Windshield Wiper Controls Patents (Class 318/DIG2)
  • Patent number: 5119002
    Abstract: A wiper apparatus comprises a wiper motor, a wiper switch, a moisture sensor for sensing presence of moisture, a vibration sensor for sensing a vibration caused by raindrops and a controller for actuating the wiper motor in accordance with output signals from the moisture sensor and the vibration sensor. The apparatus is free from the malfunction and works automatically by sensing even a drizzling rain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1992
    Assignee: Jidosha Denki Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Masaru Kato, Masaru Inoue, Kiyoshi Konishi, Kazuya Suzuki, Takeshi Ito
  • Patent number: 5117168
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1992
    Assignee: Fujitsu Ten Limited
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nomura, Yasuhiro Fujita
  • Patent number: 5105134
    Abstract: A wiper apparatus comprises a wiper switch, a washer motor, a washer switch for actuating the washer motor by its on-operation, a wiper motor actuated independently by on-operation of the wiper switch and interlockingly with the washer motor by the on-operation of the washer switch, and a controller for maintaining the wiper motor to rotate until the load applied on the wiper motor reaches predetermined value. According to this invention, the wiper blade never stops before the cleaning liquid is removed from the wiping surface by detecting frictional resistance between the wiper blade and the wiping surface as the motor load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Jidosa Denki Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shimizu, Sadayoshi Sugiyama, Hitoshi Sakuma, Fumio Nakajima
  • Patent number: 5105129
    Abstract: A raindrop detection wiper is provided with a raindrop detector for detecting a raindrop, a wiper motor for actuating a wiper blade, an automatic stop mechanism for stopping the wiper blade at a predetermined position, a control mechanism comprising a current detector, a memory and the like for operating intermittently or stopping the wiper motor in accordance with a signal from the raindrop detector and memory data stored by the memory. According to this invention, it is possible to wipe the wiping surface automatically by detecting the raindrop and drive current of the wiper motor even in a very light rain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1992
    Assignee: Jidosha Denki Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Shimizu, Toyokazu Nakamura, Junichi Takao
  • Patent number: 5095255
    Abstract: An automobile wiper device includes a variable-driving unit capable of adjustably changing at least one of the arm pressure and the wiping area of the wiper device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1992
    Assignee: ASMO Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Honda, Mikihiro Kondoh, Hiroshi Takahashi
  • Patent number: 5090082
    Abstract: A windshield wiping device for swivelling windshields of motor vehicles. The device includes a wiper shaft, which is supported on the assembly adjacent to the swivel axis of the windshield, and a wiper arm projecting over the windshield. The arm includes an attachment part, by means of which it is attached to the wiper shaft, and a pivoting part which can be swivelled relative to the attachment part around a swivelling axis, and which, by means of an electrical motor is brought into a stopping position on the windshield, in which the electrical motor is independently switched off by means of a stopping position switch. In order to open the windshield without damage, in the stopping position, the swivelling axis, between the attachment part and the pivoting part of the wiper arm, is directed at least approximately in parallel to the swivelling axis of the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Paul Alber, Reinhard Edele, Klaus Hauk, Michael Teich, Michael Schutze
  • Patent number: 5086260
    Abstract: A wiper apparatus is provided with a wiper motor, an overcurrent detection circuit, a timer actuated according to a signal output from the overcurrent detection circuit at the time of detecting the overcurrent flowing in the wiper motor and a controller for actuating a wiper blade reciprocatingly by rotating the wiper motor in the reverse direction every time the wiper blade arrives at a turning position, and rotating the wiper motor in the reverse direction when the overcurrent detection circuit continues to detect the overcurrent for a period predetermined by the timer. According to this invention, it is possible to prevent the wiper motor from the burning out even if the wiper blade of the wiper apparatus is restricted by obstacles such as snow lying on the vehicle body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: Jidosha Denki Kogyo K.K.
