Abstract: A moisture detection system includes an electrical conductor disposed on a surface of a substrate. The electrical conductor has a resonant frequency that varies as a function of an amount of moisture present adjacent the electrical conductor. An oscillator outputs an oscillator signal at a predetermined amplitude and a predetermined frequency. A resonator circuit is coupled to the electrical conductor and is responsive to the oscillator signal and the resonant frequency of the electrical conductor for outputting a resonator signal having an amplitude related to the resonant frequency of the electrical conductor. A filter circuit rectifies and filters the resonator signal and provides it to an analog-to-digital converter which outputs a digital signal related to the rectified and filtered resonator signal. A controller is responsive to the digital signal for causing a system associated with the substrate to operate in accordance with the digital signal.

Abstract: A contact-disk system is described having a rotatable contact disk and a plurality of contact elements, the contact disk having a plurality of paths and each contact element being assigned to one path. Two selected contact elements of the plurality of contact elements are always at the same electrical potential and glide on the same path. A windshield-wiper motor and a method for controlling a windshield-wiper motor are also described.

Abstract: An apparatus, which engages wiper blades in operation by interlocking with an operation of a washer switch, drives the wiper blades at a high speed if the vehicle speed during the wiper blade operation is equal to or higher than a predetermined value. As a result, the washer fluid sprayed onto the windshield can be wiped away immediately when the vehicle is traveling at a high speed.

Abstract: An intermittent driving mechanism is disclosed that includes a driving member having a slot formed in a channel. A driven member of the intermittent driving mechanism is rotatably coupled to the driving member and includes a pin that engages the slot after the driving member, when rotated, causes the pin of the driven member to enter the channel of the driving member.

Abstract: A voltage detection section (11a) and current detection section (11b) detect a voltage and current supplied to a motor, and the detected voltage and current are supplied to a position detection section (12). An angular speed output from the position detection section (12) is supplied to a differentiator (13) to output an angular acceleration. A fundamental wave component extraction section (14) extracts a fundamental wave component of the angular acceleration, and the extracted fundamental wave component is supplied to an amplitude adjustment section (15). The output of the amplitude adjustment section (15) is subtracted from the average current command by a subtraction section (16). This subtraction result, current detection value, and the rotor position from the position detection section (12) are supplied to a current control section (17) to carry out the current control operation so as to obtain a current command.

Abstract: A wiper device for a window, in particular in a motor vehicle, including a wiper blade, a mechanical system that drives the wiper blade, and a control device that compensates for the clearances of the mechanical system as a function of load changes and/or as a function of service life and a method for operating such a wiper device.

Abstract: A method for electronic regulation of an electric motor for driving at least a wiper moving on a glass surface where a control device supplies the motor with voltage by specific pulse durations, each pulse duration determining a substantially rectilinear characteristic curve of operating points corresponding to doublets of values, respectively of the torque and of the angular speed of the motor, between two threshold points corresponding to a null-couple angular speed and to a null-speed torque. The voltage pulse duration is controlled on the basis of the measured value of the intensity of the current powering the motor, so as to obtain each required doublet of values or operating point.

Abstract: A method (and apparatus) includes that a duty ratio of a driving voltage output to each wiper motor be required to be set according to several conditions. That is, while each wiper blade is moved in an interval from a starting position to a predetermined first wiping position in an upward operation, the duty ratio of a wiper motor on a driver's seat side is set so that the duty ratio is larger than the duty ratio of a wiper motor on a passenger seat side. Also, while each wiper blade is moved in another interval from each upper return position to a predetermined second wiping position in a return operation, the duty ratio of the wiper motor on the passenger seat side is set so that the duty ratio is larger than the duty ratio of the wiper motor on the driver's seat side.

Abstract: This invention relates to windshield wiper system which utilizes a flexible drive arm for withstanding bending loads applied to a wiper. The drive arm may be made of a pull-molded composite material having a relatively low modulus of elasticity and a relatively high elongation factor. The flexible arm twists in the presence a bending load and undergoes rapidly progressing elastic buckling when the bending load exceeds a predetermined amount.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for controlling a wiper motor of a wiper device for a motor vehicle windshield. The invention also concerns a control unit implementing the inventive method and a wiper device for a motor vehicle windshield. The invention is characterized in that the control unit (20) produces a control of the electric motor (19) which powers a wiper blade (15) on a windshield sweeping between two end-of-travel zones. In each end-of-travel zone, there is a software end-of-travel stop which is moved by a predetermined value after each passage on the software stop, the latter always remaining in its test zone, thereby providing self-adaptation of the sweeping limits in time. The invention also enables to detect the presence of obstacles on the wiper blade path.

