Moisture Content Or Wetness Patents (Class 318/483)
  • Patent number: 11897478
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein provide a method for using one or more audio signals from one or more sensors to establish the presence and severity of precipitation at a particular location. Methods may include: receiving at least one first audio signal from a first audio sensor of a vehicle; extracting acoustical features including frequency and amplitude from the at least one first audio signal; receiving at least one second audio signal from a second audio sensor of the vehicle; extracting acoustical features including frequency and amplitude from the at least one second audio signal; processing the frequency and amplitude from the at least one first audio signal and the frequency and amplitude from the at least one second audio signal as inputs to an algorithm to generate an output from the algorithm; and determining, from the output of the algorithm, a precipitation condition and a confidence measure of the precipitation condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: HERE GLOBAL B.V.
    Inventors: Leon Stenneth, Bruce Bernhardt, Advait Raut
  • Patent number: 11803277
    Abstract: A glazing unit of a vehicle or building, which has at least one glass pane or polymer film, wherein a capacitive sensor is arranged on a first surface of the or a glass pane or polymer film, which sensor includes a first sensor section and a second sensor section spaced at a distance therefrom on the first surface, which second sensor section acts as a signal readout section, wherein during operation of the sensor, an electrical field is generated between the first and second sensor section, which field partially penetrates the glass pane or polymer film, wherein a material property compensation electrode is provided on the second surface of the same glass pane or polymer film, opposite the second sensor section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Gabor Varga, Bastian Klauss, Michael Zeiss, Christian Effertz
  • Patent number: 11781369
    Abstract: Motor vehicles may be equipped with running board activated powered closure member systems. A powered opening or closing sequence of a closure member may be initiated by activating a running board assembly of the powered closure member system in response to a user input. The user input can be provided by a limb of the user, for example. In some embodiments, the running board assembly may include integrated sensors for receiving the user input. In other embodiments, the running board assembly may be configured to function as a switch for receiving the user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Kristopher Karl Brown, Heather Woycik, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Hussein Berry
  • Patent number: 11724669
    Abstract: The present teaching relates to method and system for sensor protection. A sensor protection system includes an assembly having a first structure embedded in a second structure, wherein a sensor is firmly placed in the first structure for sensing information through the assembly and protected from negative impact of outside environment, and one or more devices mounted on the second structure for providing means to clean a slanted surface of the second structure through which the sensor senses the surrounding information, wherein the one or more devices can be individually or jointly activated as needed to clean the slanted surface in order to prevent degradation of information sensed by the sensor through the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: PlusAI, Inc.
    Inventors: Jinpeng Li, Greg Seyfarth, Qiaoyu Zhang, Amit Kumar
  • Patent number: 11718272
    Abstract: Provided are a wiper intelligence control method and device. The a wiper intelligence control method includes following steps: an operation state of a wiper is switched to an automatic wiper operation state or a manual wiper operation state according to a received wiper operation state switch signal; when the wiper operates in the automatic wiper operation state, if a wiper movement speed adjustment signal output from a manual operation module is received, a current wiper movement speed is adjusted; when the wiper is switched from the automatic wiper operation state to the manual wiper operation state, the current wiper movement speed of the wiper is locked as the wiper movement speed in the manual wiper operation state; when the wiper operates in the manual wiper operation state, if the wiper movement speed adjustment signal output from the manual operation module is received, the current wiper movement speed is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Inventor: Yu Xu
  • Patent number: 11691476
    Abstract: A vehicle with an active climate control system. The vehicle having sensors that communicate with the active climate control system. The active climate control system controlling climate control elements upon evaluation of the sensor data. The active climate control fully customizable by the user of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Karma Automotive LLC
    Inventor: Brett Joseph Rogers
  • Patent number: 11679740
    Abstract: The present teaching relates to method and system for sensor protection. A sensor protection system includes an assembly having a first structure embedded in a second structure, wherein a sensor is firmly placed in the first structure for sensing information through the assembly and protected from negative impact of outside environment, and one or more devices mounted on the second structure for providing means to clean a slanted surface of the second structure through which the sensor senses the surrounding information, wherein the one or more devices can be individually or jointly activated as needed to clean the slanted surface in order to prevent degradation of information sensed by the sensor through the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: PlusAI, Inc.