    Inventor: Takeshi Ito
  • Patent number: 5079793
    Abstract: A wiper device is provided with a wiper arm including an arm head, a retainer and a coil spring, and with a lock-back detecting device which detects whether or not the wiper arm is in a "lock-back" state and shuts off a power supply to the motor in case of detecting the wiper arm to be in the "lock-back" state. This device makes it possible to prevent a vehicle hood from being hit by the wiper arm or the wiper blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1992
    Assignee: Jidosha Denki Kogyo K.K.
    Inventor: Yosinori Isii
  • Patent number: 5073722
    Abstract: A headlamp cleaner which is provided with a control system for actuating a wiper motor of a wiper apparatus to wipe a windshield when a predetermined time elapses after the ON-operation of a headlamp cleaner switch. This control system also actuates said wiper motor for a predetermined time after the OFF-operation of said headlamp cleaner switch in order to wipe detergent liquid sprayed on said headlamp which also sticks on the windshield surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1991
    Assignee: Jidosha Denki Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Tohge, Junichiro Takeshita
  • Patent number: 5059877
    Abstract: A control circuit for a windshield wiper motor is disclosed in which the wiper motor is made automatically responsive to the presence of moisture droplets on the windshield causing the wiper blades to sweep back and forth at a rate dependent upon the level of precipitation encountered. By using a set of sample-and-hold circuits, bandpass filtering and a differential amplifier under microprocessor control, disturbances to the system due to changes in ambient light are linearly rejected and the system becomes immune to such disturbances. The system utilizes an intentional-retrigger algorithm enabling the system to detect water droplets that miss the sensor yet fall within the area of the windshield which is swept by the wiper blades. The system automatically adapts to windshields of differing transmittance and is not falsely set into action by electromagnetic disturbances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1991
    Assignee: Libbey-Owens-Ford Co.
    Inventor: Rein S. Teder
  • Patent number: 5057754
    Abstract: An automatic control system for operating an electrically actuated device, such as a windshield wiper, power window, sun roof or convertible top of a motor vehicle, in response to the presence of water moisture. The control system includes a moisture sensor having a plurality of spaced apart, exposed conductive strips, the strips being arranged in adjacent pairs; a voltage source coupled to one strip of each pair; a current detector coupled to the other strip of each pair to discriminate between the presence or absence of moisture droplets on each pair; a drop accumulation detector, coupled to the current detector, for determining the number of pairs of sensor strips which are contacted by moisture droplets; and an electrical switch, coupled to the droplet detector, for switching on the electrical device in response to the number of droplets present on the moisture sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1991
    Assignee: Mist-Defy'R, Inc.
    Inventor: Marl J. Bell
  • Patent number: 5049794
    Abstract: A wiper control system includes measures an elapsed time of operation cycle, through which a wiper blade assembly performs one cycle of wiper operation. The wiper control system resets the measured elapsed time when ever the wiper blade assembly reaches a predetermined position. On the other hand, wiper control system detects the measured elapsed time exceeding a given period of time to initiate a predetermined fail-safe operation. In practice, the fail-safe operation is performed to intermittently drive the wiper motor with an interval which is long enough to sufficiently cooling off the wiper motor, when fail-safe operation is performed while wiper system is maintained ON, and to terminate driving of the wiper motor when the wiper system is turned OFF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1991
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Company, Limited, Jidosha Denki Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Okada, Kiyoshi Konishi, Youzou Masaki
  • Patent number: 5030899
    Abstract: A wiper control device comprising a wiper driving motor, a wiper switch having a continuous mode, a stop mode position, and an intermittent mode position, a predetermined position stop switch for detecting whether a wiper is placed in a predetermined standby position or not, the stop switch is placed in a detection state when the wiper is moved to the predetermined standby position, a driving circuit for holding an operation thereof for each period until the predetermined position stop switch is placed in the detection state, a main semiconductor switching element for switching the wiper driving motor, the switching element being inserted in a powering path provided for the driving circuit when the wiper switch is set in the intermittent mode position, an interval control circuit for periodically starting an operation of the driving circuit, an auxiliary semiconductor switching element for turning on to short-circuit both terminals of the wiper driving motor when the operation of the driving circuit is suspen