Abstract: The invention relates to a windshield wiper system with two wipers (1, 2) that travel in opposite directions and can each be driven by a separate motor (MFS, MBS), wherein a regulating unit (7) is provided for triggering the motors (MFS, MBS) separately from each other by means of control signals, wherein the regulating unit (7) triggers the motors (MFS, MBS) of the wipers (1, 2) in order to preset a time-dependent angular position of the wipers according to a trigonometric function &phgr;(t).

Abstract: A rain sensor, in particular for a motor vehicle including a window-wiper device (windshield-wiper device), including a measuring element, which has a sensitivity that is predefinable by a control device, a signal, characterizing the speed of the motor vehicle, being able to be transmitted to the control device, and the control device increasing the sensitivity of the measuring element at lower speed. Furthermore, a method for controlling a windshield-wiper device, in particular for a motor vehicle. A measuring element is connected to a control device, its sensitivity being predefined by the control device. A signal characterizing a speed of the motor vehicle is transmitted to the control device and the sensitivity of the measuring element increased at lower speed.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for controlling a motor vehicle wiper motor comprising steps which consist in: determining at least a range related to an operating parameter of the motor and capable of having several non null values; comparing said range with a predetermined threshold (high LS, low; HS, high INT, low LS, low INT); and controlling the motor on the basis of the result of the comparison. The range is determined when the rotor of the motor occupies a determining position corresponding to a predetermined point on a trajectory of a blade driven by the motor.

Abstract: Operation of a windshield wiper system for cleaning a windshield of a motor vehicle includes driving at least one wiper by an electric drive motor so that the at least one wiper shifted between two terminal positions, processing by a control unit as the input variable the output signals of a rain quantity and the switching signals of a manually controllable switch mechanism, and processing as the output variable a supply voltage of the electric drive motor so as to control the wiper speed, operating the at least one wiper (8) with variable intermittent interval times and at variable wiper speeds, as a function of a rain quantity detected by the rain sensor (12), so that the precisely one wiper speed and precisely one intermittent interval time are associated with each measured rain quantity, and moving the at least one wiper (8) in an intermittent mode with a lower speed than in a continuous mode.

Abstract: A wiper control device in which an abnormal condition of a FET is detected by distinguishing an action of an overheat-cutting protective function normally difficult to be detected with measuring the drain voltage of the FET and by which the control of the pertinent FET is restrained upon the detection of abnormality so as to prevent a short circuit in the wiper control device from occurring. When an FETB (Qb) is set on, whether or not a drain voltage Vd is lower than Vpe ({fraction (l/2)}VG) is judged (step S5), and if lower, it is judged that the drain and ground is short-circuited, that is, an overheat-cutting protective function is acted, and “1” is added to the number of times of short circuit detection Perror (step S7). It is judged whether or not the added value of the number of times of short circuit detection Perror reaches a reference value (step S11).

Abstract: A raindrop sensor detects an amount of raindrops landed on a window glass and outputs a measurement signal to a microcomputer. The microcomputer calculates an average amount of raindrops by averaging a predetermined number of the latest measurements. The microcomputer calculates an interval time for the wiper based on the calculated average amount of raindrops. At this time, when the calculated average amount of raindrops deviates from a predetermined reference value, the microcomputer calculates the average amount of raindrops using a smaller number of the latest measurements.

Abstract: A method and assembly for sensing moisture on the exterior surface of a sheet of glass (16) by capturing an ambient image (A) of light rays passing through the glass (16) from the exterior to the interior surfaces thereof under ambient light conditions. The invention is characterized by illuminating (18) the glass with pulses of light rays, capturing an illuminated image of the glass containing the ambient image (A) plus the illuminated image (B) containing the reflected light from the illuminating (18) of the glass (16) between the ambient images (A), and subtracting each ambient image (A) from the next adjacent illuminated image (B) to produce a moisture signal (30).

Abstract: The wiper control device comprises a wiper motor 52 for moving a wiper, a switch 53 for outputting a signal which inverts at each single sweep of the wiper, a wiper switch circuit 51 of a combination switch which instructs movement of the wiper, a first solid state switching element FET-b which drives the wiper motor, a controller 55 which turns the first solid state switching element on and off intermittently on the basis of the signal from the switch in a case in which intermittent wiper movement is instructed by the combination switch, a second solid state switching element FET-a2 which is connected in series to the first solid state switching element and is turned on by power source voltage, and a third solid state switching element FET-a1 which is connected in series to the second solid state switching element and is for braking the wiper motor.