    Inventors: Jinpeng Li, Greg Seyfarth, Qiaoyu Zhang, Amit Kumar
  • Patent number: 11678035
    Abstract: An imaging system that is translucent can be achieved by placing an image sensor (204) at one of more edges or periphery of a translucent window (202). A small fraction of light from the outside scene scatters off imperfections (218) in the translucent window (202) and reach the peripheral image sensor (204). Based on appropriate calibration of the response of point sources (206) from the outside scene, the full scene can be reconstructed computationally from the peripherally scattered light (210, 212). The technique can be extended to color, multi-spectral, light-field, 3D, and polarization selective imaging. Applications can include surveillance, imaging for autonomous agents, microscopy, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Rajesh Menon, Ganghun Kim
  • Patent number: 11553052
    Abstract: A controller is provided which performs extracting a post related to a vehicle washing machine from posts to a social networking service, and transmitting, to a terminal of a user using the social networking service, information on a position of the vehicle washing machine and a type of the vehicle washing machine specified based on the extracted post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Josuke Yamane, Naoya Oka, Ryosuke Yamamoto, Kaori Okuda
  • Patent number: 11414912
    Abstract: An opening and closing body control device includes: a target speed recalculation unit that, when the first opening and closing body and the second opening and closing body are moving, recalculates the respective target speeds of each of the first opening and closing body and the second opening and closing body for reaching the target open amounts at the same time; and a second synchronous control unit that, in a case in which a speed of at least one of the first opening and closing body or the second opening and closing body is different from the target speed calculated by the target speed calculation unit, controls the first motor drive unit and the second motor drive unit so that the first opening and closing body and the second opening and closing body move at the respective target speeds recalculated by the target speed recalculation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hideo Kojima
  • Patent number: 11181495
    Abstract: A rainwater detection device for detecting rainwater is provided. The rainwater detection device includes: a panel having a surface; rainwater sensing wires on the surface; and a rainwater sensor (i) physically connected with the rainwater sensing wires without an electrical connection if a condition is unsatisfied and (ii) physically and electrically connected with the rainwater sensing wires if the condition is satisfied; wherein a first wire, one of the rainwater sensing wires, is separated from a second wire, another of the rainwater sensing wires, by an interval, without contacting each other and wherein the rainwater sensing wires are connected to opposite polarity of an electrode connected with the rainwater sensor, and wherein the condition is that a first state where no current flows between the first and the second wires is changed to a second state where current flows between the first and the second wires due to the rainwater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF METEOROLOGICAL SCIENCES
    Inventors: Geon Tae Kim, Seon Jeong Kim, Yoo Jun Kim, Baek Jo Kim
  • Patent number: 11171538
    Abstract: Provided is a motor device capable of detecting entry of water into a housing before a control circuit is submerged. A first motor bus bar includes a first U-phase motor bus bar, a first V-phase motor bus bar, and a first W-phase motor bus bar. A first control circuit is connected to the first motor bus bar. The first U-phase motor bus bar, the first V-phase motor bus bar, and the first W-phase motor bus bar are disposed on the lower side with respect to the first control circuit in a gravity direction. The first control circuit detects entry of water into a motor housing of the motor device, based on the status of power supply to the first U-phase motor bus bar, the first V-phase motor bus bar, and the first W-phase motor bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Genta Sugimori
  • Patent number: 11066867
    Abstract: A door control device in a vehicle including seats and doors, includes: a door driver; a seating position detector; and a door controller. The door driver at least drives opening of the doors. The seating position detector detects a seating position information indicating a position of the seat on which an occupant is seated. The door controller determines a door to be opened on the basis of the seating position information detected by the seating position detector and causes the door driver to drive opening of the determined door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Junya Seki
  • Patent number: 11027769
    Abstract: A steering system includes a rack shaft, a housing, an electric motor, a control device, and a speed reduction mechanism that applies a moving force in the axial direction to the rack shaft with the speed of rotation of the electric motor reduced. The housing has a rack shaft housing portion and a speed reduction mechanism housing portion. The electric motor has: a motor case fixed to the housing; a plurality of stator cores disposed annularly in the motor case; coil windings wound around the plurality of stator cores; and a rotor. The motor case is formed with a water introduction hole that introduces water that has entered the speed reduction mechanism housing portion into the motor case. The control device has a detector that detects entry of water into the motor case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuto Sato
