Abstract: A switch apparatus for controlling multiple electrical circuits includes a pivot shaft carried in a housing mountable on a vehicle steering column. A carrier is pivotally mounted on the pivot shaft for rotation of about axis. A lever is pivotally mounted to the carrier for rotation about a first axis to the axis of the shaft. A rotatable end cap is mounted on the lever. A shaft is fixed to the end cap at one end and extends through a lever to a second end on which a gear is mounted. A radial rack is mounted in the housing and engaged by the gear for rotation about the pivot shaft. Electrical traces are formed in the housing and engaged by contacts carried on the radial rack to control operating circuits. An actuator is rotatably and translatingly mounted on the pivot shaft and has an arm extending from a center. The arm engages one leaf contact in the housing upon rotation of the actuator to control a circuit.

Abstract: A device for monitoring the state of a window pane includes an optical emitter which emits a light beam on to the window pane. The device also contains an optical receiver which detects light of the light beam modulated by the window pane and, as a result, generates a received signal. The emitter and the receiver are arranged at a distance from the window pane. An evaluation circuit evaluates the received signal in order to determine the state of the window pane.

Abstract: An attachment device 10 for a windshield wiper arrangement for motor vehicles is described which makes possible a non-screw type mounting and thus a mounting which is to be carried out in a simple and rapid manner. For this purpose, the attachment device 10 has a support element 14 carrying a windshield wiper drive device 12 at which two lateral plug-in pegs 30, 32 are provided which are parallel to each other and protrude in the same direction diagonally with respect to wiper shafts 20, 22 mounted on same. These plug-in pegs, together with a third plug-in peg 34, are located respectively on corner points of a triangle, wherein the third plug-in peg 34 extends in a vertical plane perpendicular to the two other plug-in pegs 30, 32.

Abstract: A nozzle element is described, which can is inserted into a nozzle body, either fixed in position or adjustably, and together with the nozzle body forms a component of a windshield wiper system of a motor vehicle. The nozzle element consists of a hard metallic, ball-like base body and a cylindrical projection formed in one piece with the body. A hose-like resilient sleeve is pulled tightly onto the body, and closes off the outer ends of transverse channels which are in flow connection with a centered flow channel. Via the channel, washing fluid for the windshield is supplied under pressure. Thereby, the resilient sleeve bulges outwards so that the fluid can flow out of the nozzle element on the inside of the sleeve and on the outside of the cylindrical projection via an annular channel formed under pressure.

Abstract: The invention relates to a shaped part with a spigot for connecting to a tube, whereby the spigot contains a number of cavities arranged in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof. The invention can be used in joining techniques especially in the area of automobile manufacturing, particularly windshield wiper assemblies. In preart windshield wiper assemblies, the connection between the spigot and the tube can detach during transmission of power or momentum. The invention prevents detaching of the connection between the spigot and the tube. To this end, the invention comprises two adjacent cavities each separated from one another by two catches. The catches extend perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spigot resulting in a solid crimping in the area of the cavity. The invention also relates to a method for connecting the inventive shaped part to a tube.

Abstract: A wiper drive apparatus includes a drive gear rotated by a motor, a lead frame carried on a cover attachable to the motor or motor gear and including a circumferentially of discrete conductive traces, and a park switch bridge rotatably mounted on the cover and carrying a circumferentially of spaced contacts, each slidable over conductive traces to open and close a circuit to the drive motor as the park switch bridge is engaged by and rotated by the drive gear. Each contact is carried on a beam projecting from a circumferentially of radially extending arms forming the park switch bridge. A drive pin carried on the drive gear engages successive arms to rotate the park switch bridge 90° for each revolution of the drive gear to bring a different contact into electrical connection with the conductive traces without requiring additional tooling for the lead frame or the park switch bridge itself.

Abstract: In a device for distance measurement having at least one electroacoustic transducer for transmitting an ultrasonic signal and subsequently receiving an ultrasonic signal reflected from an object, the transmitted power of the transducer can be varied. In the case of a low transmitted power, the oscillation of the transducer decays more rapidly after the transmission time, with the result that it is possible even very soon to receive echoes without interference from the post-pulse oscillation of the transducer. It is therefore possible to measure even very small distances.

Abstract: In a windshield wiper drive assembly having a pivot shaft and housing for passage through an aperture formed in a panel of a vehicle, a seal is provided formed as a unitary one-piece cap and seal body. The one-piece body has a cap with a longitudinally extending aperture engageable at one end with the housing and at another end with the pivot shaft. An integrally formed seal portion is provided to be engaged with the panel of the vehicle after installation. The cap has an enlarged portion for snap-fit with respect to the housing, and a reduced portion for sealing engagement with the pivot shaft. The sealed portion extends radially and longitudinally from an inner edge adjacent an outer longitudinal edge of the enlarged portion of the cap toward an outer edge adjacent an outer longitudinal edge of the reduced portion of the cap. The seal portion can extend beyond the outer longitudinal edge of the reduced portion of the cap.