Abstract: A function selecting control system is provided, which modularizes a plurality of wiper control systems, builds them in an integrated circuit, and selects a desired system on the basis of a selection signal of the system from the outside, thereby drive-controlling a wiper motor. The function selecting control system includes: input device 30a for inputting a selection signal which selects a control logic block 30h corresponding to a starting control mode out of the control logic blocks provided for every control mode of the motor; judgment device 30c for reading the input selection signal for a standard number of times and for judging the coincidence among the read selection signals; count device 30e for counting the number of times of the coincidence; settlement device 30f for settling the selection signal when the number of times of the coincidence reaches the predetermined standard number; and system starting device 30g for starting a control logic corresponding to the settled selection signal.

Abstract: In a power window device an MCU detects motor torque values one by one when a window is opened and closed, compares the detected motor torque values with base values set to the travel regions and stops or reverses a motor determining that an object is pinched in the window when the former values exceed the latter values.

Abstract: A wiper control apparatus includes a combination switch 2, a wipermotor 7, an autostop (AS) switch 8, a first semiconductor switch element 4 for on/off controlling energization of the wiper motor, a second semiconductor switch element 5 for turning on a closed circuit which passes a reverse current through the wiper motor 7 while the energization for the wiper motor 7 is off, a controller for ON/OFF controlling the first and the second semiconductor switch element, and a current limiting resistor R1 for limiting the current flowing the second semiconductor switch element 5. In this configuration, a wiper control apparatus can be provided which can solve the problem when the abnormality of short-circuiting downstream of the wiper motor occurs, is compact, reliable and surely operable using semiconductor switches and a digital-controlled controller.

Abstract: A wiper device for a window, in particular in a motor vehicle, including a wiper blade, a mechanical system that drives the wiper blade, and a control device that compensates for the clearances of the mechanical system as a function of load changes and/or as a function of service life and a method for operating such a wiper device.

Abstract: A power control device for positioning at a low voltage side of a load for controlling the electrical power available to the load, from a main power supply, the power control device including a current switch for switching current on and off under the control of a pulse width modulating device thus to control the power available to the load, the pulse width modulating device being operated by power derived from the main power supply.

Abstract: The present invention provides a power window system, by which it is possible to reliably detect that a foreign object is caught in a car window even during the period from the time of starting of a motor to the time when stable operation of the window is reached, and also, it is possible to minimize erroneous detection. The power window system of the present invention includes a pulse generator for generating repeated pulses in response to rotation of a motor, and a control unit for judging that a foreign object is caught in the window. The control unit divides the period of operation into three periods to match the characteristics during the starting of the power window system, i.e. a first period from the starting of the motor to the initiation of upward or downward movement of the window, a second period to the time point when the window reaches and maintains stable operation, and a third period after the second period.

Abstract: A wiper control apparatus includes a combination switch 2, a wiper motor 7, an autostop (AS) switch 8, a first semiconductor switch element 4 for on/off controlling energization of the wiper motor, a second semiconductor switch element 5 for turning on a closed circuit which passes a reverse current through the wiper motor 7 while the energization for the wiper motor 7 is off, a controller for ON/OFF controlling the first and the second semiconductor switch element, a current detecting resistor RS1 for current flowing through the second semiconductor switch 5, and a current limiting circuit A for limiting the current flowing the second semiconductor switch element 5 when the current detected by the current detecting means RS1 exceeds a prescribed threshold value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for detecting objects (3) on a windshield (2). The method comprises the following steps: Placing an optical sensor array (4) on the inner side of a section of the windshield (2), said array having a plurality of individual pixels and being focused on the outer side (7) of the windshield (2); determining the local frequency spectrum S(f) of the intensity fluctuations of pixels of the sensor array (4), said pixels being combined in one or more blocks, and afterwards; evaluating the local frequency spectrum, whereby the detected local frequency spectrum S(f) is compared to one or more reference frequency distributions, and whereby a control signal for triggering one or more actuators is generated when the determined local frequency spectrum S(f) sufficiently conforms to a reference frequency distribution. The device comprises a detecting unit (4) connected to a data processing unit (5).