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1991
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Yasushi Nishibe, Hitoshi Iwata, Masakata Kanbe
  • Patent number: 5027001
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an automatic system for activating vehicle headlights upon the actuation of a windshield wiper. The windshield wipers automatically begin a wiping cycle when moisture is sensed on a windshield. In the preferred embodiment, a moisture sensing device is strategically placed in the left-hand side of the windshield, at the end of a wiper blade track. When the windshield is no longer wet, the wiping cycle will stop and the headlights will remain on for a short period of time thereafter before turning off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1991
    Inventor: William F. Torbert
  • Patent number: 5023532
    Abstract: A drive mechanism for windshield wiper systems on motor vehicles comprises a d.c. motor to be driven in at least two different speeds of operation. The motor includes a collector, a first and a second carbon brush substantially resting against the collector diametrically opposite each other, and a third carbon brush which rests against the collector between the first and the second carbon brush. The third carbon brush is set off at a particular angle relative to the second carbon brush. When the d.c. motor is operated in the first speed of operation the first and the second carbon brush is connected to the voltage source and when the d.c. motor is operated in the second speed of operation the first and the third carbon brush is connected to a voltage source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventor: Werner Gakenholz
  • Patent number: 5023530
    Abstract: A windshield wiper motor is provided with an auto-stopping switch having a first contact plate, a second contact plate, a third contact plate and a contact shoe for contacting with said third contact plate at all times and for contacting selectively with said first or second contact plate by sliding reciprocatively on a straight line in accordance with rotation of the final gear of reduction gear. It is possible to prevent the auto-stopping switch from chattering caused by snow gathered in the vicinity of a stopping position of a wiper blade in snowfall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1991
    Assignee: Jidosha Denki Kogyo K.K.
    Inventors: Yasuo Ohashi, Masao Irie
  • Patent number: 5017847
    Abstract: A method and device for adapting the sensitivity of a sensor system for the detection of precipitations during the control of wiping intervals of a screenwiper drive of a motor vehicle as a function of the kinetic energy of striking precipitations. A pressure-sensitive sensor of a sensor system detects striking precipitations, the detections of striking precipitations are converted into electrical output signals, and the output signals are transmitted via a transmission path to an amplifier with an amplification factor for activating a wiper-motor control circuit. The electrical properties of the transmission path are varied as a function of ambient temperature such that the responsiveness of the sensor system is increased with decreasing temperatures, so that a reliable response even to snowflakes of small mass are achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1991
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventor: Raimund Leistenschneider
  • Patent number: 5015931
    Abstract: In a windshield wiper system for vehicles, with which a rain detector is associated, the rain detector operates according to the principle of detection of the absorption by wet glass of light rays which are subjected to multiple total reflections within the windshield.The detector comprises a plurality of non-directional light sources together with a plurality of sensors each of which receives the light from the various sources. The light sources are modulated at different frequencies, and the sensors are associated with demodulation circuits, such that more detailed and accurate information as to the nature of the reductions in transparency of the windshield is obtained. The windshield wiper system is then activated in the light of this detailed information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes D'Essuyage
    Inventor: Guy Muller
  • Patent number: 4999550
    Abstract: A motor vehicle has front and rear electric motor driven wiper mechanisms including front and rear control switches effective to independently activate and deactivate front and rear wiper operation and front and rear park switches effective to independently provide, for each of the front and rear wipers, automatic wiper parking when the respective control switch is turned off. The vehicle has a driveline transmission with a reverse indicator and a control circuit responsive to the reverse indicator to interconnect the rear wiper motor with the front wiper control switch and disconnect the rear part switch when vehicle reverse operation is indicated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1991
    Assignee: Delco Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher W. Jones
  • Patent number: 4992671