  • Patent number: 10970947
    Abstract: One general aspect includes a method to provide a rear window wiper notification, the method including: when a rear window wiper is in an active state, via a processor, establishing a time duration; and when the rear window wiper remains in the active state throughout the time duration and after a conclusion of the time duration, via the processor, providing the rear window wiper notification in an interior cabin of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS, LLC
    Inventors: Kevin R. Horbatt, Brenton J. Bergkoetter
  • Patent number: 10780883
    Abstract: An amount and type of precipitation, and a speed of a vehicle is determined. A component in the vehicle is actuated based on the amount and type of precipitation, and the speed of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stuart C. Salter, Annette Lynn Huebner, Pietro Buttolo, Paul Kenneth Dellock, Venkatesh Krishnan
  • Patent number: 10628696
    Abstract: An imaging device includes a reflection polarization prism having an incident surface on which illumination light emitted from a light emitter is incident and a transmission surface that passes the illumination light entered the incident surface through one surface of a light-transmitting member, an imager including an image sensor having a first light-receiving portion that receives light from a predetermined imaging area transmitting the light-transmitting member and a second light-receiving portion adjacent to the first light-receiving portion that receives the illumination light reflected on an opposite surface to the one surface of the light-transmitting member, and an optical member that emits the light introduced from the predetermined imaging area to the first light-receiving portion and emits the illumination light reflected on the opposite surface of the light-transmitting member to the second light-receiving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Izumi Itoh, Akihiro Kawamura, Ken Shirasaki, Kenichi Ishizuka, Kenya Fujiwara, Hiroyuki Satoh, Shusaku Takasu
  • Patent number: 10543812
    Abstract: A system includes an optical fiber embedded in a windshield. The system includes a reflector embedded in the windshield and oriented to reflect light to a first end of the optical fiber. The system includes a sensor oriented to receive light from a second end of the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Alfred Green, David Karl Bidner
  • Patent number: 9702190
    Abstract: An operating control method of a motorized driving device of a home automation installation comprises at least one step for entering a configuration mode of the device, a step for pairing a control point with an electronic control unit of the device, a step for activating at least one selection element of the control point during a predetermined time period beginning after the pairing step and a step for entering a second standby state of a control order receiving module of the electronic control unit. The second standby state of the control order receiving module has a wake-up frequency of the control order receiving module lower than the wake-up frequency of the control order receiving module in a first standby state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: SIMU
    Inventors: Thierry Schneider, Guillaume Pailleret, Vincent Jadot
  • Patent number: 9046405
    Abstract: One embodiment of a liquid-modulated antenna using an antenna of a type commonly used in the field of wireless identification which is placed within sufficient proximity of a source of liquid to allow the liquid to flow onto the antenna, thereby altering (modulating) the characteristics of the signal being transmitted from the antenna to a signal receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Inventor: Roy Loxley Rike
  • Patent number: 8963464
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control device (160) for a drive unit (120) of a vehicle windshield wiper system (100) comprising at least one wiper arm (140). The control device (160) is designed to determine a load quantity (L) of the drive unit (120) and to set the wiping frequency (WH) of the wiper arm (140) on the basis of the ratio of the load quantity (L) to at least one load threshold value (LS). Furthermore, the control device (160) is designed to set the wiping frequency (WH) depending on the current speed (v) of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Braun, Norbert Wegner, Harald Retsch
  • Publication number: 20140265980
    Abstract: A system for adjusting the wipers of a vehicle based on the use of rain and proximity detecting subsystem on a given vehicle for detecting the presence of rain and one or more other vehicles in proximity to the given vehicle, such that the wipers of the given vehicle can be automatically operated to better respond to material such as rain, snow, or other material being splashed on the given vehicle by the other vehicle(s). This system may utilize sensor subsystems used for other purposes for use as the proximity sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Thomas G. Kracker, Brian K. Lickfelt
  • Patent number: 8669726
    Abstract: The invention in certain embodiments relates to a control circuit for an electric-motor-operated window lifter (10) of a motor vehicle (1), the control circuit having a first switch (11) for opening a vehicle window (7), a second switch (12) for closing the vehicle window (7), and a control device (15), which, when one of the switches (11, 12) is activated, actuates the window lifter (10) to move the vehicle window (7) in the opening direction or closing direction. The control device (15) monitors the lighting current (ILED) which flows across a lighting element (14) for the switches (11, 12), and generates a control signal (I12), if appropriate, for opening the vehicle window (7) if the lighting current (ILED) exceeds an overcurrent threshold value (IRef) thereby detecting inundation of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG, Hallstadt
