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US 2013/0087169 A1Published application
Rear washer fluid enable/disable
AssigneeHonda Motor Co., Ltd.
InventorsDave Peterson, John Sgueglia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for preventing the dispensing of a washer fluid onto a rear windshield upon detecting the disablement of the rear wiper arm is provided. The disablement of the rear wiper arm may be caused by the movement of the rear windshield from a fully closed position to an open position.
Claims21
A method comprising the steps of:
- (a) receiving a first input signal, wherein the first input initiates a process for causing the operation of a washer motor pump;
- (b) determining the position of a rear windshield;
- (c) operating the washer motor pump, wherein the washer motor pump operates to dispense a fluid onto the rear windshield, only if the position of the rear windshield is determined to be fully closed.
6-14. (canceled)
A method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a vehicle comprising:
- (1) a rear-facing side;
- (2) a rear windshield;
- and, (3) an aperture formed in the rear-facing side;
- wherein the rear windshield is positional into a fully closed position where the rear windshield encloses the aperture and an open position where the rear windshield does not enclose the aperture;
- (b) providing a rear wiper-washer system comprising:
- (1) a rear wiper arm that is operable to at least partially remove debris from the rear windshield;
- and, (2) a fluid supply device that is operable to supply a fluid to the rear windshield;
- (c) providing a control system comprising:
- (1) a rear windshield position switch for use in generating a signal indicating the position of the rear windshield;
- and, (2) a fluid supply switch for use in generating an input signal to operate the fluid supply device to supply the fluid to the rear windshield;
- (d) activating the fluid supply switch to generate the input signal to operate the fluid supply device to supply the fluid to the rear windshield;
- (e) determining with the control system the position of the rear windshield;
- and,
- (f) sending an output signal with the control system to operate the fluid supply device to supply the fluid to the rear windshield only if the control system first determines that the rear windshield is in the fully closed position.
12 more elements
The method of claim 21 wherein the windshield operator actuatable electrical switch is positioned within an interior portion of the vehicle.
A method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a vehicle comprising:
- (1) a rear-facing side;
- (2) a rear windshield;
- and, (3) an aperture formed in the rear-facing side;
- wherein the rear windshield is positional into a fully closed position where the rear windshield encloses the aperture and an open position where the rear windshield does not enclose the aperture;
- (b) providing a rear wiper-washer system comprising:
- (1) a rear wiper arm that is oscillateable to at least partially remove debris from the rear windshield;
- and, (2) a fluid supply device that is operable to supply a fluid to the rear windshield;
- (c) providing a control system comprising:
- (1) a rear windshield position switch for use in generating a signal indicating the position of the rear windshield;
- (2) a fluid supply switch for use in generating an input signal to operate the fluid supply device to supply the fluid to the rear windshield;
- and, (3) a rear windshield wiper switch for use in generating an input signal to oscillate the rear wiper arm to remove debris from the rear windshield;
- (d) providing a windshield operator actuatable electrical switch for use in generating an input signal to position the rear windshield into the open position;
- (e) activating the fluid supply switch to generate the input signal to operate the fluid supply device to supply the fluid to the rear windshield;
- (f) activating the rear windshield wiper switch to generate the input signal to oscillate the rear wiper arm to remove debris from the rear windshield;
- (g) determining with the control system the position of the rear windshield;
- wherein step (g) comprises the step of:
- determining that the rear windshield is in the open position if the windshield operator actuatable electrical switch has generated an input signal to position the rear windshield into the open position;
- (h) sending an output signal with the control system to operate the fluid supply device to supply the fluid to the rear windshield only if the control system first determines that the rear windshield is in the fully closed position;
- and,
- (i) sending an output signal with the control system to oscillate the rear wiper arm to remove debris from the rear windshield only if the control system first determines that the rear windshield is in the fully closed position.
18 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.