Abstract: The method and system for an industrial control system network jog control of the present invention provides responsive jogging of a machine for a consistent, fixed duration that minimizes the effects of network and processor delays. A jog message is input at a human machine interface by an operator directly observing the operation the machine. The jog message includes an address indicator corresponding to a network location of the controlled equipment and a jog duration period. The jog message is sent along the network directly to an output device attached to the controlled equipment. A jog pulse is then transmitted for the proper duration by the output device. Clock circuitry within the output device is used to limit the jog pulse to the jog pulse duration period of the jog message.

Abstract: A movable barrier operator (11) receives movement sensing signals from a sensor (13) and calculates corresponding speed of movement of a movable barrier. Such speed measurements lead to development of a median speed value over a monitoring window. The median speed value is used in a subsequent monitoring window to facilitate determining when speed of movement for the movable barrier has slowed in a way that likely corresponds to the movable barrier having encountered an obstacle.

Abstract: The invention relates to a windshield wiper drive unit having a drive motor (1) and a gear (2, 3) for transmitting a rotary motion of the motor (1) to the shaft of a windshield wiper, having at least one sensor (6) for detecting a position of the shaft, and having a control circuit (4), which receives a detection signal of the sensor (6) and has one or more inputs (7) for receiving operating signals that define a desired operating state of the windshield wiper and is arranged to control a sequence of motions of the shaft as a function of the operating signal received, in which the control circuit (4) is combined with the drive motor (1) and the at least one sensor to make an integral component unit.

Abstract: A wiper control apparatus includes a combination switch 2, a wipermotor 7, an autostop (AS) switch 8, a first semiconductor switch element 4 for on/off controlling energization of the wiper motor, a second semiconductor switch element 5 for turning on a closed circuit which passes a reverse current through the wiper motor 7 while the energization for the wiper motor 7 is off, a controller for ON/OFF controlling the first and the second semiconductor switch element, a current detecting resistor RS1 for current flowing through the second semiconductor switch 5, and accent limiting circuit A for limiting the current flowing the second semiconductor switch element 5 when the current detected by the current detecting means RS1 exceeds a prescribed threshold value.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a process of adjusting at least one part (20) that is movable by means of an electric motor (12) against at least one end stop (26, 28), wherein as a function of at least one operating variable of the motor (12), events involving pinching are detected, and if an event involving pinching is detected the motor (12) is stopped and/or reversed in its direction of operation. The motor (12) in its startup phase (52) is triggered with less power than in the ensuing operating phase (54).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrically controlling and regulating the movement of an electrically operated aggregate of a motor vehicle, such as a window lifter or sliding roof. A correlation variable for the adjustment force of the aggregate is measured for the purpose of anti-jamming protection. An adjusting movement is switched off or reversed if the adjustment force exceeds a limit value which corresponds to the maximum permissible jamming force. The sensitivity of the anti-jamming system is automatically raised when the motor vehicle is at a standstill. A rough road filter is preferably deactivated so that in the event of jamming, an adjusting movement is switched off or reversed without any time delay. The highest possible level of safety is provided using anti-jamming protection when the vehicle is at a standstill.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for detecting a window open condition comprises a first photoelectric cell (60) mountable to the window (20) for providing a reference output signal (61) independent of the window open condition. The apparatus (10) also comprises a second photoelectric cell (62) mountable to the window and providing a signal (63) having a first characteristic if the window (20) is open and a second characteristic if the window is not open. The apparatus (10) further comprises comparison means (82) for comparing the reference output signal (61) with the signal from the second photoelectric cell (63). The comparison is indicative of the open condition of the window. The apparatus (10) comprises means (88) responsive to the comparison means (82) for indicating if the vehicle window (20) is in the open condition.

Abstract: A door speed is detected at every predetermined detecting time, and a door position is calculated at a timing detected the door speed. A target speed according to the door position is obtained by a map. A microcomputer calculates a speed difference &Dgr;VD between the target speed and the actual or present speed, and an acceleration/deceleration value &Dgr;VC such as the speed difference between the door speed at the last detecting time and the present detecting time. A duty increasing value and the decreasing value of a PWM duty command value for adjusting a torque of the motor are set based on the speed difference &Dgr;VD and the acceleration/deceleration value &Dgr;VC, the motor is driven by the PWM duty command value based on the duty increasing value and the decreasing value.