    Abstract: A circuit arrangement for at least one electric load of a motor vehicle such as a windshield wiper system is disclosed, in which the switching signals of an operating switch of the system are in a coded manner transmitted to a programming unit which a detector with several ranges of detection for the various coded switching signals. The detector has additional ranges of detection for switching signals not associated with particular modes of operation, so that troubles in the system can be recognized by the detector in the programming unit providing for improved system operational reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 12, 1991
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Gunther Gille, Horst Goertler, Horst Rachner
  • Patent number: 4987354
    Abstract: A device for rain-induced switching on and off of an electric windshield wiper motor (10) in vehicles, is provided with a sensor (18) responding to moisture on the windshield and a control unit (16) for controlling an electric switch (11) for the switching on and off of the windshield wiper motor (10) as a function of the sensor signal. The control unit (17) is constructed in such a way that it detects the rate of variation of the sensor signal and only generates a switch-on signal when there is an increase in amplitude of the sensor signal above a predetermined amplitude magnitude in order to ensure the prompt switching off of the windshield wiper motor (10) when the rain ceases regardless of the formation of streaks on the windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: Roberts Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Helmut Steinmann
  • Patent number: 4960996
    Abstract: A sensing assembly (10) for indicating when moisture or other particles have accumulated on a window (12) having inside (14) and outside (16) surfaces. The assembly includes an emitter (18) disposed on the inside surface (14) of the window (12) to emit infrared energy to the window (12). A detector (20) is disposed on the inside surface (14) to detect infrared energy from the window (12) on an egress axis. A reference detector (22) detects ambient light and emitter output which are parallel to the egress axis. A control circuit (24) receives the detected measurement level and reference level for comparison to actuate the wipers when rain or particles are on the window (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Inventor: Peter A. Hochstein
  • Patent number: 4956591
    Abstract: A control for a moisture sensing assembly, adapted for mounting on the inner surface of a vehicle window or windshield to control vehicle accessories such as windshield wipers, maximizes the window area being sensed in relationship to the size of the assembly and provides immunity to interference from environmental influences. In the preferred embodiment, moisture on the outer window surface is detected by first and second moisture sensors each including infrared energy radiating diodes and radiant energy detectors which detect and process radiant energy to produce a moisture signal that is a function of the moisture on the window. A synchronizing circuit intermittently actuates the radiating diode for the two sensors individually and alternatingly at equally-spaced intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1990
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Schierbeek, Mark L. Larson, Kenneth Schofield
  • Patent number: 4947092
    Abstract: A wiper controller, responsive to any of a plurality of wash and wipe conditions, causes a short circuit protection circuit to inhibit control if the wiper motor becomes shorted. Hysteresis is employed for comparator operation of an intermittent wipe circuit that enables suitable short circuit protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Ali M. Nabha, John C. Dock
  • Patent number: 4942349
    Abstract: An automatic control system for operating an electrically actuated device, such as a windshield wiper, power window, sun roof or convertible top of a motor vehicle, in response to the presence of water moisture. The control system includes a moisture sensor having a plurality of spaced apart, exposed conductive strips, the strips being arranged in adjacent pairs; a voltage source coupled to one strip of each pair; a current detector coupled to the other strip of each pair to discriminate between the presence or absence of moisture droplets on each pair; a drop accumulation detector, coupled to the current detector, for determining the number of pairs of sensor strips which are contacted by moisture droplets; and an electrical switch, coupled to the droplet detector, for switching on the electrical device in response to the number of droplets present on the moisture sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 17, 1990
    Inventors: Donald L. Millerd, Marl J. Bell, Robert S. Alpert
  • Patent number: 4929876
    Abstract: An electric windshield wiping apparatus, in which a unit for electrically changing the performance of the reverse rotation of wiper motor is selectively connected between the wiper control mechanism and wiper motor so that in the non-used state, the wiper is stored either at the lower turning position or a yet lower concealed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Assignee: Jidosha Denki Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masaru Kato
  • Patent number: 4916374
