WO1993002898A1

WO1993002898A1 - Intelligent windscreen-wiper

Info

Publication number: WO1993002898A1
Application number: PCT/ES1992/000062
Authority: WO
Inventors: Diego Angosto Martinez
Original assignee: Diego Angosto Martinez
Priority date: 1991-08-09
Filing date: 1992-08-05
Publication date: 1993-02-18
Also published as: ES2088708B1; ES2049632A2; AU2428392A; ES2049632B1; ES2049632R; ES2088708A1

Abstract

Intelligent windscreen-wiper, electronic circuit activating the slow speed of the windscreen-wiper motor in relation to the rain intervals, changing automatically the speed when the rain becomes intense, closing all electric accessories of the vehicle in order to avoid wetting the inside of the vehicle, such as electric windows, sun-roof or electric roof, and allowing the automatic washing of the windscreen when another vehicle projects water to said windscreen.

Description

SMART WINDSHIELD

The present invention relates to a new electronic circuit in charge of completely automating the conventional windshield wiper system in case of rain and in turn (in vehicles with electric windows). raise the windows when the engine is stopped, or at the will of the driver when the vehicle is running.

It is necessary for the driving of a vehicle that its driver gives maximum attention, especially in case of adverse weather conditions, such as in the presence of rain. In these circumstances, not only will you focus your attention on the road, but in turn, that the windshield wiper is at the speed appropriate to the variations of rainfall intensity, or disconnect it to prevent the wear of brushes or the possible scratching of the windshield glass, when stop the rain completely.

In vehicles that incorporate a timed windshield wiper function, the problem is not solved either, because the sweeping of the brushes does not coincide with the variations in the intensity of rain and in any case we must pay attention to disconnect when the rain stops.

Other electronic controls solve these problems, but only fix their attention to possible variations in rainfall intensity by driving the slow speed of the windshield wiper motor automatically.

The practical operation presented in this invention begins with the intermittence of the rain, which puts the windshield of the windshield in slow motion, in relation to the rain intervals, as these increase, so will the wiper blades, drying completely the glass.

When there comes a time when the intensity of rain is very high, it automatically starts fast and maintains it until the rain stops and consequently the drying of the glass. In this way it is demonstrated that in any of the rain conditions, the circuit guarantees a perfect operation, making the driver feel more relaxed and paying full attention to the road.

But without a doubt the most dangerous situation is the one that presents when it stops raining, we circulate quietly along the road and a vehicle crosses ours, throwing water from the road that is generally dirty and completely eliminates all visibility .

This problem is solved again by this invention, as it automatically activates and for a period of time the rapid speed of the windshield wiper motor and the water pump for washing the glass. In this way the rapid cleaning of the glass is achieved. On the other hand, as soon as the circuit detects rain, not only the windshield wiper mechanism works, but the glass (electric windows) will rise, if on the contrary the user, once raised, would like to lower any of them and keep it at a desired height, you must eliminate the automatic function, since otherwise, when the circuit detects rain again, it would raise them again. For this, a switch is placed on the dashboard or next to the rest of the switches that activate the electric window, thus allowing easy and convenient operation.

Anyway, the circuit will always protect the vehicle when it is with the engine stopped, preventing the rain from wetting the interior of the vehicle before the carelessness of the user who leaves it without noticing a possible rain.

This part of the circuit is protected so that once the windows are raised, the window lift motor does not continue working in relation to the rain intervals that could cause its destruction, so it remains in a state of rest until the driver drops any glass. Another advantage is that it does not affect the ice on the windshield glass (frost), preventing it from activating the mechanism and not ceasing until the glass defrosts, since this circuit only puts conductive liquids into operation.

In addition, other electrical mechanisms such as sunroof and convertible roofs can be activated. Small versions can also be made to activate only the rear wiper and headlights.

The main objective of this invention is the detection of rain and the circuit presented is done through a sensor.

The sensor is formed by two electrodes (1) of conductive material placed on the outside of the windshield glass (2) embedded in said glass to prevent reliefs that will wear the brushes.

