Abstract: A method of automatically controlling the operating speed of a vehicular windshield wiping system based on an average rate of change in the value of a sensor signal indicative of the moisture on the windshield. The wiping system includes a motor for driving at least one wiper blade at a high speed and a low speed, and a sensor mounted to the windshield for monitoring a portion of the windshield wiped by the at least one wiper blade. The method includes determining an average rate of change in the sensor signal value over a predetermined period of time and operating the wiper system with the motor at the high speed based on the average rate of change in the sensor signal value. In one embodiment, the method includes wiper system is operated with the motor at the high speed based on the frequency with which the average rate of change in the sensor signal value drops below a first predetermined threshold.

Abstract: The outside mirror of a motor vehicle is provided with a wiper blade reciprocating on the mirror surface, as well as a liquid spraying means. An LED/photocell unit automatically senses the degree of soiling of the mirror and initiates a wiping cycle when a predetermined light limit is not reached. Irrespective of the degree of soiling, a cleaning operation is initiated after the engine has been started or stopped. The outside mirror is always in a perfect condition in which it offers good visibility to a driver. This considerably increases the road safety of an automotive vehicle.

Abstract: An automatically controlled cleaning device (14) for removing visibility-impairing foreign matter, e.g. rain, snow or mud, from the surface of a window such as a motor vehicle windscreen (8). The device uses a sensor such as an ultrasonic transducer (12a, 12b) in which the frequency (f) and the spacing (d) between the transmitter (12a) and the receiver (12b) enable the presence of foreign matter to be detected simply by measuring the phase difference between the transmitted signal and the received signal. This device may be used in automatic wiper systems or the like.

Abstract: A system for automatically controlling the wiping of automotive windscreens is disclosed. The wiping is conducted at a rate corresponding to the amount of water determined to be on the windscreen at each wiping cycle.

Abstract: A moisture sensor device for a vehicle windshield consists of a housing having a front portion composed of transparent material forming a window with an inner surface formed in a stepwise shape with two planar surfaces oblique to the outer front surface and an outer surface of which is adapted to be optically coupled to an inner surface of the windshield. An internal body portion fits within the housing and has a stepwise shaped outer surface fitting to the inside surface of the window, and includes a radiant energy emitter and a radiant energy detector positioned at oblique surfaces complementary to those of the window. Radiant energy passes from the emitter to the detector through the window and windscreen optically coupled thereto in an optical path that includes internal reflections at an outer surface of the windshield and at a planer side surface of the window. A circuit board alongside the internal body includes circuitry for operating the sensor device.

Abstract: A computer-aided self-learning intermittent windshield wiper controller is characterized that the time interval between the first sweeping cycle initiated by the switch of the wiper and the second sweeping cycle will be memorized and set as the time interval of following intermittent sweeping cycles. When the rain becomes heavier or slighter, the driver may intuitively turn the switch and further causing the microcomputer-controlled processing circuit to memorize the new time interval between the last sweeping cycle and the previous sweeping cycle. This new time interval shall then be set for following intermittent sweeping cycles.

Abstract: A wiper control system which includes dual wiper control circuits operating from a single rotary control switch, which is mounted in a cockpit of an aircraft remote from the rest of the wipers and system components which are mounted near an aircraft windscreen in a housing from which a motor converter drive shaft protrudes generally normal to a portion of the airframe surface. The drive shaft is connected to one end of a wiper arm and the second end of the wiper arm is rotatably attached to the wiper blade. The dual wiper control circuits are electrically isolated from each other. The rotary switch includes dual voltage dividers and a single axial rotating member to create an analog voltage output signal representative of the control switch position which is interpreted by a controller circuit. The rotary switch speed selections include a HIGH speed, a LOW speed, an INTERMITTENT delay selection, and also a selection for PARK and OFF.

Abstract: A rearview mirror wiper system for use on a truck, bus, passenger car or similar vehicles. The basic system can be supplied as original equipment on a vehicle or as a replacement for a wiperless original equipment rearview mirror. The wiper system fits in any number of aesthetically pleasing enclosures that are harmonious with the overall vehicle design. It is further characterized by a low profile vertically oriented armless wiper assembly that wipes from side to side, an electric power control that regularly reverses polarity, and an assembly of pulleys and a cable that imparts motion to a wiper blade. At each end of the wiper blade's range of travel is a switch that cuts off electric power until the power control changes polarity. If two rearview mirror wipers are installed on one vehicle, a common power control assures the left and right wiper motions are synchronized.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved windshield wiper assembly. The assembly includes a wiper blade which undergoes oscillatory rotary motion and is swept back and forth between two extreme locations across a windshield to remove rain and other precipitation from the windshield. A brushless DC motor has its output shaft connected to the wiper assembly. The foregoing results in rotary oscillation of the blade and permits the elimination of the four-bar mechanism which is typical of prior art wiper assemblies. The rotary motion of the blade in either direction is decelerated when the blade reaches a preselected position between two extreme locations.

