Abstract: A power circuit (10) for activating a drive unit for a wiper system of a motor vehicle has a circuit breaker (14) for activating the drive unit. According to the invention a heat accumulator (16) for absorbing heat accumulating in the circuit breaker (14) when the drive unit is in the blocked state is thermally connected to the circuit breaker (14). In the event of sudden heat generation in the circuit breaker (14) a majority of the resulting heat can be discharged quickly to the heat accumulator (16) such that the circuit breaker (14) can be smaller in size and the power circuit (10) enables use of a higher-ohm circuit breaker (14).

Abstract: A wiper system using two wipers and two wiper motors, which drive the wipers and of which at least one first wiper motor forms a sub-assembly with an electronic control unit. The second wiper motor is a rotary motor having only one sensory system for detecting the absolute and relative rotational position of its driven shaft, which generates corresponding signals for the control unit of the first wiper motor, and the first wiper motor, in the rotational speed and the rotational position of its driven shaft, is regulated by the control unit as a function of the rotational position and the rotational speed of the driven shaft of the second wiper motor.

Abstract: A rain sensor, for motor vehicles in particular, having one measuring distance with at least one transmitter and at least one receiver for electromagnetic waves (light waves), a windshield being arranged in the measuring distance, and the measuring distance influencing the wave propagation between the at least one transmitter and the at least one receiver in such a way that when a coating forms on the windshield, in particular as the result of wetting by precipitation, an output signal sensed by the receiver is changed. It is provided that the optical and electronic components of the rain sensor are mounted in a housing, a light conducting element forming a cover of the housing.

Abstract: A sensor device is proposed, particularly for controlling lighting devices of a motor vehicle, having at least one receiver for receiving radiation from at least one receiver region, and a control device which is capable of controlling peripheral devices; a diffractive element, able to be attached to a window and formed preferably as a hologram, is provided which is arranged in the receiver region of the receiver.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for automatic control of illumination devices, in particular of a motor vehicle, include a brightness sensor which delivers first signals, the illumination devices are switched off after a time interval that begins at the point in time at which the first signals exceed or fall below a first threshold. The length of the time interval is modifiable, and in particular, is capable of being extended.

Abstract: In a method for the automatic control of lighting devices, particularly of a motor vehicle, and a device for implementing the method, the brightness in a specific direction being detected by at least one directional sensor which emits direction signals to a control device, the control device switching on the lighting devices after a minimum time has elapsed. The minimum time begins when the direction signals exceed or drop below a switch-on threshold. The lighting devices are only switched on when the direction signals lie above or below the switch-on threshold during the entire minimum time. To that end, the control device is connected to a timer.

Abstract: A sensor device (10) is proposed, particularly for controlling lighting devices (30) of a motor vehicle, having at least one receiver (16, 18) for receiving radiation from at least one receiver region, and a control device (28) which is capable of controlling peripheral devices (30); a diffractive element (12), able to be attached to a window (14) and formed preferably as a hologram, is provided which is arranged in the receiver region of the receiver (16, 18).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for automatic control of illumination devices (14), in particular of a motor vehicle, are proposed, having a brightness sensor (28) which delivers first signals (S1), the illumination devices (14) being switched off after a time interval (DeltaT) that begins at the point in time (T1) at which the first signals (S1) exceed or fall below a first threshold (SW1), the length of the time interval (DeltaT) being modifiable, in particular capable of being extended.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement for detecting a wetting, in particular a precipitation and dirt accumulation, on a window (13) is proposed, with at least one transmitter (14) and at least one receiver (15) for the transmitter light (17) emitted by the transmitters (14), where the transmitters (14) and receivers (15) are disposed on the vertex points of an imaginary trapezoid. As a result, the external dimensions of the sensor are reduced, the ratio of sensitive area (19) and base area (18) of the sensor is improved, and a coherent sensitive area is produced, where there is also space available for a receiving element of an automatic light control.

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: The present invention is directed to a wiper system (10) using two wipers (12, 14) and two wiper motors (26, 28), which drive the wipers (12, 14) and of which at least one first wiper motor (26) forms a sub-assembly with an electronic control unit (34). It is proposed to design the second wiper motor (28) as rotary motor having only one sensory system (36) for detecting the absolute and relative rotational position of its driven shaft (32), which generates corresponding signals for the control unit (34) of the first wiper motor (26), and the first wiper motor (26), in the rotational speed and the rotational position of its driven shaft (32), is regulated by the control unit (34) as a function of the rotational position and the rotational speed of the driven shaft (32) of the second wiper motor (28).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the automatic control of lighting devices (16), particularly of a motor vehicle, and a device for implementing the method, the brightness in a specific direction being detected by at least one directional sensor (14) which emits direction signals (SR) to a control device (10), the control device (10) switching on the lighting devices (16) after a minimum time (tb) has elapsed. The minimum time (tb) begins when the direction signals (SR) exceed or drop below a switch-on threshold (SE). The lighting devices (16) are only switched on when the direction signals (SR) lie above or below the switch-on threshold (SE) during the entire minimum time (tb). To that end, the control device (10) is connected to a timer (T).

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: The invention relates to an optical sensor for motor vehicles, for detecting ambient parameters that affect vision, having at least one transmitter and at least one receiver for electromagnetic waves (light waves), in which a windshield is disposed in a measurement segment between the at least one transmitter and the at least one receiver and influences a wave propagation between the at least one transmitter and the at least one receiver in such a way that when a film develops on the windshield, and especially when wetting occurs from precipitation, an output signal generated by the receiver varies and serves to trigger a windshield wiper system. It is provided that at least one of the receivers (16, 20, 22) of the optical sensor (4) receives electromagnetic waves (light waves) of an ambient brightness of the motor vehicle and serves to trigger a light system of the motor vehicle.

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: 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 means, 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 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: An optical sensor for detecting wetting of a surface in a motor vehicle, the optical sensor has a measuring segment which has at least one transmitter of electromagnet waves and at least one receiver of electromagnetic waves and in which a windshield is disposable so that when a layer of moisture forms on the windshield upon wetting from precipitation a wave propagation between the at least one transmitter and the at least one receiver changes and an output signal generated by the receiver changes, a housing disposable on an inside of the windshield and having a bottom face adapted to be in physical contact with the windshield, the bottom face of the housing being oval.

Abstract: A device (10) for operating a windshield wiper (12) is proposed, with a moisture sensor (22) for detecting the wetness of a window that in addition to detecting rain and droplets also detects fog and drizzle. The measured values (Us) of the moisture sensor (22) are allocated incremental values (Ink) by the control unit (16). The difference between two successive incremental values (Ink) is to be added, with a sign (+ or −), in the memory (28) to a sum (&Sgr;) of differences formed previously in the same way, and when a threshold (S) is reached by the sum (&Sgr;) stored in the memory (28), the control unit (16) trips a wiper operating mode.

Abstract: A regulated windshield wiper device (10), in particular for motor vehicles, is proposed, which predetermines a corrected guidance variable (F) by determining a correction variable (K) so that the regulating deviation of the control circuit becomes approximately zero. In order to regulate the position (X) of at least one wiper (16) that oscillates between two end positions (18.1, 18.2, 18.3), the windshield wiper device (10) includes an electronically reversible drive motor (14) and a regulating unit (12), which compares a regulation variable (R) to a guidance variable (F) and regulates the motor (14) by means of a control variable (S), wherein the deviation between the guidance variable (F) and the regulation variable (R) and/or other parameters, e.g. the control variable (S) or variables derived from the regulation variable (R), is used to calculate a correction variable (K) with which the guidance variable (F) can be corrected.