    Abstract: An adaptive moisture sensor system includes a moisture sensor unit having a moisture sensor, which produces a moisture signal, a reference signal generating circuit and a comparator circuit for comparing the moisture signal with the reference signal and for producing an indication to the vehicle's wiper control of the relationship between the signals. The reference signal generating circuit indicates a fast positive signal processing circuit for rapidly processing changes in the moisture signal representing decreasing moisture and a slow signal processing circuit to process changes of the moisture signal in both directions at a slow rate. The fast positive signal processing circuit is only enabled during rain conditions due to a contaminant film on the sensed window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth L. Schierbeek, Mark L. Larson, Kenneth Schofield
  • Patent number: 4916373
    Abstract: A windshield wash and wipe after wash circuit responsive to any of a plurality of wash and wipe conditions causes a wiper arm and blade assembly to park with a high rate of consistency at an absolute park position out of the vision of the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Chrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Rafi A. Al-Attar, Annaliza O. Sollestre, Michael P. Williams, Patrick D. Dean
  • Patent number: 4900996
    Abstract: A pair of wiper blades on a vehicle window are oscillated in opposing movement between an overlapping inner wipe arrangement, in which one of the blades overlaps the other, and separated outer wiper positions. In dynamic symmetrical overlap (DSOL) operation, the first blade during each cycle to reach its outer wipe position is brought back first to be overlapped by the other for the start of the next cycle. This will normally produce alternating symmetrical overlap (ASOL) operation with its advantages of lower maximum blade acceleration and stress, since the overlapping blade precedes the other on the way out. However, if the leading blade is occasionally slowed, the other blade will not be forced to wait in its outer wipe position; and the cycle time will be minimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Richard E. Wainwright
  • Patent number: 4900995
    Abstract: A pair of wiper blades on a vehicle window are oscillated in opposing movement from an overlapping inner wipe arrangement, with upper and lower overlapped blades, outward to separated outer wipe positions and inward to the overlapping inner wipe arrangement with the positions of the blades reversed. Since the upper blade on the way out becomes the lower blade on the way back, it does not need to pause in its outer wipe position and it thus does not need to be subjected to a large acceleration in maintaining fast wipe cycles on large vehicle windshields. This reduces stress on the arm and blade and blade end whip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Richard E. Wainwright
  • Patent number: 4897585
    Abstract: A moisture sensor for sensing ambient moisture in the vicinity of a window having a window wiper. The sensor comprises a plurality of spaced apart conductive strips having an exposed surface. The electrical resistance between adjacent strips is dependent on the ambient moisture. The sensor also includes means for repetitively removing the moisture from the exposed surface and in the region between the strips. The conductive strips are located at a position other than in the area of sweep of the window wiper on the window and at least one of the removing means and the plurality of conductive strips is coupled to the window wiper, whereby the at least one of the removing means and the plurality of conductive strips is actuated by the window wiper and operates in synchronism therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1990
    Assignee: Mist-Defy'R, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Millerd, Marl J. Bell
  • Patent number: 4885512
    Abstract: A wiper system for motor vehicles. The wiper system has a switching circuit which derives from a timing signal, time-dependent switching and controlling signals provided by an oscillator that determines for example the duration of the intervals in an intermittent mode of operation or the reference time span for implementing anti-blocking protection of the wiper motor. The timing frequency of this oscillator is kept constant during the intervals in the intermittent mode of operation, otherwise it varies depending on the battery voltage when the wiper motor is operating. The intervals are thus maintained with precision, whereas the reference time span is adapted to the wiping time that changes as a function of the battery voltage when the motor is operating, thus ensuring optimal anti-blocking protection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 5, 1989
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Gunther Gille, Horst Goertler
  • Patent number: 4881019
    Abstract: A wiper control system includes a rear wiper control circuit associated with a front wiper control circuit. The wiper drive signals generated in the front wiper control circuit are fed to the rear wiper control circuit. The rear wiper control circuit derives a rear wiper drive timing on the basis of the occurrences of the front wiper drive signals. The rear wiper driving frequency is generally lower than that of the front wiper driving frequency. The lower rate of the rear wiper driving frequency relative to the front wiper driving frequency is preferably variable depending upon the vehicle driving condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Shiraishi, Yoshinori Nagamine