Abstract: To allow compact design of a wiper system equipped with a wiping angle varying assembly which comprises an actuating motor, an eccentric cam member provided in a path of transmitting the movement of the output end of a wiper motor to a wiper arm, and a control unit for activating the actuating motor so as to move the eccentric cam member and thereby change the range of angle of the wiping movement by altering a configuration of a linkage structure provided between the wiper motor and the wiper arm, the control unit is adapted to activate the eccentric cam member with such a timing that the force transmitted through the linkage structure from the wiper motor to the wiper arm tends to assist the force produced by the actuating motor to move the eccentric cam member in the required direction. Thus, the requirement of the power output of the actuating motor can be reduced, and the actuating motor can be substantially reduced in size.

Abstract: A wiper apparatus having a non-reversing wiper blade includes: a slide bar having a wiper blade attached thereon; a housing for slidably supporting the slide bar in a lengthwise direction of the slide bar, the slide bar having two longitudinally opposed end of travel positions which define wiping positions of the wiper blade; a wiper motor for unidirectionally rotating the housing; and an actuating motor for forcibly sliding the slide bar to bring the wiper blade to the wiping positions.

Abstract: A wiping and spraying apparatus is provided for wiping away dirty articles such as dead insects caked on the surface of a windshield of an automobile. The apparatus includes a wiper blade with adjustable depression force as well as first and second reservoirs of cleaning fluid. A valve is fluidly connected with the reservoirs to selectively allow either of the fluids to be sprayed onto the windshield. The apparatus further includes a control unit to operate the apparatus by automatically operating spraying and wiping, including adjustment of the depression force, according to two modes of operation.

Abstract: A moisture sensor which registers the amount of moisture from tear-shaped precipitation, particularly on a windshield. The device includes a beam director which is mounted on the windshield by an optical adhesive. The beam director has a beam transmitter on one side and a beam receptor on the other. To ensure an optically perfect attachment of the beam director as an integrated unit to the windshield, there is a parallel relationship between the windshield and the facing surface of the beam director. An optical adhesive is applied to the gap between the windshield and the beam director, and is confined to a particular area.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for use with a vehicular windshield wiping system, the apparatus recognizing various rain patterns and accordingly controlling the wiping system. The wiping system includes at least one windshield wiper, and the apparatus includes a sensor mounted to the windshield for monitoring a portion of the windshield wiped by the wiper during each wipe cycle. The sensor generates a signal having a value which varies as a coating collects on the monitored portion.

Abstract: A motor vehicle windshield wiper is disclosed having two spaced wiping rollers bilaterally attached to a windshield and reciprocated by a belt drive assembly over the windshield between a transverse top rail and a transverse bottom rack by means of the control of two opposite limit switches and two opposite electromagnetic switches.

Abstract: A window wiper comprising an arm having an end rotatably mounted near a window glass, a sliding member reciprocally slidable along the sliding member, a loop-like control cable connected to the sliding member, a mechanism for actuating the arm to reciprocally rotate, and a mechanism for actuating the control cable to reciprocally circulate in synchronized with the motion of the arm, whereby the window glass can be swept with single arm.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for controlling a drive mechanism (70), e.g. for windshield wipers (5, 6), wiping/washing systems, sliding roofs and tops of motor vehicles dependent on how moist or dirty the windshield is on the outside. With help of a sensor (3) and a special computation circuit, the degree and type of moisture or dirt can be ascertained. Depending on whether or not there is only a fine mist or a heavy thundershower, the appropriate circuits on the windshield wipers (5, 6), sliding roofs or tops are automatically actuated. If dirt is detected on the windshield (2), then a wiping/washing system is switched on. Sudden splashes on the windshield, which appear just before the last wiping action of a wiper (5, 6) is completed, are definitely detected and lead to a new wiping action.

Abstract: With an automobile having electric power windows a power drive control circuit includes a solid state on-off power solid state device such as a PNP transistor with a moisture content sensor element interconnecting two electrodes of the solid state device (the emitter and base of the PNP transistor). When the moisture content sensor element becomes moistened as by rain falling thereon its electric through path resistance lessens to thereby achieve bias to conductive state for the PNP transistor through conductive state to activate the window motor drive and close any vehicle windows from the open state.