    Inventors: Ralf Daiminger, Andre Eberlein, Sven Baumann
  • Patent number: 8598828
    Abstract: A wiper system is provided and may include a wiper that operates between a parked state and a use state, a motor associated with the wiper that selectively moves the wiper between the parked state and the use state, and a switch that generates a signal identifying whether the wiper is in the parked state or the use state. The wiper system may also include a controller in communication with the switch. The controller may include a second-order filter and a comparator, whereby the controller passes the signal through the second-order filter and the comparator to differentiate between the parked state and the use state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Chrysler Group LLC
    Inventor: Nazmi A. Sabi
  • Patent number: 8581530
    Abstract: The invention relates to a windscreen wiping device for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one wiper, a wiper drive (1), an electronic control device (2) that controls the wiper drive (1), a first signal transmitter for capturing the angular position of the wiper, and a first control line (7) that can emit an angle position signal captured by the first signal transmitter to the control device (2). According to the invention, a second signal transmitter for capturing the angular displacement of the wiper is provided. A second control line (8) that can emit an angle modification signal captured by the second signal transmitter to the control device (2) is provided. Said claimed windscreen wiper device has the advantage that it has a permanent self-locking device for at least one wiper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Florian Tisch
  • Patent number: 8576083
    Abstract: A rain detector for use with an automotive vehicle. The rain detector includes a capacitance sensor mounted to the inside surface of a windshield. The sensor includes at least two output lines which vary in capacitance as the function of magnitude of rain on the outside surface of the windshield. A programmed microcontroller receives the sensor output lines as analog input signals and then compares the magnitude of the capacitance with a threshold capacitance. In the event that the sensed capacitance exceeds the threshold capacitance, indicative of raindrops on the outside surface of the windshield, the microcontroller generates an output signal to the wiper control circuitry of the vehicle to activate the windshield wiper system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Enterprise Electronics, LLC
    Inventor: David Pearson
  • Patent number: 8569985
    Abstract: In a wiper control apparatus, a water drop detector outputs an output signal in accordance with water drops adhering to a windshield of a vehicle. When a traveling determination portion determines that the vehicle is traveling, a first level setting portion sets a sensitivity for detecting the output signal to a first sensitivity. When the traveling determination portion determines the vehicle is not traveling, a second level setting portion sets the sensitivity for detecting the output signal to a second sensitivity that is larger than the first sensitivity. A water drop adhesion determination portion determines that water drops adhere to the windshield when a determination waiting time elapses in a state where detection of the output signal continues. A driving control portion controls a wiper driving portion to drive the wiper when the water drop adhesion determination portion determines that water drops adhere to the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Taiji Morishita, Yasuhiro Takabe, Hiroshi Miyazaki, Katsunori Tonomyo
  • Publication number: 20130257331
    Abstract: An electric motor includes a magnet rotor which is placed with an air gap interposed between it and a stator and has a magnetic pole portion formed from a plastic magnet which swells by hydrogen bonds, an inverter circuit, a DC-voltage conversion portion, a driving logic control portion, a supply current value control portion, a current value designation portion, a reference current value designation portion, and a correlation designation portion, wherein the correlation designation portion determines an average current value by changing the average current value linearly or non-linearly with respect to a reference current value, and the magnetic pole portion absorbs moisture to swell, thereby making the air gap smaller, at higher humidity than a reference humidity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2011
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masayuki Takada
  • Patent number: 8471513
    Abstract: During rain, including a light source (5) for radiating light such that the light is transmitted through a vehicle window (2), a light receiving element (6) for sensing an optical signal when the light radiated from the light source (5) is reflected from the raindrop fallen on the vehicle window (2) and performing a photoelectric transduction, and a receiver (9) for receiving the photoelectrically transduced signal from the light receiving element (6) and judging the level of rainfall. The light source (5) and the light receiving element (6) are inclined with respect to the surface of the vehicle window (2) such that the light of the light source (5) directly reflected from the vehicle window (2) exits to the outside of the light receiving element (6) and the light reflected from a raindrop (8) on the vehicle window (2) is received by the light receiving element (6) to operate a vehicle wiper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Inventor: Sea Yeoun Han
