Windshield wiper system with actively movable platform
AssigneeFaraday & Future Inc.
InventorNicholas Clyde Bennett
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This disclosure relates to techniques for implementing a windshield wiper system with an actively movable platform. The windshield wiper system can include a windshield wiper arm mechanically coupled to a platform and an actuator mechanically coupled to the platform. The windshield wiper arm can be configured to move through a planar range of motion that is substantially parallel to a surface of a vehicle when the platform is positioned at a first spatial location and the movable windshield wiper arm can be configured constrained from moving through the planar range when the platform is positioned at a second spatial location.
Claims16
A windshield wiper system, comprising:
- a controller;
- a movable windshield wiper arm;
- a platform mechanically coupled to the movable windshield wiper arm;
- and
- an actuator mechanically coupled to the platform, the actuator configured to move both of the platform and the movable windshield wiper arm relative to a vehicle on which the windshield wiper system is installed,
- wherein the movable windshield wiper arm is configured to move through a planar range of motion that is substantially parallel to a surface of the vehicle when the platform is positioned at a first spatial location by the actuator, and the movable windshield wiper arm is further configured to be constrained from moving through the planar range of motion when the platform is positioned at a second spatial location by the actuator, the second spatial location differing from the first spatial location;
- wherein the controller is configured to cause the actuator to move the platform to the first spatial location, the second spatial location, or a third spatial location, the third spatial location being different from the first and second spatial locations;
- wherein the platform comprises a platform floor, wherein the platform floor is substantially flush with the surface when the platform is positioned at the first spatial location;
- and
- wherein the platform floor is below the surface when the platform is positioned at the second spatial location, and the platform floor is above the surface when the platform is positioned at the third spatial location.
A device, comprising:
- a means for moving a platform between a first spatial location, a second spatial location, and a third spatial location,
- a windshield wiper arm mechanically coupled to the platform to move concurrently with the platform, wherein a portion of the platform forms a portion of the exterior of a vehicle when the platform is positioned at the second spatial location,
- wherein the windshield wiper arm is configured to move through a planar range of motion that is substantially parallel to a windshield of the vehicle, including a first position on the windshield, a second position on the platform, and a third position on the windshield, wherein the windshield wiper arm is configured to move from the second position to the first position when the platform is positioned at the third spatial location by the means to move the platform, and the windshield wiper arm is configured to move from the first position, to the third position, and back to the first position when the platform is positioned at the first spatial location by the means to move the platform.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.