Abstract: A windshield wiper system (10) which includes an electrical drive motor (12) that makes available a driving moment for at least one windshield wiper (16) performing a back and forth movement on a pane to be cleaned. A signal processing arrangement (20) is provided which, by way of an electrical switching stage (18), controls or regulates the rotation rate of the drive motor (12) to a constant value.

Abstract: A windshield wiper control system has a motor connected to a shaft for driving a wiper in a normal and a reverse directions. A wiper position detector includes a plurality of detector levers for providing output detection signals indicative of the position of the wiper. A storage device stores combinations of the output detection signals in a time-sequential order. A data generation device arranges the stored output detection signals from the detector, in predetermined time-sequential combinations, and prepares detection data therefrom. An indexing device compares the detection data prepared by the data generation device with corresponding combinations of stored output detection signals, and indexes the relative positions of the wiper resulting from such comparison.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a windshield wiping system, based on a connection threshold defined for starting operation of the windshield wiping system, a disconnection threshold defined for ceasing operation of the windshield wiping system in an intermittent mode of operation, and a disconnection threshold defined for ceasing operation of the windshield wiping system in a continuous mode of operation. The apparatus includes a sensor apparatus and a circuit arrangement. The sensor apparatus which generates a signal the value of which varies based on the degree of liquid or dirt on the windshield. The sensor signal is then processed by a microprocessor. The thresholds are defined based on the sensor signal.

Abstract: A method for controlling a vehicular windshield wiping system, the wiping system being controlled in response to recognition of a particular rain pattern, and being capable of distinguishing between the presence of moisture and dirt on the windshield. The wiping system is also controlled according to a plurality of operating thresholds established to ensure smooth operation of the wiping system during varying conditions, and is controlled according an amplification autoranging strategy to ensure the wiping system functions properly independent of certain conditions, such as the type of windshield on the vehicle. The wiping system includes at least one wiper blade, and a sensor mounted to the windshield for monitoring a portion of the windshield. The sensor generates a signal having a value which varies as both moisture and dirt collect on the monitored portion.

Abstract: A pneumatic windshield wiper includes a compressed air motor provided with a piston which mounts a pair of actuator vanes one of which functions with a fixed electric sensor on the motor housing to establish the "park" position of the wiper blade. The other sensor actuator vane is adjustable along the length of the piston rod and functions with the sensor to establish the extended, adjustable position of the wiper blade. The sensor is included in an electronic circuit which controls operation of an electric solenoid valve and hence delivery of compressed air to the wiper motor.

Abstract: An automatically controlled cleaning device is adapted to remove foreign bodies such as water from the surface of a window, such as a car window, which has an inside surface and an outside surface. This device has cleaning element which define at least one predetermined area on the outside surface of this window, driving circuit for the cleaning element which operate in response to a control signal, detection element capable of supplying a detection signal representative of the presence of foreign bodies on the outside surface of the window and control device capable of supplying a control signal in response to the detection signal wherein the detection element comprise a transducer able to emit at least one incident ultrasonic signal propagating within the thickness of the window and able to receive a reflected ultrasonic signal representative of the presence of the foreign bodies to analyse the detection signal and where the transducer is fixed by a first face against the inside surface of the window.

Abstract: A windshield wiper assembly which effects relatively smooth wiping motions as a pair of wiper blades are moved independently of each other such that the wiper blades do not interfere with each other. One wiper blade moving in a direction of approaching an overlapping area is stopped when that wiper blade has preceded the other wiper blade moving in a direction of moving away from the overlapping area by a first predetermined value or more. Meanwhile, the wiper blade moving in the direction of moving away from the overlapping area is stopped when that wiper blade has preceded the wiper blade moving in the direction of approaching the overlapping area by a second predetermined value or more exceeding the first predetermined value.

Abstract: A windshield wiper system and method includes a dc motor for connection to drive a windshield wiper. A motor current switch controls current through a field winding of the dc motor. First and second speed selection switches are provided for selecting a speed desired for the windshield wiper. Means responsive to actuation of the first speed selection switch operates the motor current switch to control the current through the field winding of the dc motor for a first duty cycle, and means responsive to actuation of the second speed selection switch operates the motor current switch to control the current through the field winding of the dc motor for a second duty cycle different from the first duty cycle. A delay switch is provided, and a motor drive circuit responsive to a first activation of the switch enables the circuit for operating the motor to drive the windshield wiper once.

