WIPER SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME

Abstract

A wiper system for a vehicle includes a first micromechanical device configured to detect a first ambient condition and a second micromechanical device configured to detect a second ambient condition. The first micromechanical device is configured to communicate with the second micromechanical device, and the first ambient condition is different to the second ambient condition. The first micromechanical device and the second micromechanical device are configured to operate at least one wiper such that the first ambient condition and the second ambient condition are fulfilled. The at least one wiper of the wiper system is configured to remove moisture of a window of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A wiper system for a vehicle, comprising: a first micromechanical device configured to detect a first ambient condition; and a second micromechanical device configured to detect a second ambient condition; wherein the first micromechanical device is configured to communicate with the second micromechanical device, and the first ambient condition is different from the second ambient condition; wherein the first micromechanical device and the second micromechanical device are configured to operate at least one wiper such that the first ambient condition and the second ambient condition are fulfilled and the at least one wiper is configured to remove moisture from at least one window of the vehicle.

2. The wiper system according to claim 1, wherein the moisture comprises condensed water and/or rain.

3. The wiper system according to claim 1, wherein the first micromechanical device is a temperature sensor, and the first ambient condition is fulfilled when an outside temperature is between 0 C. and 5 C.

4. The wiper system according to claim 1, wherein the second micromechanical device is a rain sensor, and the second ambient condition is fulfilled when the moisture is detected on the at least one window.

5. The wiper system according to claim 1, wherein the second micromechanical device is an air humidity sensor, and the second ambient condition is fulfilled when the moisture is detected on the at least one window due to an ambient humidity above 95%.

6. The wiper system according to claim 1, wherein the second micromechanical device is a humidity sensor, and the second ambient condition is fulfilled when the moisture is detected on the at least one window due to a dew point higher than an outside temperature.

7. The wiper system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wiper is configured to remove the moisture of a field of view of a windshield or a rear window.

8. The wiper system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one wiper is configured to operate under reduced wiper speed when the first ambient condition and the second ambient condition are fulfilled.

9. A method for operating a wiper system, comprising the steps of: arranging a first micromechanical device configured to detect a first ambient condition and a second micromechanical device configured to detect a second ambient condition in a vehicle such that the first micromechanical device communicates with the second micromechanical device; and operating at least one wiper by the first micromechanical device and the second micromechanical device such that the first ambient condition and the second ambient condition are fulfilled and removing moisture of at least one window via the at least one wiper.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] A brief description of the drawings will be provided to more sufficiently understand the drawings which are used in the detailed description of the present disclosure.

[0027] FIG. 1A is a schematic side view of a vehicle with a wiper system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0028] FIG. 1B is an enlarged schematic side view of the vehicle with the wiper system of FIG. 1A.

[0029] FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic front views of a vehicle with a wiper system according to a further embodiment of the disclosure.

[0030] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for operating the wiper system according to the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0031] It is understood that the term vehicle or vehicular or other similar term as used herein is inclusive of motor vehicles in general such as passenger automobiles including sports utility vehicles (SUV), buses, trucks, various commercial vehicles, watercraft including a variety of boats and ships, aircraft, and the like, and includes hybrid vehicles, electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, hydrogen-powered vehicles and other alternative fuel vehicles (e.g. fuels derived from resources other than petroleum). As referred to herein, a hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that has two or more sources of power, for example both gasoline-powered and electric-powered vehicles.

[0032] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms a, an and the are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms comprises and/or comprising, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term and/or includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. Throughout the specification, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word comprise and variations such as comprises or comprising will be understood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not the exclusion of any other elements. In addition, the terms unit, -er, -or, and module described in the specification mean units for processing at least one function and operation, and can be implemented by hardware components or software components and combinations thereof.

[0033] Further, the control logic of the present disclosure may be embodied as non-transitory computer readable media on a computer readable medium containing executable program instructions executed by a processor, controller or the like. Examples of computer readable media include, but are not limited to, ROM, RAM, compact disc (CD)-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, flash drives, smart cards and optical data storage devices. The computer readable medium can also be distributed in network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable media is stored and executed in a distributed fashion, e.g., by a telematics server or a Controller Area Network (CAN).