Abstract: A control device for the driving motor (10) of a windshield system. A manually operated wiper switch (18) is provided for selecting an operating mode, in at least one of which the wiper speed is automatically controlled by a characteristic curve and the signal from a rain sensor (13). To modify the characteristic curve based on the use of the system by an individual driver, the manually operated wiper switch (18) conveys control commands to an adaptation algorithm control in a control circuit (16). The control circuit (16), in response to switching out of the automatic mode, generates a new characteristic curve at a modified operating point, with the new characteristic curve incorporating the modified operating point. When the switching stage which is dependent on the quantity of rain is again activated, the diving motor (11) is controlled according to the new characteristic curve.

Abstract: When an electromagnetic relay connects a movable contact to a normally open contact N/O, direct current flows through direct current motor and thereby the direct current motor is driven. When the electromagnetic relay connects the movable contact to a normally closed contact N/C, the rotation of the direct current motor is braked. A plurality of normally open contacts N/O are connected in series in the passage of direct current obtained when the electromagnetic relay connects the movable contact to the normally open contact N/O.

Abstract: A wiper control apparatus includes a combination switch 2, a wiper motor 2, an autostop (AS) switch 8, a first semiconductor switch element 4 for on/off controlling energization of the wiper motor, and a controller for supplying an ON/OFF control signal to the first semiconductor switch element. While the wiper operates in the operation mode set by the combination switch, if the level of the signal produced from said AS switch does not vary for a longer period than a prescribed abnormality detecting period owing to occurrence of abnormality of said wiper motor, said controller forcibly turns off said first semiconductor switch element. In this configuration, a wiper control apparatus can be provided which is compact, reliable and surely operable using a semiconductor switch and a controller digital controlled.

Abstract: A windshield wiping device, in particular for cleaning a windshield of the motor vehicle, includes at least one wiper and a control device. The at least one wiper is driven by an electrical drive motor and displaceable between two end positions. The control device processes a current wiper position and switching signals of a manually operated switching element via input variables. The control device controls a supply voltage of the electrical drive motor and a wiper velocity via an output variable. The at least one wiper moves from end position to end position. In a first switch position of the switching element, the at least one wiper has a first velocity. In a second switch position of the switching element, the at least one wiper has a second velocity, which is greater than the first velocity. The at least one wiper in the second switch position moves at the first velocity each time it is in the vicinity of an upper and lower end position.

Abstract: A motor control apparatus is arranged to drive and control a motor for transmitting the rotating force of the motor through a gear train. In reversing the rotation of the motor, the motor is caused to rotate at a speed higher than a normal rotation speed for a period of time which is about the same as a period of time required for absorbing a clearance or play existing between the gears. In this instance, since the motor is under no load, the motor is rotated at the higher speed with a small current and a small torque. The arrangement effectively lessens a noise generated in reversing the rotation of the motor due to the clearance or play existing in the motor driving force transmitting part.

Abstract: A wiper control arrangement for vehicles has a motor with a reversible direction of rotation and a driven shaft to which a wiper is rigidly coupled, and a position regulator which receives a wiper drive control signal and a driven shaft position signal detected by a detector of the position of the driven shaft and supplies a regulating variable to the motor. The signal from a vehicle speed sensor and/or wiping angular speed sensor associated with the wiper control arrangement are supplied to the position regulator, the wiper drive control and/or the driven shaft position detector in order to reduce the wiping angle of the wiper at higher speeds of the vehicle and/or higher wiping angular speeds.

Abstract: A windshield wiper drive device for driving a windshield wiper (11) in an alternating motion in a range of motion (17) between two turning point positions (A, C) includes a motor (1) for moving the windshield wiper (11), a detector (6) for detecting a time at which the windshield wiper (11) moves past a given position (A, C) in the range of motion (17), a control circuit (8) for reversing the direction of motion of the motor (1) at each turning point position (B, D), and an incremental transducer for detecting the distance traveled by the windshield wiper (11) from the given position (A, C). The control circuit (8) reverses the direction of motion of the motor (1) as soon as it is detected that the windshield wiper (11) has traveled a defined distance.

Abstract: An electrical connection between a potentiometer, an actuating motor and control electronics for controlling an actuating element has heretofore been composed of electrical cables, so that a large number of contact points were necessary overall, whereby however, each additional contact point increased the risk of a fault and made the assembly process more expensive. In order to reduce the number of contact points, the base substrate of the potentiometer and the contact board of the motor are in the form of an integral board, and at least some of the electrical connections comprise conductor tracks embedded in the substrate. Electrical components, such as a motor inductor for radio interference suppression, may also be mounted on the board.

