Electricity: motive power systems – Periodic – repetitious or successive operations control of... – Variable periods or intervals between controlling operations
Reexamination Certificate
1995-06-07
2001-06-05
Wysocki, Jonathan (Department: 2837)
Electricity: motive power systems
Periodic, repetitious or successive operations control of...
Variable periods or intervals between controlling operations
Reexamination Certificate
active
06242876
ABSTRACT:
The invention concerns a control for a windshield wiper, which runs the wiper intermittently.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Windshield Wipers are Parked When Not in Use
Many prior-art windshield wipers include a parking system, which parks the wipers, and then terminates power to the wiper motor. A generalized wiper will be illustrated, followed by a simplified, generalized parking system.
Simplified Example of Wiper
FIG. 1A
illustrates a windshield wiper. A crank C, driven by a motor (not shown) rotates, as indicated by the arrow. The crank C drives a linkage L which causes a wiper ARM to reciprocate about a PIVOT between the positions shown in
FIGS. 1A and 1B
. (Modern wiper systems are significantly more complex than
FIGS. 1A and 1B
indicate, but the principles of these Figures nevertheless are applicable.)
When the wiper is not in use, the ARM resides in the parked position of FIG.
1
A. However, the ARM is not placed into the parked position by intentional manipulation by the driver of the vehicle. One reason is that, during wiping, the ARM is moving, and the ARM-motor-linkage system has inertia. To stop the moving ARM in the parked position, the driver must stop the motor at exactly the proper time, and let the wiper coast, by inertia, into the parked position. This task would distract the driver from his driving responsibilities. Consequently, electronic circuits have been developed which perform the parking task.
One Way to Park
In a simplified sense, the parking circuit utilizes a limit switch SW, shown in FIG.
2
. When the ARM resides in the parked position, the limit switch SW is closed, as in FIG.
2
. When the ARM resides in its operating region, as in
FIG. 3
, the switch SW is open.
FIG. 2A
gives a simplified explanation of how parking can be accomplished. When the switch SW is open (as when the ARM resides in the operating region), as shown on the right of
FIG. 2A
, the switch SW causes a RELAY to deliver battery voltage, B+, to the wiper MOTOR. The MOTOR remains running.
When switch SW closes (as when the ARM reaches the parked position), the RELAY in
FIG. 2A
switches states, and delivers ZERO volts to the MOTOR. The MOTOR stops. The wipers park.
Parking System Is Somewhat Redundant
Some wiping systems exist which provide intermittent operation of the wipers, for use in light rain. Such systems contain certain components, such as relays, which are also contained in the parking system.
These components are redundant, because the intermittent system and the parking system are never used simultaneously. For example, the relays in the parking system and in the intermittent system never operate together.
The Inventor has developed an approach to reducing, or eliminating, this redundancy, to reduce cost.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide an improved controller for a windshield wiper.
A further object of the invention is to provide an intermittent wiper system, which utilizes functionality of a parking system, in order to conserve parts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In one form of the invention, to attain intermittent wiping action, a wiper is first allowed to park. Then, after a time delay, the wiper is withdrawn from the parked position, and allowed to park again. Repetition of this process (park, delay, withdrawal . . . park, delay, withdrawal) produces intermittent wiping.
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Jacox Meckstroth & Jenkins
Valeo Electrical Systems, Inc.
Wysocki Jonathan
LandOfFree
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