  • Patent number: 8441221
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a low-cost windshield wiper control system which can be readily incorporated into existing vehicle systems, particularly into an operator-accessible windshield wiper control unit assembly (100). The windshield wiper control assembly (100) is selectively operable as an intermittent wiper control system, or as a rain sensing windshield wiper control system without the need for microprocessors or multiplex circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Hydreon Corporation
    Inventor: Rein S. Teder
  • Patent number: 8299740
    Abstract: A motor drive apparatus for driving a motor in a normal rotation direction or a reverse rotation direction in accordance with a state of operation of an operation switch has a first semiconductor switching device that switches ON/OFF state based on a normal rotation instruction provided by the operation switch, a second semiconductor switching device that switches ON/OFF state based on a reverse rotation instruction provided by the operation switch, a control circuit for controlling drive of the motor in the normal rotation direction or the reverse rotation direction, based on the ON/OFF state of the first and second semiconductor switching devices, and a wetting detection circuit for detecting wetting and controlling operation of the first and second semiconductor switching devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Omron Automotive Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Teruo Fukao
  • Patent number: 8265824
    Abstract: First and second temperature check portions 7 and 8 determine whether an ambient temperature T1 is lower than 20° C. or not, whether an external surface temperature T2 of a windshield S is lower than 25° C. or not and whether a temperature difference (T2?T1) is lower than 20° C. or not, and a weather condition check portion 9 determines whether a condition that condensation occurs over the windshield S is met or not based on results of the checks. A wiper control portion 10 controls a driving operation of a wiper W based on a rainfall state checked by a low sensitivity rainfall check portion 5 when the condition that the condensation occurs is met, and controls the driving operation of the wiper W based on a rainfall state checked by a high sensitivity rainfall check portion 4 when a condition that the condensation does not occur is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignees: Niles Co., Ltd., Suzuki Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuo Oishi, Tomoyuki Ohata
  • Patent number: 8165719
    Abstract: A system, and a method for manufacturing that system, for electrically and automatically opening, closing and otherwise controlling window shutters on a building, for the purposes of limiting radiant, conductive, and convective thermal losses from the inside of the building to the outside during the heating season, and limiting radiant, conductive, and convective thermal gains from the outside of the building to the inside during the cooling season. The system further comprises an interface to accommodate connection to other sensors not used to control the thermal environment of the building, such as motion detectors, burglar alarms, CO sensors and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventors: Laurence F. Kinney, Gerald L. Cler, Todd Eric Bergeson, Derek Christopher Lindberg
  • Publication number: 20120062163
    Abstract: In a wiper control apparatus, a water drop detector outputs an output signal in accordance with water drops adhering to a windshield of a vehicle. When a traveling determination portion determines that the vehicle is traveling, a first level setting portion sets a sensitivity for detecting the output signal to a first sensitivity. When the traveling determination portion determines the vehicle is not traveling, a second level setting portion sets the sensitivity for detecting the output signal to a second sensitivity that is larger than the first sensitivity. A water drop adhesion determination portion determines that water drops adhere to the windshield when a determination waiting time elapses in a state where detection of the output signal continues. A driving control portion controls a wiper driving portion to drive the wiper when the water drop adhesion determination portion determines that water drops adhere to the windshield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicants: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION, DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taiji MORISHITA, Yasuhiro Takabe, Hiroshi Miyazaki, Katsunori Tonomyo
  • Patent number: 8134312
    Abstract: A motor control circuit includes a manipulation unit, a control unit that drives a motor in a normal rotation direction or a reverse rotation direction, a catch detecting unit that detects a foreign substance caught in the opening and closing body, a first relay circuit that connects one of terminals of the motor to a power supply when the motor is driven in the normal rotation direction, a second relay circuit that connects the other terminal of the motor to the power supply when the motor is driven in the reverse rotation direction, a switch element that cuts off connection to the power supply when the normal rotation command is fed into the control unit from the manipulation unit, a detection circuit, and a feed circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventor: Katsunori Kigoshi
  • Publication number: 20110221372
