Moisture-sensing window cleaning control system

Apparatus for wiping a window in response to the presence of water moisture thereon, said apparatus comprising, in combination:

• electrically actuated window wiper means having a wiper blade arranged to move in strokes to and fro across said window between two end positions to wipe moisture from a prescribed area on said window between said two end positions, said wiper means including open ignition park switch means for maintaining the operation of said wiper means, once actuated, until said wiper blade reaches a park position;
• a moisture sensor, having a first electrical output, for sensing the presence of moisture on said window;
• wiper position sensor means, having a second bounce-free electrical output, for determining the position of said wiper blade between said two end positions;
• and
• control means, having first and second inputs connected to said first and second electrical outputs, respectively, and a third electrical output connected to said wiper means, for actuating said wiper means when said moisture sensor indicates the presence of excessive moisture, said control means including means responsive to said position sensor means for maintaining the operation of said wiper means until said wiper blade is next positioned in said park position,
• thereby to cause said wiper blade to complete each stroke initiated.

Apparatus for wiping a window in response to the presence of water moisture thereon, said apparatus comprising, in combination:

• electrically actuated window wiper means having a wiper blade arranged to move in strokes to and fro across said window to wipe moisture from a prescribed area, said wiper means including park switch means for maintaining the operation of said wiper means, once actuated, until said wiper blade reaches a park position;
• a moisture sensor arranged on said window within said prescribed area in the path of said wiper blade for sensing the presence of moisture on said window, said moisture sensor having a first electrical output;
• wiper position sensor means, having a second electrical output, for determining when said wiper blade is positioned over said moisture sensor;
• and
• control means, having first and second inputs connected to said first and second electrical outputs, respectively, and a third electrical output connected to said wiper means, for producing a wiper actuating signal at said third output when said moisture sensor indicates the presence of excessive moisture, said control means including means responsive to said position sensor means for inhibiting said wiper actuating signal when said wiper blade is positioned over said moisture sensor,
• thereby to prevent reactuation of said wiper means due to the presence of moisture carried by the wiper blade over said moisture sensor.

Window wiper apparatus comprising, in combination:

• electrically actuated window wiper means having a wiper blade arranged to move in strokes to and fro across said window to wipe moisture from a prescribed area on said window, said wiper means including open ignition park switch means for maintaining the operation of said wiper means, once actuated, until said blade reaches a park position;
• wiper position sensor means, having a first bounce-free electrical output, for determining when said wiper blade has moved away from said park position;
• and
• control means, having an input connected to said first electrical output and a second electrical output connected to said window wiper means, for producing a signal at said second output to control the operation of said wiper means, said control means including means responsive to said position sensor means for interrupting the operation of said wiper means if said wiper blade remains in said park position for a prescribed time after initiating operation of said wiper means,
• thereby to prevent damage to said wiper means when said wiper blade is frozen in position for any reason.

A automatic control system for operating an electrically actuated window wiper device in response to the presence of water moisture on a window, said window wiper device including a wiper blade and means for moving said wiper blade in strokes to and fro across the window to wipe the window clean in a prescribed area, and for operating a window washer device in response to the presence of impure moisture on the window, said control system comprising, in combination:

• a moisture sensor arranged on the window within the prescribed area and having a plurality of spaced-apart, exposed conductive sensor elements forming at least one adjacent pair of elements;
• a voltage source;
• current detection means, having at least one input and at least one output, for indicating, by a signal at said output, when the current flow at said input exceeds a first prescribed threshold and when it exceeds a second prescribed threshold which is higher than said first prescribed threshold;
• first means for connecting said voltage source to at least a first one of said sensor elements;
• second means for connecting said input of said current detection means to at least a second one of said sensor elements, said first and second ones of said sensor elements to which said voltage source and said current detection means are simultaneously connected belonging both to the same pair of adjacent elements;
• and
• control means, coupled to current detection means, for enabling said window wiper device to be switched on when the current received from at least one pair of adjacent sensor elements exceeds said first prescribed threshold, and for enabling said window washer device to be switched on when the current received from at least one pair of adjacent sensor elements exceeds said second prescribed threshold.

A method for cleaning a window by automatic means comprising the steps of:

• (a) detecting the presence of moisture on said window;
• (b) detecting the presence of contamination on said window;
• (c) detecting the presence of ice on said window;
• (d) heating said window as necessary to melt said ice;
• (e) rinsing said window with a cleaning solution as necessary to remove said contamination;
• and
• (f) wiping said window to remove said moisture.