Abstract: The method of operating a windshield wiper intermittently requires an apparatus including a rain sensor (12), which generates a signal (S) depending on an amount of rain on the windshield, and a signal processing device (13), e.g.a microprocessor with internal A/D and D/A converters, connected to the sensor (12) to receive the signal (S) and, a control unit connected to the signal processing device (13), and, advantageously, a device for measuring a wiping process duration (T) and inputting the duration to the microprocessor and a drive for the windshield wiper connected to the signal processing device (13). According to the method, the windshield wiper is operated by the signal processing device at least partially according to the signals (S) from the sensor so that the time interval (I) between successive current wiping processes, depends, in part, on a duration (T.sub.-1, T.sub.-2, . . . T.sub.-n) of at least one past wiping process (W.sub.-1, W.sub.-2, . . . W.sub.

Abstract: A motor vehicle glass wiper system includes first and second motor assemblies and respective first and second wiper blades. Each motor assembly is effective to move its respective wiper blade through a wipe pattern that is bounded by an outboard direction reversing position and an inboard direction reversing position. The wipe patterns of the first and second wiper blades overlap to establish an interference zone of potential wiper blade contact which is adjacent both inboard direction reversing positions and bounded thereby. A wiper motor control monitors a respective key position sensor for each wiper blade. The control energizes each one of the wiper motors to move its respective wiper blade to the inboard direction reversing position and back to the outboard direction reversing position each time the key position sensor of the other one of the wiper blades indicates a transition out of the interference zone thereby inhibiting interference between the wiper blades.

Abstract: A wiper controller comprises a power source, a wiper drive mechanism, a power storage device having one potential detecting point, a charge circuit connected between the storage device and the power source, for charging the storage device. A discharge circuit is provided in parallel with the storage device for discharging the storage device. A drive control device controls the wiper through the drive mechanism. Either the charge circuit or the discharge circuit includes a switch for disconnecting that circuit. The other circuit includes a resistor for determining a corresponding charge or discharge time and for respectively charging or discharging the storage device. The present wiper controller further includes a switch control device for controlling the switch. The drive control device allows the wiper to reciprocate, when the potential at the detecting point reaches a predetermined value.

Abstract: A combination manual and automatic vehicle windshield wiper control system is provided which integrates a windshield moisture-sensing based wiper control system into an existing design of original equipment wiper system with minimum impact on manufacture and retrofit by using the existing vehicle wiring harness and existing connectors. The invention provides easy integration of a moisture-sensitive wiper control system into a class of vehicles in a manner which does not interfere with the operation of the standard or pulse-wipe systems already existing in the manual mode even if the moisture-sensitive system should fail for any reason. The moisture-sensing mode of operation replaces the delay or pulse mode.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for controlling a windscreen wiping system. The apparatus includes a circuit arrangement which includes a microcontroller, a clock generator unit comprising a switch and a clock-pulse generator, an I/V converter, a phase-selective rectifier and an amplifier with a low-pass characteristic. The apparatus also includes an optoelectronic apparatus having IR beam transmitters for transmitting useful signals in clocked form and IR beam receivers for receiving the transmitted useful signals. The IR beams which are transmitted are influenced between the IR beam transmitters and the IR beam receivers by a liquid or solid coating on the screen, such that the signals received by IR beam receivers are varied in dependence upon the coating present on the screen. The amplifier filters out the interference quantities of the ambient light to obtain a processed useful signal.

Abstract: A wiper controller comprises a power source, a wiper drive motor, a power switch, a wiper switch, a position detector for detecting the position of a wiper on the windshield of a vehicle, a drive control circuit for controlling the power supply to the motor, and a switch circuit for controlling the power supply to the drive control circuit. The drive control circuit is connected to the power source, and controls the power supply to the motor from the power source, based on the ON/OFF status of the power switch and wiper switch, and also based on information from the position detector. The drive control circuit causes the wiper to stop at a predetermined position on the windshield. The switch circuit allows power to be supplied to the drive control circuit when the power switch is switched on, and further allows the power to be supplied, for a predetermined period of time, after the power switch is switched off.

Abstract: A device is provided for controlling a windscreen wiping system, which mainly comprises a control stage, a clock generator unit comprising a switch and a clock-pulse generator, an I/V converter, a phase-selective rectifier and an amplifier with a low-pass filter as well as an optoelectronic apparatus having a plurality of beam transmitters, a beam guide element and a plurality of beam receivers. Such a device is intended to solve the technical problem of effecting automatic adjustment of the control system even under very widely varying measuring conditions determined in particular by the various damping factors of different types of windscreen.