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a low-cost windshield wiper control system which can be readily incorporated into existing vehicle systems, particularly into an operator-accessible windshield wiper control unit assembly (100). The windshield wiper control assembly (100) is selectively operable as an intermittent wiper control system, or as a rain sensing windshield wiper control system without the need for microprocessors or multiplex circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: PILKINGTON GROUP LIMITED
    Inventor: Rein S. Teder
  • Patent number: 7973507
    Abstract: A raindrop detecting device includes a raindrop sensor, and a controller. The raindrop sensor is disposed in a wiping area of a wiper blade on a front windshield, and outputs a detection signal regarding a raindrop amount. The controller activates the wiper blade based on the detection signal, and sets a prohibition period for which the raindrop sensor is prohibited from determining the raindrop amount. The raindrop sensor outputs signals when raindrop collected by the wiper blade passes above the raindrop sensor in a reciprocating wiping operation. The controller calculates the prohibition period of a second reciprocating wiping operation based on the signals of a first reciprocating wiping operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Taketoshi Yoshigoe
  • Publication number: 20110084641
    Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for automatically controlling a wiper of a vehicle, the apparatus including a light emitting means to output one or more optical signals to an inside of a front glass of the vehicle, a light receiving means to receive the optical signals output from the light emitting means, and a control means to control the wiper of the vehicle to be driven based on a light receiving efficiency with respect to received signals received by the light receiving means, when operating in an automatic wiper control mode. Since driving of the wiper is automatically controlled based on the light receiving efficiency of optical signals output to the inside of the front glass, it is possible to secure a visual field of a driver without a need to separately manipulate manually a wiper controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Doo-Seung UM, Sang-Hyeob KIM, Myung-Ae CHUNG
  • Publication number: 20110031921
    Abstract: During rain, including a light source (5) for radiating light such that the light is transmitted through a vehicle window (2), a light receiving element (6) for sensing an optical signal when the light radiated from the light source (5) is reflected from the raindrop fallen on the vehicle window (2) and performing a photoelectric transduction, and a receiver (9) for receiving the photoelectrically transduced signal from the light receiving element (6) and judging the level of rainfall. The light source (5) and the light receiving element (6) are inclined with respect to the surface of the vehicle window (2) such that the light of the light source (5) directly reflected from the vehicle window (2) exits to the outside of the light receiving element (6) and the light reflected from a raindrop (8) on the vehicle window (2) is received by the light receiving element (6) to operate a vehicle wiper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventor: Sea Yeoun Han
  • Publication number: 20100308763
    Abstract: A motor drive apparatus for driving a motor in a normal rotation direction or a reverse rotation direction in accordance with a state of operation of an operation switch has a first semiconductor switching device that switches ON/OFF state based on a normal rotation instruction provided by the operation switch, a second semiconductor switching device that switches ON/OFF state based on a reverse rotation instruction provided by the operation switch, a control circuit for controlling drive of the motor in the normal rotation direction or the reverse rotation direction, based on the ON/OFF state of the first and second semiconductor switching devices, and a wetting detection circuit for detecting wetting and controlling operation of the first and second semiconductor switching devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Applicant: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Teruo Fukao
  • Patent number: 7777993
    Abstract: A wiper control circuit is provided for invalidating the state of a wiper operation switch to suppress unnecessary operations of a wiper in an automotive vehicle upon starting an engine using a remote control engine starter. The wiper control circuit is configured to suppress generation of a sneak current and thereby reduce the likelihood that an erroneous operation instruction is received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunori Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 7772794
    Abstract: A wiper controlling apparatus capable of discriminating between a signal change at the time of a wiper blade passage and that at the time of a raindrop impact so as to allow a wiper control promptly responding to the change in the condition of the sensing surface is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Niles Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuto Kokuryo, Yoshiteru Makino, Tetsuya Nakashima
  • Patent number: 7772793
    Abstract: A raindrop detecting device for detecting a raindrop amount on a windshield of a vehicle and selecting a wiping mode of a wiper based on the detected raindrop amount includes a controller for lowering the wiping mode when the detected raindrop amount is kept to be smaller than a mode-keep threshold while the wiper performs a predetermined number of wiping operations. The controller changes the predetermined number of wiping operations based on at least one of a sensitivity data of a user of the vehicle and a rainfall block data relative to the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7755499