  • Patent number: 4866359
    Abstract: A wiper system is disclosed for motor vehicles in which during normal wiper operation the windshield wiper moves back and forth between two reversing positions, but stops in a depressed parking position outside the wiping area after the power switch is turned off. According to the invention the parking position is changed in dependence on the temperature so that in low temperatures the windshield wiper does not enter the gap between the hood and the windshield. This prevents the wiper from being blocked by ice or snow in the gap. At higher temperatures, the wiper is parked in the depressed parking position as in the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: SWF Auto-Electric GmbH
    Inventors: Eckhardt Schmid, Wolfgang Scholl
  • Patent number: 4866357
    Abstract: A windshield wiper system for continuously controlling position and velocity of a wiper blade as it sweeps across the windshield. The blade is coupled directly to a motor having an encoder for continuously generating actual position pulses related to blade movement across the windshield. Desired position pulses are continuously generated which are related to desired blade position during the sweep. Both desired and actual position pulses are accumulated or counted such that desired and actual blade position are continuously known during the sweep. An error signal is generated by comparing accumulated desired and actual position pulses. Motor speed is corrected in response to the error signal for continuously correcting blade position and velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: John M. Miller, Ronald G. Landman, James E. Fenton
  • Patent number: 4859919
    Abstract: A window wiper control for a motor vehicle in which a relay has an armature connected in series with a motor, an electric power source and a pulse switch through a normally closed contact and further connected in series with the motor, a park switch and source of electric power through a normally open contact. The park switch is responsive to the wiper mechanism to open when the wiper is in a park position and close throughout the rest of the wipe pattern. An electrically controlled switch is connected in series with the relay activating coil and electric power source with a base connected to a capacitor connected to be charged quickly through the park switch and discharged slowly through a resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Steven L. Tracht
  • Patent number: 4859867
    Abstract: The specification discloses a modulated optical moisture sensor control circuit for a vehicle windshield wiper. The control system includes a first detector providing a signal indicative of moisture on the windshield and a second detector providing a reference signal indicative of system variables, such as ambient light. The control system includes improved circuitry for separating the steady-state portion of each detector signal due to ambient light from the modulated infrared IR signal. The system further includes a sensitivity adjustment accessible by the vehicle operator to alter the sensitivity of the circuit to at least one of the two variable detector signals. Additionally, the control system cooperates with a conventional off/intermittent/on wiper switch so that the wiper is responsive to the moisture sensor only when the conventional switch is in the intermittent position and a second manually actuated switch indicates preferred operation in the moisture sensor mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Donnelly Corporation
    Inventors: Mark L. Larson, Karl H. Hanft, Desmond J. O'Farrell
  • Patent number: 4857812
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electric motor system for automobiles having an electric motor and a control circuit for the motor, wherein the control circuit is attached to a part of a metallic housing of the motor system by means of a bonding agent and is embedded in resin material so as to maintain a favorable heat removal from the control circuit by virtue of a high heat conductivity and a heat radiation capability of the housing. Preferably, the housing accommodates a speed reduction unit which is connected to the output shaft of the motor and reduces its rotation speed. Favorable heat removal from the control circuit improves the reliability and the performance of the control circuit, and since the control circuit can be directly wired to the motor the number and the cross section of the electric wires which extend between various parts of the motor system can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Mitsuba Electric Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wataru Mochizuki, Seiichi Ogino, Hirohiko Takano
  • Patent number: 4852205