Abstract: A wiper system for wiping a windshield of an automotive vehicle. The wiper system is comprised of a wiper arm to which a wiper blade is movably fixed. The wiper arm is driven by a wiper motor through a link mechanism so as to move the wiper blade in such a manner that the moving speed of the wiper blade is accelerated at an initial period and decelerated at the remaining period in a stroke of wiper blade movement. The degree of deceleration is reduced in the course of the remaining period, thereby omitting troublesome or bothersome feeing of a driver seated in the vehicle.

Abstract: A windshield wiper control apparatus compensates for small-diameter raindrops such as a drizzle and raindrops splashed over by a preceding vehicle which may worsen the visibility of a driver even though the level of precipitation is not much and accumulatively calculates the amount of raindrops just after the wiping action of a wiper blade, thereby causing an optimized automatic wiping action to be realized. In addition, a windshield wiper control apparatus effects an automatic wiper operation without modifications and additional use of new operating switches by only adding a new control device between the conventional windshield apparatus not having any automatic wiper operation and the wiper blade driver.

Abstract: A windshield wiper system has two motors. Each propels its own wiper blade. A blade parking disk is attached to each motor and contains a conductive and a non-conductive segment. Electrical power supplied through the conductive segment to the motor from a "parking contact", is interrupted by the non-conductive segment, parking the blade. During normal operation, the voltage change on the "parking contact" is sensed for each motor to determine if one motor is faster than the other. If the speed difference exceeds a set level, power to the faster motor is interrupted for a preset time interval during each rotation of the parking disk, until the difference is less than the set level. The voltage on the parking contact is also sensed for the higher voltage produced if the motors are operating at high speed. If the motors are operating at high speed, the preset time interval is increased and the allowable speed difference is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention entails a windshield wiper and headlight control circuit for automatically actuating the headlights of a vehicle in response to the windshield wipers being placed in an "on" mode. After the headlights have been so actuated, they remain in an "on" state irrespective of the "on/off" state of the windshield wipers. Moreover, the circuit of the present invention entails a latching circuit that is specifically designed to be compatible with all windshield wiper circuits irrespective of polarity. In particular, the latching circuit includes a reversible triac that can be incorporated into the windshield wiper and headlight control circuit irrespective of polarity.

Abstract: A window wiper system for an automotive vehicle provides multiplex encoding of a control switch signal and an additional wiper control signal in a two-channel multiplex control signal and decoding of the multiplex control signal by the wiper mechanism for control of wiper operation. The multiplex control signal is a cyclical waveform containing alternating cycles of different first and second periods wherein the duty cycle of the first period cycles is determined by the additional wiper control signal and the duty cycle of the second period cycles is determined by the control switch. The additional wiper control signal may be derived from a rain sensor, an intermittent delay control resistor or any other device on the passenger side of the vehicle firewall which generates a signal controlling wiper operation.

Abstract: Windshield wiper systems are commonly used on vehicles that must operate out-of-doors. In systems employing two or more wiper elements, each operating from an individual wiper motor, some mechanism must be employed to prevent out-of-sync operation from causing the wiper elements to collide if they operate in an overlap area. The instant wiper system includes first and second electric motors each drivingly connected to a respective windshield wiper element. Switching devices selectively controllably provide electrical power to the motors in response to receiving respective motor control signals. Synchronizing devices provide first and second synchronizing signals in response to the respective wiper elements being positioned at corresponding predetermined cycle start locations. A logic circuit controllably produces the motor control signals in response to receiving the respective synchronizing signals.

Abstract: A rear view mirror wiper accessory to be removably attached to the rear view mirror of a truck, bus, or similar vehicle, characterized by: a low profile vertically oriented armless wiper assembly that wipes from side to side, an electric power control that regularly reverses polarity and can be located in the truck's cab or otherwise away from the accessory, and an assembly of pulleys and a cable that imparts motion to a wiper blade. At each end of the wiper blade's range of travel is a switch that cuts off electric power until the power control changes polarity. The wiper accessory has means to hold it in place during installation and removal so it can be moved from vehicle to vehicle without requiring readjustment of the vehicles' rear view mirror(s). A low cost bidirectional motor and gear train make the accessory economical.