These electrodes start at the top central part of the glass and are protected with an insulating material (3), or by the glass itself being free of this protection when they enter the range of the wiper blades (4) see figure i. This achieves, firstly, that only the possible rain is detected within said radius and secondly, being centered on the windshield glass, it does not reduce visibility to the driver being hidden by the rearview mirror.

The shape of the sensor is not strict, as long as the separation between the electrodes is respected, allowing some screen printing decoration that would make it even more discreet. Another way could be to perform the sensor as shown in figure (3). In this case it is as an element of possible redemption ensuring its change in case of deterioration. It would be composed of a piece (2) that would incorporate `` the electrodes in its outer face, which would fit perfectly in a hole that presents the glass (1) (as is logical between both elements, some type of joint would be placed ( 3) to ensure the impermeability of the joint), this type of sensor has the possibility to serve to hide and fix the rearview mirror support (4) as long as it is respected that the sensor is within the range of the brushes of the wiper washer.

The output cables (5) of the sensor are inside the vehicle and could be hidden by some type of trim.

The sensor could also be made as an adhesive sticker that incorporates the electrodes on the glass. This sticker must be of a reduced thickness so as not to cause excessive brush wear.

A series of possibilities of realization of the sensor have been described which could be extended if necessary as long as they are respected and the principle of operation of the invention is not altered.

The circuit object of this patent of invention whose scheme is represented in Figure 2 is based as a principle of operation in a liquid detector (3) which contains an oscillator that generates a frequency that is applied to one of the electrodes (1) , when this is short-circuited through the raindrops by the other electrode (2) that goes to ground, it detects and causes a polarization signal that passes to a power cover (4) and activates the relay (5), starting the slow speed of the windshield wiper motor. In turn of the power stage (4) a signal is provided that starts a time cycle in the timed (6), if the signal continues in this state, after a period of time a signal will remain on the power stage ( 7) to activate the relay (8) by changing the windshield wiper motor at rapid speed.

The circuit has another liquid detector (18), in this case away from the windshield glass (usually on the roof of the vehicle) with the get when it does not rain this detector (18) has no signal on the timed control (19) and by Whether there is a signal presence at the detector output (3), the timed control (19) applies a signal that will activate the relay (8), (fast speed of the windshield wiper motor) and the relay (21) ) (water pump for washing the glass), causing rapid cleaning of the glass. On the other hand when the driver of the vehicle lowers some window pane, it sends a voltage (+ E) that is stored in the accumulator module (12).

As soon as it is detected in module mode (3) the first impulses of rain are sent through the previous one (9) to the control (10), this will let the impulse pass to the relay (11) and therefore unloading the accumulator module (12 ) on the power stage (13), which in turn will activate the relay (12) that will raise the windows of the window and on the other hand, sending a signal to the control (10), so that even if the signal ceases it comes from the previous one (9) (as a result of the drying of the sensor by the wiper blades), the crystals would follow their path and rise completely, leaving the accumulator (12) ready again until some window pane is lowered, To repeat the cycle.

But if the driver of the vehicle wants to bring the windows to a certain height and they do not want them to rise, he must operate the switch (15) which is located in a comfortable place on the dashboard. In these circumstances we will introduce a positive voltage (+ C), which belongs to the vehicle contact (when it is running) on the control module (10) that will ignore the presence of signals at the preamp output (9) not activating the relay (11), protection that will be eliminated when the vehicle is stopped, therefore the (+ C) disappears, at this moment as soon as a rain pulse is received in module (3), it will have the free path to the relay (14) that will be activated for as long as the battery is sent (12).

Once this has been discharged due to many variations of rain that the module (3) presents and that passes through the previous one (9) to the control (10) and activates the relay (11) will not have an effect on the power stage (13) and will not activate the relay (14) that giving the crystals at rest. This guarantees that once the windows are raised, the window motor will not be activated again, thus preventing its destruction.

Another protection that. This invention is that since the modules (4,6 and 7) are powered by the voltage (+ C) (positive when the vehicle is running), when the vehicle is stopped, the wiper blades will not work even though the modules (3) detect rain. If we see the figure (2) we observe that all the modules that make up the electric crystal lifting assembly (from 9 to 15), are waxed in a block called (A).

To activate the closing of other electrical mechanisms such as sunroof and convertible, other blocks (A) one will be used for each accessory, because each One has different closing times. As the principle of operation is the same, it is represented in the scheme of Figure 2 in a single block (A) corresponding to the window lift function.

But this invention is not only intended for application in cars or trucks but can be applied to any windshield wiper device such as ships, airplanes, or any cleaning system.

And it should be noted that the provisions indicated above are subject to modifications of details as long as it does not alter its principle of operation.

Claims

REMINDERS

The exclusive ownership and exploitation of the property is reindivized as new and own invention:

1) .- LLMPIAPARAB ISAS π TELIGENTE characterized by being an electronic circuit that completely automates a windshield wiper system in case of rain, activates the slow speed of the windshield wiper motor in the event of rain intermittently changing said engine speed from slow to fast when the first one cannot dry the glass before a large amount of rain, which raises the windows of the vehicle when the vehicle is stopped or at the will of the driver when it is running, other electronic mechanisms of the vehicle such as sunroof can be activated or convertible and that can simultaneously turn on the windshield of the windshield wiper motor and the windshield washer water pump in situations that do not rain and another vehicle that crosses throws dirty water from the ground onto the windshield glass preventing visibility. It consists of a liquid detector that will activate the wiper blades every time it detects rain on its sensor, which is formed by two electrodes of any conductive material placed on the outside of the windshield glass and within the range of the brushes of the windshield wipers, in a place that does not reduce visibility to the driver. 2) .- A circuit according to claim 1 characterized by using a conductive liquid detector as a mechanism activator.

3) .- A circuit according to claims 1 to 2 characterized by a timed that when the rain intensity becomes constant for a time equal to its timing activates the windshield wiper motor speed switching, going from slow to fast.

4) .- A circuit according to claims 1 to 3 characterized by allowing the electric windows of the vehicle to be lifted, by means of a timed timing whose timing coincides with that of raising the glass.

5) .- A circuit according to claims 1 to 4 characterized by allowing the activation of other electrical mechanisms such as sunroof and convertible roofs, depending on the rain, by means of timers that match their times with each of the closures.

6) .- A circuit according to reindivizations 1 to 5 characterized in that it can present another detector of conductive liquids outside the range of the brushes of the Windshield wiper, in combination with the sensor that is in the range of action, simultaneously activate the fast speed of the windshield wiper motor and the water pump of the windshield glass washer, cleaning the glass in cases where it does not rain and another vehicle throws from the I dirty water on the windshield. 7) .- A circuit according to claims 1 to 6 characterized in that a reduced model can be presented to activate only the rear windshield of the vehicle or headlight windshield wipers. Allowing therefore the decomposition of the invention in various models according to the needs of vehicle accessories.

8) .- A circuit according to claims 1 to 7 characterized in that the electrodes of its sensor start at the top central part of the glass and are protected with the insulating material or by the glass itself, being free of this protection when they enter the radius of action of the wiper blades, to ensure that only in said radio the rain is detected.

9) .- A circuit according to claims 1 to 8 characterized in that its sensor does not have a strict shape or location, provided that the separation between the electrodes is respected and that it reduces visibility to the driver. At the same time it can be decorated with silkscreen that will make it even more discreet.

10) .- A circuit according to claims 1 to 9 characterized in that it allows the use of an adhesive sticker as a sensor incorporating the electrodes to the glass, and that _Ue will have a reduced thickness to prevent the brushes from wearing out.

11) .- A circuit according to claims 1 to 10 characterized by being able to use a sensor that facilitates its change in case of deterioration, forming parts that incorporate the electrodes on its outer face and that would be placed in a hole that would present the windshield glass .