    Abstract: A controlling circuit for a motorcar front window wiper accommodating apparatus of a concealed type wherein a wiper is accommodated within an opening portion provided between the front window lower edge and the bonnet rear-end edge, the opening portion is opened and closed by the cowl cover, to a controlling circuit for interlockingly controlling the operation between the cowl cover and the wiper. It is adapted to operatively cooperate the opening and closing operations of the cowl cover with the wiper, to actuate the wiper when the cowl cover reaches the position where it does not interfere with the lifting wiper wiping portion to be lifted in the position before it reaches its fully open position in the opening process of the cowl cover so as to retain the speediness of the wiper actuation to remove the delay feeling for improving the safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiko Tanaka, Naogi Hisanaga, Takeshi Yamamoto, Susumu Okazaki, Shinshi Kajimoto
  • Patent number: 4851745
    Abstract: In a vehicle windshield washer and wiper apparatus, the closure of a washer switch activates the washer and wiper and charges a capacitor to a first voltage. When the washer switch is released, the washer is deactivated but the wiper is activated through several more wipe cycles while the capacitor is discharging to a second voltage. The final wipe cycle and wiper parking is to be controlled by a wiper position responsive switch which is closed throughout the wipe pattern except for a speed predetermined angle, the beginning of which defines a desired park position. The improvement of the invention establishes the major discharge path for the capacitor through the wiper position responsive switch to greatly decrease the chance of the capacitor reaching the second voltage while the wiper position responsive switch is open and thereby more consistently park the wiper under the control of the wiper responsive switch in the desired park position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Ricahrd L. Ponziani
  • Patent number: 4843286
    Abstract: A wiper apparatus using a three brush, permanent magnet motor in which a zener diode has a cathode connected to the low speed brush and an anode connected to the high speed brush. The zener breakdown voltage of the zener diode is chosen so that it reverse conducts during at least some portion of each wipe cycle during operation with the high speed brush on a wet window to limit peak wiper speeds and reduce strain on the wiper mechanism. Variations including a transistor, relay or additional zener diode controlled by the zener diode and connected in parallel therewith provide for reduced current and therefore power dissipation in the zener diode at the expense of somewhat limited speed limiting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Suriano, Patrick J. Staarmann, Steven L. Tracht, Dennis L. Mueller
  • Patent number: 4827198
    Abstract: A pair of outer conducting members on the outside of a windshield are separated by a long common insulating border defining a border resistance in parallel with a first capacitance. Each of the outer conducting members is capacitively coupled through a layer of the windshield to an inner conducting member to form coupling capacitances in series with the combination of the border resistance and first capacitance. The preceding elements form a timing circuit for an oscillator, the timing circuit having an equivalent capacitance varying with the border resistance. When water droplets bridge the border of the outer conducting members, the border resistance decreases from infinity to change the equivalent capacitance of the timing circuit and thus the frequency of the oscillator circuit; and this change is detected to modify wiper operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Donald L. Mueller, Glen A. Nyberg
  • Patent number: 4825134
    Abstract: A vehicle windshield wiper control circuit in which the first wipe cycle is initiated with closure of the wiper activation switch in intermittent operation. The control circuit uses a voltage comparison arrangement in which a voltage divider, with an instant wipe capacitor connected across the output, has a normal output voltage ineffective to produce motor drive for wiper actuation but produces a different output voltage through electric current diversion from one of its series resistors with the wiper activation switch open which is effective, immediately upon closure of the wiper activating switch, to initiate a wipe cycle, the instant wipe capacitor thereafter charging to the normal output voltage before another wipe cycle can be initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Steven L. Tracht
  • Patent number: 4823058
    Abstract: A vehicle window wiper control activates an electric motor to drive the wiper through repeating cycles of a wipe pattern on a vehicle window. In the pause mode, a first wiper position responsive switch provides a pause at both inner and outer wipe positions, one at each end of the wipe pattern. In the off mode, however, the final wipe cycle is completed through a second wiper position responsive switch which is open only in the inner wipe position and is connected in parallel with the first wiper position responsive switch to shunt it at the outer wipe position, so that the wiper is parked only in the inner wipe position. The wiper position responsive switches are multiple stationary contacts tracing circular paths of differing radii on a conducting plate with non-conducting portions which rotates with wiper movement. The division of total pause time into two pauses per wipe cycle allows a halving of the RC time constant in the pause timer, with cost and/or reliability benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: H. Charles Buchanan, Jr., Richard E. Wainwright