Abstract: A sweeping apparatus such as a control system for windshield wipers includes a regulating means which generates a electrical control signal for three separate wiper control means or "paths". Each path includes a differential stage followed by a motor control strage, for controlling a motor having a driven shaft on which a digital coder is mounted. The magnitude of the output signal of the latter is processed in a feedback loop by a processing circuit and passed to the input differential stage. The outputs of the various differential stages are applied to respective comparators. The latter transmit a blocking signal via a NO or OR gate, to the regulating means when the input signal to the comparator exceeds a predetermined threshold value.The invention is especially applicable to automotive windshield wiper systems.

Abstract: A head lamp washer is disclosed, which is for use in a motor vehicle having a head lamp and a windshield washer for washing a windshield of the motor vehicle. The head lamp washer comprises a washing liquid spray system for spraying washing liquid over a face of the head lamp. The spray system has both a manual mode in which the spray system operates independently and an automatic mode in which the spray system operates in cooperation with the windshield washer. A manual mode setting switch causes the spray system to assume the manual mode when turned ON and an automatic mode setting switch causes the spray system to assume the automatic mode when turned ON. Under the operation mode, the washing liquid spraying starts when the operations of the windshield washer are counted to a predetermined number. The amount of washing liquid sprayed under the automatic mode is less than that sprayed under the manual mode.

Abstract: A vehicle windshield wiper control system has an electrically driven wiper motor, a wiper control switch coupled to the motor and having a delay position wherein the motor operates intermittently, a vehicle speed sensor, and a control unit coupled to the control switch, the motor, and to the speed sensor. The control operation of the motor, the control unit periodically executes a method or algorithm which causes the system to vary the dwell time between motor operations as a function of sensed vehicle speed, and optionally as a function of an operator adjustable dwell time control.

Abstract: In a device for controlling a windshield wiper, in particular on a motor vehicle, the windshield wiper is switched on when a sensor indicates wetness above a preset threshold value. The windshield wiper can furthermore be turned on by a manually actuatable switch. The threshold value is reduced upon actuation of the switch.

Abstract: The wiping device for a windshield of a motor vehicle includes at least one wiper lever with an articulated wiper element which contacts the windshield and is driven in a reciprocating manner between two reversing positions by a drive unit. A particularly reliable and precise operation is obtained, when the wiper lever is provided with at least one sensor on the windshield detecting a predetermined operating position of the wiper lever. The wiping device has a control device, to which the sensor and the drive unit are in working connection so that the drive unit can operate the wiper lever according to signals from the sensor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manually controlling a windscreen wiper drive motor in a motor vehicle in several speed steps, by which the drive motor can also be automatically switched from a manually switched-on speed step into a lower speed step when the speed passes through a predetermined threshold value of the motor vehicle travelling speed from a higher travelling speed. The apparatus and method provide automatic switching of the drive motor from each manually switched-on speed step into a lower speed step when the speed passes through the threshold value, cancellation of the current automatic switching until the speed again passes through the threshold value from a higher travelling speed when the control switch has been operated below the threshold value of the travelling speed and after the drive motor has been automatically switched into a lower speed step, and switching-on of each speed step of the drive motor selected by this operation of the control switch.

Abstract: A method for controlling a windshield wiper, particularly on a motor vehicle, in which a rain sensor is located on the windshield to be wiped in the region of the windshield wiper and gives off a sensor signal as a function of the amount of wetness. The rate of change of the sensor signal after the windshield wiper has passed the sensor is determined and used in order to control the frequency of wiping.

Abstract: A wiper system for automotive vehicles has a wiper receiving cavity between a windshield and an engine hood. The wiper receiving cavity has an opening through which a wiper goes in and out and which is open and closed by means of a lid member. The usual operation of the wiper system is performed in response to turning ON of a manually operable wiper switch. The wiper system has also another manual switch, operable independently of operation of the wiper switch, for allowing the lid member to be open in response to turning ON thereof. In addition, the wiper system includes means for changing a lower angular position thereof to a higher position.

Abstract: A method and a system for controlling a windshield wiper, particularly on a motor vehicle, provides that the windshield wiper is automatically activated as a function of the intensity of rain. A frequency-limited variation of the signal of a sensor serves as a measure of the intensity of the rain.

Abstract: A raindrop detector comprises a vibration detection unit, a signal converter unit for converting the electrical signal output from the vibration detection unit into a data signal, a memory for storing data of the data signal converted by the signal converter unit and for outputting a signal to a wiper motor, and a cancel circuit for cancelling the data. According to this invention, it is possible to improve the control accuracy of the wiper motor because the distance to send the data signals to the memory from the signal converter unit shortens and the data signal is independent of radio interference.