Abstract: A spindle and a position-limiting ridge protrude from an inner surface of a cover to rotatably support a follower made of an electrically conductive metal plate. A cylindrical engaging portion of the follower slidably engages the spindle. A toothed washer is fitted around the spindle to clamp a contact portion of the follower between the position-limiting ridge and the toothed washer in a rotatable manner. A switching pattern is provided in the inner surface of the cover. Contact terminals that engage and disengage with the switching pattern based on rotation of the follower are integrally formed in the follower. An engaging hole penetrates through the follower. An engaging protrusion on a carrier is received within the engaging hole. The follower is rotated through engagement between the engaging protrusion and the engaging hole when the carrier rotates in a forward rotational direction.

Abstract: The wiper control device comprises a wiper motor 52 for moving a wiper, a switch 53 for outputting a signal which inverts at each single sweep of the wiper, a wiper switch circuit 51 of a combination switch which instructs movement of the wiper, a first solid state switching element FET-b which drives the wiper motor, a controller 55 which turns the first solid state switching element on and off intermittently on the basis of the signal from the switch in a case in which intermittent wiper movement is instructed by the combination switch, a second solid state switching element FET-a2 which is connected in series to the first solid state switching element and is turned on by power source voltage, and a third solid state switching element FET-a1 which is connected in series to the second solid state switching element and is for braking the wiper motor.

Abstract: A windshield wiper mechanism has an electric motor which, subject to a trigger signal of a control circuit, drives a wiping system having at least one wiping space. A consistent wiping sweep is obtained due to the control circuit having a control stage for changing the trigger signal as a function of a wind load.

Abstract: The present invention provides a power window system, by which it is possible to reliably detect that a foreign object is caught in a car window even during the period from the time of starting of a motor to the time when stable operation of the window is reached, and also, it is possible to minimize erroneous detection. The power window system of the present invention comprises a pulse generator for generating repeated pulses in response to rotation of a motor, and a control unit for judging that a foreign object is caught in the window. The control unit divides the period of operation into three periods to match the characteristics during the starting of the power window system, i.e. a first period from the starting of the motor to the initiation of upward or downward movement of the window, a second period to the time point when the window reaches and maintains stable operation, and a third period after the second period.

Abstract: A windshield wiper drive device for driving a windshield wiper (11) in an alternating motion in a range of motion (17) between two turning point positions (A, C) includes a motor (1) for moving the windshield wiper (11), a detector (6) for detecting a time at which the windshield wiper (11) moves past a given position (A, C) in the range of motion (17), a control circuit (8) for reversing the direction of motion of the motor (1) at each turning point position (B, D), and an incremental transducer for detecting the distance traveled by the windshield wiper (11) from the given position (A, C). The control circuit (8) reverses the direction of motion of the motor (1) as soon as it is detected that the windshield wiper (11) has traveled a defined distance.

Abstract: A starting device for electric motors which is designed to be fitted to compressor motors or the like, and includes a PTC resistor in series with a relay inserted between the line and the motor start winding.

Abstract: A wiper control apparatus includes a combination switch 2, a wiper motor 7, an autostop (AS) switch 8, a first semiconductor switch element 4 for on/off controlling energization of the wiper motor, a second semiconductor switch element 5 for turning on a closed circuit which passes a reverse current through the wiper motor 7 while the energization for the wiper motor 7 is off, a controller for ON/OFF controlling the first and the second semiconductor switch element, and a current limiting resistor R1 for limiting the current flowing the second semiconductor switch element 5. In this configuration, a wiper control apparatus can be provided which can solve the problem when the abnormality of short-circuiting downstream of the wiper motor occurs, is compact, reliable and surely operable using semiconductor switches and a digital-controlled controller.

Abstract: A wiper control apparatus includes a combination switch 2, a wipermotor 7, an autostop (AS) switch 8, a first semiconductor switch element 4 for on/off controlling energization of the wiper motor, a second semiconductor switch element 5 for turning on a closed circuit which passes a reverse current through the wiper motor 7 while the energization for the wiper motor 7 is off, a controller for ON/OFF controlling the first and the second semiconductor switch element, a current detecting resistor RS1 for current flowing through the second semiconductor switch 5, and acurrent limiting circuit A for limiting the current flowing the second semiconductor switch element 5 when the current detected by the current detecting means RS1 exceeds a prescribed threshold value.