Device for operating a windshield wiper

Claim 1

A device for operating a windshield wiper with an automatic wiper control, comprising an input stage for detecting the switching on of the wiper control, a sensor unit that detects the wetting condition of a windshield, an evaluation unit that amplifies and evaluates a sensor signal, an actuation unit for a wiper motor, and a control stage which triggers at least one initial wiping action when responding to an activation signal emitted by the input stage during the switching-on and, following the initial wiping action, causes the wiping operation to take place on the basis of the wetting condition detected by the sensor unit, the adjustment of the amplification in the evaluation unit taking place when the initial wiping action is triggered, and the initially adjusted amplification level, independent of the wetting condition of the windsheild, falling just short of the overamplification limit of an analog/digital converter that receives the amplified signal.

Claim 2

A device for operating a windshield wiper with an automatic wiper control, comprising an input stage for detecting the switching on of the wiper control, a sensor unit that detects the wetting condition of a windshield, an evaluation unit that amplifies and evaluates a sensor signal, an actuation unit for a wiper motor, and a control stage which triggers at least one initial wiping action when responding to an activation signal emitted by the input stage during the switching-on and, following the initial wiping action, causes the wiping operation to take place on the basis of the wetting condition detected by the sensor unit, the adjustment of the amplification in the evaluation unit taking place when the initial wiping action is triggered, and the initially adjusted amplification level, independent of the wetting condition of the windsheild, falling just short of the overamplification limit of an analog/digital converter that receives the amplified signal.

Claim 6

A device for operating a windshield wiper with an automatic wiper control, comprising: (a) an input stage which receives a switching-on signal and puts out an activation signal; (b) a control stage connected to receive said activation signal, said control stage producing a first control signal; (c) an evaluation unit connected to receive said activation signal, said evaluation unit producing a second control signal; (d) a sensor unit connected to receive said activation signal as well as a signal reacting to a wetting event, said sensor unit producing a sensor signal, said evaluation unit being connected to receive said sensor signal; (e) an actuation unit connected to receive said first and second control signals, said actuation unit putting out an output signal to actuate a wiper motor.

Claim 7

A device for operating a windshield wiper with an automatic wiper control, comprising: (a) an input stage which receives a switching-on signal and puts out an activation signal; (b) a control stage connected to receive said activation signal, said control stage producing a first control signal; (c) an evaluation unit connected to receive said activation signal, said evaluation unit producing a second control signal; (d) a sensor unit connected to receive said activation signal as well as a signal reacting to a wetting event, said sensor unit producing a sensor signal, said evaluation unit being connected to receive said sensor signal; (e) an actuation unit connected to receive said first and second control signals, said actuation unit putting out an output signal to actuate a wiper motor.