Abstract: The invention relates to an inside light module for motor vehicles. The invention provides a rain sensor that can be easily installed inside the motor vehicle. This is achieved by connecting the rain sensor to the inside light module and by securing the inside light module and the rain sensor at the same time. Useful embodiments involve electrical connection of the rain sensor and appropriate placement of the rain sensor on the windscreen of the motor vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle exterior object detector apparatus includes a transceiver carried within an optically clear housing and mounted by a holder to a support on the vehicle. A potting compound surrounds the transceiver within the optically clear housing, the potting compound having a cure time less than that of a heat curable potting compound. A heater element is carried in the holder in surrounding relationship with one end of the transceiver housing for melting ice and snow build up on the end of the housing for proper operation of the transmitter and receiver.

Abstract: A motor vehicle wiper comprising a driving head designed to be fixed to a free upper end of a wiper driving shaft at a bore includes a wiper arm, which is articulated on the driving head by a rear longitudinal end around a transverse axis which is substantially perpendicular to the general longitudinal direction of the wiper and perpendicular to the driving shaft axis, between a raised position and an operative position toward which it is returned by a helical compression spring inserted between the driving head and a support surface of the arm, the helical compression spring extends around the bore.

Abstract: A steering column switch for motor vehicles comprises a base plate and first, second, and third identical microswitches placed onto the plate that are indirectly actuated by an operating lever through terminal links. The operating lever has a neutral position and two operating positions. The third microswitch that is assigned to the neutral position is arranged in a flat position. The terminal link actuating the third microswitch is arranged in a plane parallel to the base plate. A sampling roller prevents frictional losses during the actuation of the third microswitch via a control contour on the control lever.

Abstract: The invention concerns a scanning device which scans a code disc by means of a subassembly comprising a radiation emitter and a radiation receiver. The object of the invention is to emulate the length ratio of the tooth to the tooth space by the ratio, on the output side, of pulses to interpulse periods without using complicated regulating devices. To that end, when the operating voltage for the assembly is at the maximum permissible level, the ratio of the teeth to the tooth spaces on the code carrier is to be adapted such that, on the output side, the ratio of pulses to interpulse periods is 1:1.

Abstract: A process for determining the distance (D) between a distance sensor and an object. A transmitter sends wave pulses with a predetermined first frequency fb 1 and the wave pulses reflected by the object are received by a receiver and are directed in the form of an analog electrical incoming signal to an A-D converter. The latter scans the incoming signal with a second frequency f2 with f2>f1 and converts it into a digital signal Z(t) which is evaluated for determining a distance value (D) in the following manner: a) Evaluation of the digital signal Z(t) for determining a first wave pulse propagation time (T1); b) k-fold repetition of the step a) for determining the total k wave pulse propagation times (T1, T2, . . . , Tk); c) Calculation of a mean wave pulse propagation time (T=(T1+T2+ . . . +Tk)/k); and d) Calculation of the distance value (D) in accordance with D−v=T/2.

Abstract: A driving mechanism for a windscreen wiper having a park position switch. The park position switch includes a swivable contact bridge which is pivotally arranged on a pin in the bottom of the driving mechanism. A contact tag on the contact bridge is made of an electrically conductive plate, with the contact tags being formed by bends. The contact bridge is operated via cams on the worm-gear. The cams cooperate with switch flaps on the contact bridge that are equally formed by bends. Preferably, the switch is mounted in the bottom of the driving mechanism so that the contact banks to be contacted can also extend in the bottom of the case.

Abstract: A wiper arm assembly for the windshield wiper of a vehicle. The wiper arm assembly includes a wiper arm and a wiper blade pivotably engaged. The wiper arm is affixed to a wiper shaft. The wiper blade includes a carrier frame for holding and guiding a rubbery elastic wiper strip. The wiper arm assembly also includes an additional support element rigidly joined to the wiper arm, spaced apart from a pivot axis between the wiper arm and the wiper blade. The additional support element engages the wiper blade on the wiper strip and supports the wiper blade in the wiping direction and counter to the wiping direction.

Abstract: A switch system wherein the housing consists of a spatially injection-molded conductor support (MID technique). The switch system is designed such that it can be largely adapted to the requirements of automotive technology. To that end, the top of the housing has a surface which can be equipped as desired with electrical and/or mechanical components and its underside has pin-like projections which are connected to strip conductor and act as plugs.

Abstract: The invention concerns a wiper or an exchange kit for a wiper for a windshield wiper installation for the cleaning of a windshield of a vehicle with a wiper blade that is retained on an oblong retaining structure by means of retaining claws of the retaining structure gripping the head strip of the wiper blade from the top and engaging in longitudinal grooves that are formed on opposite longitudinal sides of the head strip. An end bracket that is attached to one end of the head strip retains the wiper blade longitudinally on the retaining structure such that it cannot inadvertently get lost, while a snap-arm that is part of the end bracket traverses the correlated end claw of the retaining structure and snaps into place behind the interior front side of the end claw by means of a snap element. In order to make the exchange of a wiper blade easier, the snap-arm of the end bracket has an essentially oblong flat shape and extends flush along one longitudinal side of the head strip that is part of the wiper blade.