    Abstract: A detecting apparatus for detecting operation of a fan, includes a first current module disposed at an airflow path of the fan, a second current module insulated from the airflow, and an indicating module for giving an indicating signal, having a LED, and a transistor. The first and second current modules being mirror-images of each other. When the fan does not operate, the first and second current modules operate the same. The transistor of the indicating module is turned off, and the LED to be lit. When the fan operates, current flow of the first and second modules are different from each other producing a voltage greater than zero, the transistor of the indicating module is turned on, and the LED does not light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ming-Chih Hsieh, Yang-Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 7733049
    Abstract: A change computing arrangement computing an amount of change in a measured value of a measurement signal of a raindrop sensor in a raindrop quantity sensing execution time period that is a time period, during which a wiper blade moves outside of a sensing range of the raindrop sensor. A difference computing arrangement computes a difference between a predetermined reference value and an initial measured value of the measurement signal of the raindrop sensor. A determining arrangement determines the quantity of raindrops on the windshield based on the amount of change, which is computed by the change computing arrangement, and the difference, which is computed by the difference computing arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Satoru Hiramoto, Taiji Morishita
  • Patent number: 7719220
    Abstract: An electrical control system comprising a controllably conductive device, an input receiving circuit and a timer circuit. The controllably conductive device selectively applies power to an electrically operated servo. The input receiving circuit receives an input signal from an input switch for selection of the motion of the control surface operated by the electrically operated servo. The input signal receiving circuit is coupled to the controllably conductive device to cause it to be conductive in response to the input signal. The timer circuit is responsive to a signal from the input receiving circuit for causing the controllably conductive device to be non-conductive if the input signal is present for greater than a selectable time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Inventor: Robert Charles Newman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7710057
    Abstract: A raindrop sensor outputs a measurement signal, which corresponds to a quantity of raindrops in a predetermined sensing range in a wiping range on a windshield. A prohibited time period setting arrangement sets a time period, during which a wiper blade is predicted to pass through the predetermined sensing range, as a raindrop quantity sensing prohibited time period based on an elapsed time from a time point of supplying a drive command signal to a wiper motor, which drives the wiper blade. The determining arrangement determines the quantity of raindrops on the windshield based on the measurement signal outputted from the raindrop sensor in a raindrop quantity sensing execution time period, which is outside of the raindrop quantity sensing prohibited time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Taketoshi Yoshigoe, Taiji Morishita
  • Patent number: 7696710
    Abstract: A method for determining an amount of moisture on a surface of a substrate includes a step of transmitting a transmitter signal to generate a wave. The transmitter signal has a first phase. The wave is propagated to vibrate the surface. Vibrations in the surface are detected and converted into a receiver signal. The receiver signal has a second phase different than the first phase. The method includes the step of sensing the temperature of the substrate. The amount of moisture on the surface is computed based on a phase shift between the transmitter signal and the receiver signal that has been compensated to account for surface temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: AGC Automotive Americas R&D, Inc.
    Inventors: Colin J. Byrne, Brent W. Pankey, Mitchell Max Rohde, Karl Grosh
  • Patent number: 7657352
    Abstract: An automatic control system provides control of an automotive system in a vehicle based on at least one piece of control provision determination information. The automatic control system includes an information acquisition unit for acquiring the control provision determination information, and determines provision of the control for the automotive system based on predetermined criteria. The criteria defines when and how the query of control provision is conducted by the automatic control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignees: Nippon Soken Inc., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Toshihiro Hattori, Hideyuki Morita, Mitsuyasu Matsuura
  • Patent number: 7615955
    Abstract: A washer controller controls a washer motor in accordance with a manipulation of a washer switch. A washer switch detector determines whether a manipulation of the washer switch is performed within a predetermined time period of a last manipulation of the washer switch. A spray time controller sets a spray time to a first set time when the manipulation of the washer switch is performed within the predetermined time period of the last manipulation, and to a second set time when the manipulation of the washer switch is performed after the predetermined time period, the second set time being greater than the first set time. A washer motor controller operates the washer motor for a time period corresponding to the spray time set by the spray time controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Harita, Yoshito Hirota