  • Patent number: 4797605
    Abstract: A moisture sensor consists of an array of spaced apart, highly abrasion-resistant electrodes disposed on the outside surface of the windshield of a vehicle. When moisture is present, the spaces between the electrodes are bridged by the water and the output impedance of the sensor significantly decreases. This signals the presence of moisture. The electrodes have particles of a conductive metal oxide, e.g., ruthenium oxide, dispersed within a glass matrix which is fused to the windshield glass. The electrodes are formulated as an ink including particles of the metal oxide, a glass frit, and an organic binder. The ink is silk screened onto the windshield in the desired electrode pattern. After drying of the ink, the glass frit is fused to the windshield during normal heating of the windshield to shape it in a known windshield shaping (sagging) process. Novel two layer sensor arrangements, providing even greater resistance to abrasion, are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: Delco Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Ponnusamy Palanisamy
  • Patent number: 4797601
    Abstract: A wiper arrangement for motor vehicles with a wiper arm that rests on the surface to be cleaned with an abutment force dependent on the vehicle velocity; the wiper arm thereby rests on the surface to be cleaned during non-wiper operation with a decreased abutment force compared to wiper operation and during a washing operation with an increased abutment force compared to wiper operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
    Inventors: Erich Ditzer, Ludwig Hasenknopf
  • Patent number: 4768257
    Abstract: A vehicle windshield wiper, whereby a blade is supported on a lever member hinged to a fixed support and designed to swing about a pin by virtue of a linear actuator, an output member of which consists at least partially of a screw connected to an electric motor having a hollow shaft, by means of a circirculating-ball screw-nut screw coupling, and extending through the motor itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1988
    Assignee: Roltra S.p.A.
    Inventor: Enzo Brusasco
  • Patent number: 4742280
    Abstract: A control device for a car wiper apparatus is disclosed, in which the wiper apparatus is driven in forward or reverse directions by the function of an electronic circuit. The control electronic circuit is so configured as to minimize the number of connection brushes for controlling the forward and reverse operations of the wiper motor which reciprocates the wiper blade. The reduced number of the connection brushes, which are arranged in the wiper motor, realizes a compact shape of the wiper motor as a whole. The electronic circuit functions to drive the wiper motor in forward and reverse directions within a predetermined angle thereby to rotate the crank arm connected with the wiper motor and the wiper blade with a small predetermined angle for reciprocal wiping operating, thus making it possible to mount the wiper apparatus in the small internal space of the car.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1988
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Ishikawa, Keiichi Uemura, Makoto Aso, Masaaki Fukaya
  • Patent number: RE33308
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an automatic wiper control circuit for operating window wipers automatically when moisture is sensed. The control circuit additionally provides for increasing the speed of a dual speed wiper motor when a high level of moisture is detected. The system comprises a moisture sensor which senses moisture thereon. A circuit associated with the moisture sensor converts the moisture level to DC voltage. At a preselected level of this DC voltage the wiper motor operates in one of its two different speeds. A lack of a predetermined amount of moisture terminates the wiper motor operation. If the control circuit terminates the wiper motor action during wiper sweep, the normal homing circuit of the wiper motor continues to operate the motor until the wiper blade or blades reach the wiper blade home position. Sequential illumination of a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDS) occur during a wiping cycle when the circuit is operating normally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1990
    Assignee: Mist-Defy'r, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald L. Millerd, Marl J. Bell
  • Patent number: RE33848
    Abstract: A wiper speed control system for an automotive wiper controls the operational speed of a wiper in accordance with rain conditions. The control system includes a rain sensor detecting rain conditions to produce an analog signal having an amplitude depending upon the detected rain conditions. The analog sensor signal is converted into a digital pulse signal by a converter for application to a digital circuit system. A control signal is produced by digitally processing the pulse signal. The control signal is applied to a wiper driver circuit to adjust the operational speed or timing in accordance with the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Limited
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Shiraishi