[0034] FIG. 1A is a schematic side view of a vehicle with a wiper system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0035] FIG. 1A illustrates a vehicle 15, in particular, a passenger vehicle, with a wiper system 10 at a windshield S1 and a rear window R1. The wiper system 10 includes a first micromechanical device 1 and a second micromechanical device 2. The first micromechanical device 1 is configured to detect a first ambient condition, and the second micromechanical device 2 is configured to detect a second ambient condition, where the first ambient condition is different of the second ambient condition.

[0036] The wiper system 10 of FIG. 1A further includes wipers 3 at the windshield S1 and the rear window R1. The first micromechanical device 1 and the second micromechanical device 2 are configured to operate at least one wiper 3 such that the first ambient condition and the second ambient condition are fulfilled. In case that the conditions are fulfilled, the wipers 3 at the windshield S1 and the rear window R1 are configured to remove moisture C1 of the windows W1.

[0037] FIG. 1B is a further schematic side view of the vehicle with the wiper system according to FIG. 1A.

[0038] FIG. 1B illustrates a magnified view of a front section of the vehicle 15 of FIG. 1A. FIG. 1B is based on FIG 1A and illustrates a connection between the first micromechanical device 1 and the second micromechanical devices 2. The first micromechanical device 1 can be preferably arranged on the windshield W1, and the second micromechanical device 2 can be arranged in a side region or top region of the vehicle.

[0039] The first micromechanical device 1 is configured to communicate with the second micromechanical device 2, where the first micromechanical device 1 and the second micromechanical device 2 are configured to operate the wipers 3 such that the first ambient condition and the second ambient condition are fulfilled, and the wipers 3 are configured to remove the moisture C1 of the windshield S1 and the rear window R1.

[0040] The first micromechanical device 1 is a temperature sensor, and the first ambient condition is fulfilled when an outside or ambient temperature is between 0 C. and 5 C., preferably between 0 C. and 3 C., and more preferably between 0 C. and 2 C.

[0041] The second micromechanical device 2 can be a rain sensor, and the second ambient condition can be fulfilled when the moisture C1 is detected on the windshield S1 and/or the rear window R1.

[0042] The second micromechanical device 2 can be an air humidity sensor, and the second ambient condition can be fulfilled when the moisture C1 is detected on the windshield S1 and/or the rear window R1 due to an ambient or outside humidity above 95%.

[0043] The second micromechanical device 2 can be a humidity sensor, and the second ambient condition can be fulfilled when the moisture C1 is detected on the windshield S1 and/or the rear window R1 due to a dew point higher than an outside temperature.

[0044] FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic front views of a vehicle with a wiper system according to a further embodiment of the disclosure.

[0045] FIG. 2A illustrates an initial state of the windshield S1 covered with moisture C1 before detecting the first ambient condition.

[0046] When the first ambient condition is fulfilled and the second ambient condition is fulfilled the wiper system 10 is activated or initiated and the wipers 3 of the wiper system 10 removes the moisture C1 of the windshield S1.

[0047] As a result, as shown in FIG. 2B, a field of view V1 of the windshield S1 is free of the moisture C1. Thus, the field of view V1 cannot be frozen at a temperature below 0 C.

[0048] It is clear from the context of this disclosure that the wiper system 10 can also be applied for the rear window R1.

[0049] FIG. 3 is a flow chart to illustrate a method for operating the wiper system according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

[0050] The method for operating a wiper system 10 for windows W1, in particular, a windshield S1 or rear window R1, includes a step A of arranging a first micromechanical device 1 configured to detect a first ambient condition and a second micromechanical device 2 configured to detect a second ambient condition in a vehicle 15 such that the first micromechanical device 1 communicates with the second micromechanical device 2. The first ambient condition is in particular different from the second ambient condition. The method includes in a further step B of operating at least one wiper 3 by the first micromechanical device 1 and the second micromechanical device 2 such that the first ambient condition and the second ambient condition are fulfilled and removing moisture C1 of the windows W1 via the at least one wiper 3.

[0051] The aforementioned wiper system has been described in connection to vehicles or automobiles, accordingly. For a person skilled in the art it is clearly and unambiguously understood that the wiper system can be applied to various object (e.g. airplane) which comprises a wiper system, accordingly.

[0052] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations exist. It should be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or exemplary embodiments are only examples, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration in any way. Rather, the foregoing summary and detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing at least one exemplary embodiment, it being understood that various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of elements described in an exemplary embodiment without departing from the scope as set forth in the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Generally, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein.