the windshield wiper is wetted with moisture only to a slight but nevertheless disturbing extent. In the process, when a degree of moisture below a reference degree of moisture is present at the end of the measurement cycle, this degree of moisture is included additively to the degree of moisture of a further measurement cycle. Thereupon, the degree of moisture of the further measurement cycle is compared with the reference degree of moisture.
Inventors
- 👤 Armin Egger
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:34
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60S; B60S1/00; B60S1/02; B60S1/04; B60S1/06; B60S1/08; B60S1/0818; G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/0004; G01N33/0009; G01N33/0062; G01N33/0063; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S318/00; Y10S318/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A method for controlling a windshield wiper, including a windshield wiper on a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of placing a rain sensor on a windshield in a region of the windshield to be wiped by a wiper, the sensor outputting a sensor signal as a function of an amount of moisture on the windshield; detecting the sensor signal periodically during a succession of measurement cycles to provide a succession of detected sensor signals; summing the sensor signals detected in each of the succession of measurement cycles, a sum of the detected sensor signals indicating a degree of moisture; upon reaching a degree of moisture in a measurement cycle equal or greater than a reference degree of moisture, producing a triggering signal for controlling the windshield wiper; upon occurrence of a degree of moisture below the reference degree of moisture within a measurement cycle which includes a present degree of moisture, establishing an initial degree of moisture equal to a fraction of the present degree of moisture; summing the initial degree of moisture to the degree of moisture of a subsequent measurement cycle to obtain a summation of moisture degrees; and comparing the resulting summation of degree of moisture with the reference degree of moisture for producing a wiper triggering signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
211 words
A method for controlling a windshield wiper, including a windshield wiper on a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of placing a rain sensor on a windshield in a region of the windshield to be wiped by a wiper, the sensor outputting a sensor signal as a function of an amount of moisture on the windshield; detecting the sensor signal periodically during a succession of measurement cycles to provide a succession of detected sensor signals; summing the sensor signals detected in each of the succession of measurement cycles, a sum of the detected sensor signals indicating a degree of moisture; upon reaching a degree of moisture in a measurement cycle equal or greater than a reference degree of moisture, producing a triggering signal for controlling the windshield wiper; upon occurrence of a degree of moisture below the reference degree of moisture within a measurement cycle which includes a present degree of moisture, establishing an initial degree of moisture equal to a fraction of the present degree of moisture; summing the initial degree of moisture to the degree of moisture of a subsequent measurement cycle to obtain a summation of moisture degrees; and comparing the resulting summation of degree of moisture with the reference degree of moisture for producing a wiper triggering signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the summation of degree of moisture serves as a starting value of a further measurement cycle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein the starting value is formed as a function of the summation of degree of moisture.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein the starting value is derived as a percentage of the summation of the degree of moisture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the degree of moisture of a first measurement of a series of measurements is represented by the instantaneous sensor signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein, after a plurality of measurements, the degree of moisture is represented by the sum of the increments in moisture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein the starting value is formed only after a delay time from a previous measurement has been exceeded.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
166 words
A method for controlling a windshield wiper, including a windshield wiper on a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of: placing a rain sensor on a windshield region of the windshield to be wiped by a wiper, the sensor outputting a sensor signal as a function of an amount of moisture on the windshield; detecting the sensor signal periodically during a succession of measurement cycles to provide a succession of detected sensor signals; summing the sensor signals detected in each of the succession of measurement cycles, a sum of the detected sensor signals indicating a degree of moisture; upon reaching a degree of moisture in a measurement cycle equal or greater than a reference degree of moisture, producing a triggering signal for controlling the windshield wiper; and wherein, upon an occurrence of a degree of moisture below the reference degree of moisture at the end of a measurement cycle, producing a triggering signal upon the presence of the degree of moisture within a given interval of time.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
166 words
A method for controlling a windshield wiper, including a windshield wiper on a motor vehicle, comprising the steps of: placing a rain sensor on a windshield region of the windshield to be wiped by a wiper, the sensor outputting a sensor signal as a function of an amount of moisture on the windshield; detecting the sensor signal periodically during a succession of measurement cycles to provide a succession of detected sensor signals; summing the sensor signals detected in each of the succession of measurement cycles, a sum of the detected sensor signals indicating a degree of moisture; upon reaching a degree of moisture in a measurement cycle equal or greater than a reference degree of moisture, producing a triggering signal for controlling the windshield wiper; and wherein, upon an occurrence of a degree of moisture below the reference degree of moisture at the end of a measurement cycle, producing a triggering signal upon the presence of the degree of moisture within a given interval of time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 8, further comprising a step of starting the windshield wiper when the degree of moisture in a measurement cycle at the end of the given time interval is a part of the reference degree of moisture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the degree of moisture is represented by the sum of increments in measurements of moisture.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
235 words
A system for operating a windshield wiper, including a windshield wiper on a motor vehicle, comprising: a sensor of intensity of rain located on a windshield in a region of the windshield to be wiped by the wiper, the sensor outputting a sensor signal as a function of an amount of moisture on the windshield; a computer, and an analog/digital converter connecting said sensor to said computer; and wherein said computer is operative in accordance with a program providing a process comprising the steps of: detecting the sensor signal periodically during a succession of measurement cycles to provide a succession of detected sensor signals; summing the sensor signals detected in each of the succession of measurement cycles, a sum of the detected sensor signals indicating a degree of moisture; upon reaching a degree of moisture in a measurement cycle equal or greater than a reference degree of moisture, producing a triggering signal for controlling the windshield wiper; upon occurrence of a degree of moisture below the reference degree of moisture within a measurement cycle which includes a present degree of moisture, establishing an initial degree of moisture equal to a fraction of the present degree of moisture; summing the initial degree of moisture to the degree of moisture of a subsequent measurement cycle to obtain a summation of moisture degrees; and comparing the resulting summation of degrees of moisture with the reference degree of moisture.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
235 words
A system for operating a windshield wiper, including a windshield wiper on a motor vehicle, comprising: a sensor of intensity of rain located on a windshield in a region of the windshield to be wiped by the wiper, the sensor outputting a sensor signal as a function of an amount of moisture on the windshield; a computer, and an analog/digital converter connecting said sensor to said computer; and wherein said computer is operative in accordance with a program providing a process comprising the steps of: detecting the sensor signal periodically during a succession of measurement cycles to provide a succession of detected sensor signals; summing the sensor signals detected in each of the succession of measurement cycles, a sum of the detected sensor signals indicating a degree of moisture; upon reaching a degree of moisture in a measurement cycle equal or greater than a reference degree of moisture, producing a triggering signal for controlling the windshield wiper; upon occurrence of a degree of moisture below the reference degree of moisture within a measurement cycle which includes a present degree of moisture, establishing an initial degree of moisture equal to a fraction of the present degree of moisture; summing the initial degree of moisture to the degree of moisture of a subsequent measurement cycle to obtain a summation of moisture degrees; and comparing the resulting summation of degrees of moisture with the reference degree of moisture.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 11, wherein the sensor is a resistive moisture sensor.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-12-03 | 2000-06-03 | 2000-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-03 | 2004-06-03 | 2004-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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